New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-31
VILLAGE AT BoCCA CHICA.

The plrates had gone The tumult Of a sacked and
pillaged city had given place to calm of community
which was painting for life after the ravages OF war; and
only those who have seen municipality in such
condition can Imagine what that is. Slowly the people
who were left drew around the mysterious packing
cases left in the middle of the plaza Far of the
scntrles on the walls could the pirate sails disap
pearing to the northward. With trepidatOn and
curiosity the people broke open the boxes and then
before the eyes of those village citizens appeared CLEAN
ing and carved pieces of white marble and when they
were put together, 10 the beautiful structure which
now iIlumnes the sombre arches of the Cathedral at
Cartagena stood forth. 1t pulpit Of CarTara
marble. 1t had been sent by the Pope as present
to a church in Mexico and the vessel which bore 1t
had been captured by the pirates and it had been left
on the shores upon which they had descended fol
plumber and rapne. 1t was set up in the Cathedral
OF San Juan de DOS and is there to this day. From
it the venerable prelate who few days ago blessed
the enterprise of the railway has delivered many
sermon calculated to increase the regard for law and
order which is portion of every true RELIGION
were drawn around the city, from this same pulpit OF
buccaneerng times the Bishop held his congrega.
ton faithful to the Government In 1855 a great
revolution ragged in Colombia the last probably that
that country will for many years. For months the
state of siege. From the convent on the top of La
POpa which Gan had converted into fort. and from
Constant fire from his artillery NE bay was filled witt
his armored steamers there ngress or
their ancestors stirred in the veins of the beseged
pie and they held out against the rebel forces until
nearly every dog on the streets had been killed and
eaten. In the market cats sold for SO each and lard
and rice were esteemed Injuries on May Z, 1850;
Gitan stOrmed the walls. Those walls had resisted
many fierce attack in the days when Old DundOnad
sailed the and when the black flag foated before
attacking armies, but were they asailcd more
hercely than that memorable night tTitan landed
1000 the island OF TERRA Bomba. from which
causeway leads up 10 bastion Of the cys walls. AT
midnight he sOrned the walls. The beseged forces were
aware OF the intended assault and had fifty locomotive
headlights masked the walls at the point OF attack
When the 1000 came rushing toward the bastion
all was as still death inside the city, but when the
army Of Gitan had approached TO within fifty yards OF
the walls the headlights were unmasked, the batteries
on the walls belched forth and in fifteen minutes 500
dead men lay under the ancient walls. while their v-
ing companions retreated in CONFUSION When the hr
ing began the city the forts and the fleet opened
with their guns and shower OF shot and she'll made
the dark tropical night luminous and bright as day:
Captain EckeTs, New-Iork man, was in command OF
was fired on the city and was killed by the last one
which was fired from the walls; Two DAYS after. tne
arrival of Admiral Jouett with the American heet
caused Gltan to raise the SIEGE and he made his last
stand at Calamar. the point at which the new ralIOad
strikes the Magdalena River.
Cartagena once in It's varied history established a
republic OF its own and commissioned the pirate
LATTE Admiral In his subsequent career Laftte de.
clared that he not freebooter but an Admiral OF
the republic of Cartagepa, and flew the nag OF tnat
shortved republic long after 1t had ceased TO exist
The great houses OF Cartagena empty ana
where all the wealth Of nations now are only
echoes and the footsteps OF foreign visitors us palaces
and great cathedras are crumbng and almost deserted
but with the opening Of the new railroad new era
dawns and prosperity will visit the city, wiuch VIII
derive its support from those natural resources OF te
country which in former made possible the wealth.
which conquered princes contributed to fill her treasure