Birmingham age-herald., 1895-03-15
Lucid Description of the Bandits
 Desperate Battle
WITH COLOMBIAN SOLDIERS
Men Caught UnaWareS and
 Without Warning-A Good : Game Fight:

MCBiLE, hATC0 lf.-1A caciO hiSPoASh from Colon printed in. last Sundays papsrs gave brief account of the rebel attack on I,ocas Del Toro on Friday last by band of insurgents under General Garza.
 Tonight upon the arrival of the steam ship Harold, about ' o'clock, the Register obtained from it's correspondent at Bocls the full details of the bloody and desperate attack as follows: t
 BoCAs DEL ToRo. United States of Co., [ lombia, March 3.-A desperate attack was made about 1 o'clock this morning by band of rebels under General Garza upon the Colombian troops qoartered here, and the battle waged fiercely for three hours, during which time the bullets flew thick and last and many of the principal build ings were riddled until they looked like sieves.
 In order to better understand the follow ing details of the battle it may not be amiss to give short description of the topogra- pby of Bocas, and particularly that part of it hich was the scene oi the slaughter.
 TOPOGRAPHY OF BoCAs.
 Picture to your mind beautiful moon- light night in Bocas Del Toro, a city of POGO souls, the houses extending along the sea for nearly mile, one street making the city complete On one side of this street is the sea. Immediately in the rear is a n im- mense swamp, covered with underbrush In front of the city and visible to the eye the United States cruiser Atlanta lies at anchor, casting her powerful search light along the coast, thence sudds nly uplighted to the heavens, the reflection in the sky having the appearance of an immense comet. Such was the night when band Of rebels, under command of General Garza, made an unexpected attack upon the barracks of the Colombian soldiers.
 The barracks is a small frame, shingle rooted store and dwelling, situated in the center of the city. The store of John Will son & Co. is 50 feet north. John H. D. Knke's store is directly across the street, about 40 feet. The soldiers were asleep up stairs, while their guns and ammunition were down stairs. the steps being on the outside of the building, thereby exposing the soldiers to the
 FIRE OF THE REBELS
 as they ran down stairs to secure their arms.
 As to the landing of the rebels, no defi- mite information can be learned either as to how, when or where they landed. The general supposition iu that they landed from a schooner at or near a point on Eight" From this point they marched through the swamp a distance of three miles to Bocas Del Toro. The mud on the shoes of the dead men proves this to be d nel was in turn made prisoner. The out posts were policemen armed with clubs.
 IL was 4 o'clock a. m. when General GaIza tnd about ten men opened fire on the barracks from The Finke building across the street.
 THE FIRST MAN
 to meet his fate was the government senti- mel at the barracks. As the shots were fired tie second lieutenant, who was in command, ran out on the front gallery and met aslmiar late as his comrade. The rebels advanced and kept constant fire upon tbe barracks, where the soldiers were enuapped, as the sea was behind them. The regulars made desperate rush down stars for their arms and commenced to re- turn the fire. Ihe troop opened fire upon the tquad ol rebels who were firing from the second story of Finke's building, and actually riddled the house.
 HOW GARzA DIED.
 Garza coolly called to the government trcops: sSurrender, you fools.'' He was heard to say Tn English, 'The soldiers are shooting bigh,' and ran down stairs, where he met his death. He was found dead not more than 30 feet from the bar racks. 50 died the man who was the ter TOT of the Rio Grande and successfully escaped the United States and Mexican troops for many years. When the rebels lost their leader
 THEY LOST THEIR CAUSE.
 They had the best of the battle until day light; then the government soldiers, see- ing the enemy not near so strong as they supposed, rushed from the death trap and forced the enemy to retreat. Once getting their opponents on the run they pursued them with renewed energy and deadly effect. They shot the enemy to death in the streets, dragged them from houses and chased the remaining few in the swamp. It was near o'clock when the soldiers re- turned to the barracks, and when the roll was called the faces of their comrades showed how deeply they realized the fact that their soldier brethren had died in 6 just cause, fighting for their country.
 THE ATLANTA roo FAR oFF.
 The United States cruiser Atlanta was three miles from the city during the fight. She heard DO report of the guns in the morning, although her lights were visible from the shore. No effort was made to communicate with her until 2 o'clock. Just az a small boat started to her she weighed anchor and steamed away 10 her practice grounds. The steam launch Mas cot was sent by the American consul to await the return of the Atlanta to her an in the evening.
 TO THE RESCUE.
 As soon as the commander of the Atlanta learned the facts, without moments de- lay, each officer was called and given in- attractions. In Q few minutes all was bustle on the ship. A steam launch was lowered, Gatling gun put aboard, and with three boats in tow containing seven- ty-fve marines Bocas del Toro was reached at 8 o'clock in the, evening. The doctors of the Atlanta rendered valuable aid to Dr.