Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1893-04-07
"a FIERCE BATTLE.
Honduran Revolutionists Defeat
the Troops of the Gov.
ernment.
The Dead Burned in a Heap-.-
Helpless Women Suffer
TOrtures.

Helpless Women Suffer
Tortures.
A disastrous battle was fought
near Tatumbia, Honduras, several
days ago. General Alfonso villela
had been sent to the front with a
large body of government troops to
intercept the march of the reyo.
lutionists who were moving against
the capital at Tegucigalpa.
Tatumbia had been occupied by the
troops under Gen. Tcrrenca Sierra,
who commands the south wing Of
the revolutionary army. In con-
nection with the west wing of the
revolutionary forces, commanded by
Gen. Reyna, Gen. Sierra was leading
the advance on Tegucigalpa. The
east wing, under Gen. Reyna, was
four miles in the rear OF Gen. s,ierra's
forces.
Gen. Villela's approach was in the
nature Of surprise to the revo-
lutionary command at Tatumbia.
He had stationed body of cavalry
on height in front of the town on
the road to Tegucigalpa, but the
cavalrymen appeared to be unaware
of the approach of the enemy until
an attack had been made. The
officer in command desperately
attempted to rally his men. They
made q brave and determined re-
sistance, but were steadily pushed
back toward the town. So closely
were the cavalrymcn followed that
the advance of Villela's pursuing
army approached within 15o yards Of
the outskirts of the town. One band
Of guerillas bravely pushed on in the
pursuit until they were only fifty
yards from the town, but were driven
back with considerable loss of life by
the rcinforcemcnts sent forward by
Gen. Sierra.
Reyan's troops were then pushed
rapidly to the front. Col. Manual
Rosas, with two companies, leading
the advance. The battle had begun
so latein the day that firing had to
be suspended on account of darkness
when Col. Rosa's detachment arrived
to relieve the besieged army in
Tatumbia. Gen. Villela's forces fell
back a short distance and waited for
the following day to renew the
attack. A flank movement upon
Gen. Nillela was decided upon. Five
hundred Texigant braves were de-
tached from the east wing, and with
Gen. Reyna himself at their head,
occupied height to the left of the
position held by Gen. villcla's army.
Gen. Nillelh renewed his attack
upon the revolutionists at daybreak
and the battle was soon raging all
along the line. AS soon as the
attack in front became general,
Gen. Reyna and his Tcxigant braves
opened fire on Nillcla's forces in the
rear. This attack was so fierce and
surprising that the government
troops were almost demoralized.
The fire in front and rear ragged for
an hour and halt until the govern
ment forces could stand it no longer.
Gen. Nillela ordered retreat and
the decentralization was completed.
No more than fifty soldiers Of
Villela's army followed him in the
retreat. With this small force he
fed toward LaMontanita. Small
bands filed in other directions, hotly
pursued by the revolutionists. They
killed as many as they could while
fleeing and when the fight was over
all who had been captured were
slaughtered. No prisoners were
retained to be cared for. More than
100 government soldiers fell in the
battle and fully onc-half as many
rcvolutionists were killed. The
bodies of all who fell ON each side
were gathered in a heap and burned.
Further dispatches from Honduras
state that the position of Acting
President Agucro is pitiablc one.
He is said to be practically prisoner
in the capital and is acting under the
orders of Gen. Vasquez, who is DIR.
I3onilla's rival for the control of the
Republic. Gen. Vasquez has gone
into the field to lead the men who
favor his cause.
Anarchy, terror and despair are
rampant in Tegucigalpa. The per-
sons and property Of those suspected
of sympathizing with the rcvo.
luton are not respected. Wives and
children of absent revolutionists
have been imprisoned and subject to
frightful tortures. Assaults of the
most revolving character have been
committed, and even the hair has
been cut from the heads of women.
Vasquez is held responsible for the
atrocities.
Charles Tones, local manager of the
American Preserves Co., Buffalo. has