The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-13
OUTLAWS SURROUND LIMA.
Nothing but the Loyalty of the
Army Can Save the City.
STARTLING NEWS BY STEAMER
Full Report of the State of Affairs
Which Has Been Held Back
by Press Censors.

The steamer Colon, that arrived Tues
day from Panama and way ports. brought
advices in reference to Peru that are of
the greatest Importance as news con-
corning that terror-stricken and rapidly
degenerating republic. 1t seems scarcely
credible that any country protesting
civilization could have drifted into such
state of utter generalization. Ii the
stories to follow are to be believed, the
representatives of the various natious of
Europe and North America in the re-
public have been derelct in their duties,
and grave hints are made that pecuniary
advantages have been taken by most of
them, and that it pays some of them to be
silent.
AS roborative testimony to the inside
history of Peru's misgovernment, az addi-
tional letter from the superintendent of
the Playo del Ora mines of Ecuador has
been received on the same subject. Some
Americans connected with the mines Wis
tied Callao recently and returned to report
an astonishing state of affairs.
Summing the situation up into one para
graph, Peru must fall to pieces unless
some vigorous action is taken to save her.
Otherwise the country will relapse into a
state of savagery aud can no longer be
classed among the nations of South Amer
lea.
The interior wires, owned by the Gov
eminent, are used only to send out such
news as the officials see fit TO send. There
is the most vigorous press censorship es-
tablished, as the ruling powers do not
want ii to 60 forth to the world that the
people are charging a wholesale robbery
of the treasury. Among the high officials
who are accused of this crime is General
Borgona, supporter of the Caceres Gov
ernment. who is alleged to have subsJi-
tuted 100000 in worthless paper for
$4,000 In gold and 100000 in silver
money.
There is no law. no order. The officers
in the army are as cruel and as arrogant
as the guerrillas that literally swarm over
the republic like ants. One of the most
atrocious massacres was perpetrated by a
band of Borgona's men recently, and all
facts concerning the outrage were prompt
ly SQuelched.
Several miles from Lima was the set
Element of a number of mule-drivers and
cartmen. In all there were about twenty
persons in the little camp. including
women and children. A rumor reached
Lima that band of Seminario's outlaws
were at work on the border, and a detach-
ment of troops was sent 10 hunt the
maura uders. The outlaws stopped at the
muie-driVers' camp over night. but the
campers did not know who their guests
were.
When the soldiers reached the camp
they were apprised of this fact by a spy.
Orders were Immediately given to sur
round the helpless persons and their
poems and shoot them down without
mercy. The order was carried out to the
letter. Twenty cOrpses were stretched on
the ground when the troops left.
An editor named Cevertes, who accused
officials OF sending funds out of the country
to Europe, was seized and cast into a
prison for treason. He was removed to
an interior town, hanged by his feet in a
tree and left to starve to death. lnhab-
itants, on pain of immediate death, we're
forbidden TO aid him or to allay his suffer-
ing.
In Provincio, outside Lima, starvation
and a reign OF terror exists. Seminario,
the bandit leader. finds many followers
who are forced to join his command
through fear. Hundreds are joining his
standard because the vilely corrupt Gov
ernment compeIs them to murder and steal
10 gain living. Outrageous taxation and
oppression are driving the people to .des-
peration.
The city of Lima is surrounded by
| hordes of guerrl!as, and just before the
Chilean Steam Navigation Conn any IS
steamer left Callao to connect with the
Colon at Panama it was feared that the Gov
eminent army would revolt. join the ban
dts and turn the capital over to plunderers