The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-08-27

Two Desperate Battles In Which Many Were
slaughtered on Both sides.
NEW YORK, Aug. 28.-The steamship
Caracas. which left Laguayra, Venezuela,
Aug. 90 arrived here to-day, and brought
information OF considerable fighting in that
country between tho government forces
and the revolurionlsts. A severe engage
ment took place just before the steamship
sailed, at Ciudad, Bolivar, details of which
are now at hand. The battle opened out
side of the town, when General Caieras
caused q charge to be made on the enemy.
The rey0lutionists stood their ground firm
ly, and suffered considerable loss. They
next met the government troops with
machetes. and fought with great fury. The
soldiers of CaIerss were repulsed, and fell
back, carrying their wounded. After O
short rest the troops were reformed. and
again attacked the rebels. The fighting
became general Caierss rode. at the end
of his men aud urged them on. He was cut
off from the main body'of his little army,
and. with half u dozen of his men, found
himself surrounded by o large number OF
the enemy, all eager to kill him. He
fought for his life as stubbornly as be
could, but he vas finally knocked off his
horse and killed. The government fore es
rallied and forced the rebels to retreat
The Venezuelan cOnsups advices from the
government at Caracas contain the news
OF an important aud bloody fight that took
place Aug 10, near Villa de Curs, III which
1,500 men are said to have been killed or
wounded. General Mendoza was at Villa
de Cura with a large force. General Val
lenilla had concentrated two thousand
men some distance from him. General
Mendoza is considered the brayest and
ablest of the Venezuelan generals. He
planned to lead the revolutIonIsts under
Vallenilla into an ambush and destroy
them. For this purpose he sent force of
eight hundred men from his army. under
command of General Zolaogs to march
where the rebels we're. HIS instructions
to ZOlaoga were to approach the enemy,
and apparently offer them battle. When
they should commence to fight the govern
ment troops were not TO fire In return. but
were To slowly retreat. and draw the enemy
on until the main army appeared, when q
general onslaught would be made and the
revolutionary army destroyed. ZOlaoga
drew near TO the force of revoutionists,
and was attacked. The fire told
with great effect, and the govern
ment general fell dead. Without a leader
his troops forgot their instructions, and,
enraged at the death of their commander,
they returned the fire of the enemy and Q
hot battle began that rsged with great
fury. The force of eight hundred men
found themselves opposed to two thou
had several field pieces. and these moved
down the men. The battle continued for
several hours with varying success. The
modern rifles and better training of the
government troops caused great loss on
the other side. The revolutionists threw
their forces on either eide and almost sur
rounded the eight hundred men. The lat
Ter saw that the battle was going against
them and tried to cut their way out. Both
sides seemed to have become crazed and
fought furiously. The dead lay on all
sides, and the wounded were trampled on
as the scene of conflict changed from place
to place. Late in the afternoon the rem
nanr of the government forces succeeded in
getting through the lines. They beat
hasty retreat to a distance. when they got
little neededrcst. The revolutionists ere
too weakened to pursue them. 1t was then
discovered that five hundred of the eight
hundred men had been killed. and the gov
ernment troops estimated that the revolu-
tionIsts had lost one thousand men.