Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-04-21
FOUGHT FURIOUSLY
Bloody Battle Between theVen-
ezuelan Factions.
PALAoIUs TROOPS BADLY ROUTED

The Dictator's Forces Fly Terror-sticken
from the Field - Three Desperate
Charges RepuIsed by the Insurgents
with Much Carnage-Many Desertions
from Palacio-Expecting an Attack at
Puerto CabeIIo-AH Able-Bodied Meu
Ordered Under Arms.
PUERTO CABELLo, Venezuela, April Oh
This picturesque seaport is in terrible
state of excitement over the utter rout of
the government troops on April IA. At sun
down on that date Palacio's army made its
final and futile attempt to dislodge force
OF insurgents under command of General
Mora. who were intrenched at a spot just
beyond Polito. Twice the government
soldiers had attacked the enemy and
failed to drive it from its position. Dis
couraged over their i'll success Palacio's
troops showed signs of panic, but under
the stirring appeals of their leader they
rallied and again charged the foe.
Defeated All Along the Line.
The encounter was brief but furious.
They were defeated all along the line, and
turning, fled in every direction. The in
surgents followed in hot pursuit, and did
not abandon it until the terror-stricken
government troops were well on the road
to this town. There were many dead dying
and wounded left upon the battlefield.
Some of them We're rebels, bat the ma
lorlty Of them Were followers of Palacio
The government troops did not stop to
carry their dead and injured from the
scene of their rout, but struggled into
Puerto Cabello, startling the whole town
with their story of complete defeat
Lost ODe-Third of the Force.
The excitement their presence caused
was further heightened by the arrival of a
train next morning with eleven dead or
wounded soldiers. These had been picked
up on the field after the insurgents had
retired. Nothing definite could be learn
ed as to the exact number slain, but it is
officially announced that the government
lost one-third of its force in the encounter.
Of this loss by far the greater proportion
was caused by assertions. AS soon as
Palacio's men saw that they were over
come many of them threw down their
arms and went over to the enemy.
The News at Puerto Cabello.
The news of the result of the battle
spread terror throughout Puerto Cabello.
1t was almost Immediately followed by a
general conscription order The town has
some 1850 inhabitants. Every able-bodied
man among them has been forced into
military service. Noone has been allowed
to escaI duty. This state of affairs nat
urally has had the effect of almost para
lying the commerce of the port. The
stores have all been closed, there being no
one 10 conduct their business The public
gardens are deserted. Women keep within
doors, not daring to venture out except
when absolutely necessary.
Preparing 10 Defend the Town.
The government Immediately upon be-
ing notified of the defeat of its troops or
dered detachments from all points to this
town. The day after the battle re-enforce-
ments of 200 men arrived here from NaleIf-
cia, which is twenty miles to the southeast
of Puerto Cabello and from I.aGuayra
Other small bodies are coming into town
arrive they are sent TO the front.
Looking Hourly for an Attack.
Everyone here is expecting that Puerto
Cabello will be attacked at any moment by
the revolutionists. People are hurrying
from town TO places of safety, taking with
them their movable property. Such of the
mill airy rs have not been sent to the front
are in the large garrisoned fort and bar
racks ready to be called out at the first in
dications of the enemy's advance. How
eqer, this may not occur yet, the rebels
are now in the best position to receive
arms and stores