The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-08-05
MURDERED BY BANDITS.
Men, Women and Children Bru-
tally Killed In Their Homes.
HOW THE VILLAGE OF SLE pam,
In Paraguay, Was Wiped Out by Fire
and sword.-A Church Desecrated
and Robbed.--The Priest slaugh.
tcrcd-..The Work of Lawless Rob-
bers.

New YoRK, Aug. 4.-The narrowing
details of terrible massacre of tho in
offensive residents Of an isolated village
in Paraguay by half-savage natives
reached this city by mail yesterday.
According 10 the advices $50 men,
women and children were wantonly
slaughtered, and then the butchers eel
ebratcd their victory in wild orgies in
the streets, that ran red with the blood
OF their victims.
The affair occurred on the night OF
March 20, and the news was delayed in
reaching hero by the lack Of facilities
for communicating with tho outside
world. According to the details, which
wcrc published in La DemocracfG OF
Asuncfon, Paraguay, band of the most
lnwlcss natives Of Urtgam, angered by
some political differences with tho resi-
dents OF the ncighboring village OF 1sla
Pan, descended on this latter place and
began the slaughter by an attack on the
house OF Judge Guiana. This was an
imposing structure in the central por.
ton OF the village, and was surrounded
bytho smaller homes OF the less i'm
portant inhabitants.
The attacking band was headed by q
notorious bandit, Benlto Benitez, and
numbered about fifty mon, the most
desperate md unprincinlGd collection
OF despcradocs in that land. Laureano
MARTINEZ, notorious half-breed bandit
chief, attended Bcnitez, and none of his
followers enjoyed more unsavory rep
utation.
On arriving at Judge Gauna's house
the desperadoes surrounded it, and
opened fire from the rear. There were
but four occupants within its shelter at
the time-Judge Gauna's aged wife. his
two sons, grown.up young men, and
daughter. The Judge himself and an
other son were absent on business.
The fire Of the desperadoes was re-
turned by the men in the house, the
women aiding them by loading the guns
US fast as they were emptied. No such
attack had been anticipated, and Judge
Guana's sons were not fully prepared to
defend their home, but they did the
best they could underline circumstances
and never flinched from their duty until
their meager store OF ammunition gave
out. Then they prepared to continue
the uneven contest with machettes-
sharp, curving, steel weapons that carry
death with every blow when in the
hands OF a nervy man.
at the beginning OF the attack some
OF the inhabitants attracted by the fir
ing, rushed into the street and fired
into the mob, but detachment OF the
desperadoes speedily rnshed upon them
and murdered them and theirneighbors,
pillaging and burning their houses.
Then they returned to their associates,
and together they made rush on the
home OF Judge Gamma. They met with
but little opposition from the occupants
and speedily the two heroic young men
were slaughtered and their mother and
sister taken captiyes.
The entire band then marched into
the village, and those who were over
looked on the first visit wero moved
down right and left, neither age nor sex
being respected. Humble homes and
homes OF luxury were destroyed by fire,
not even the churches being spared.
At the Church OF the Immaculate
Conception mass was being celebrated
at the time, and when the raiders were
denied admittance to the church they
forced All entrance and waited patiently
for the conclusion of the services before
they began their bloody work. The
priest was among the slain, and in the
iooting Of the ediiice not an article OF
the slightest value was left by the raid
ers. Several gold bars and 5000 in
money were taken from the priests
house. Many who sought to take re-
fuge on the opposite shore OF the Para
guaral river, that flowed near the city,
were devoured by sharks. An attack on
the home OF Judge subeldia, at the
other end OF the village, was desperately
resisted, and several Of the raiders were
killed, the leaders Benitez and Martinez
being among them.
In all eleven Of the raiders and $50
inhabitants were killed. The latest
news from the scene OF the terrible
slaughter stated that government troops
were pursuing the outlaws.
NEW CURE FOR EPILEPSY.