The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-18
Terrific Fighting to Suppress
the Indian Uprising
in Peru.
Awful Ravages of Yellow Fever,
and the Plague Reported From
Many Places.

revolution in Chile took the more pacific
turn of crisis in the Cabinet. But
though there is no open outbreak the stu
alton is so strained that predictions OF
revolution are openly made, unless Presi-
dent Errazuriz agrees TO reforms de-
manGed by the Liberals. The Chamber
of Deputies is stiff.necked and Will not
compromise, while the President is equally
determined to have his way and to over
ride the Congress.
1t was stated as early as November 10
that Errazuriz, prohting by tine tactics
pursued by his father when the latter was
confronted by crisis, had determined to
throw the Clericals over entirely and go
openly and completely into the camp Of
the Liberals. Though this would create
the profoundest excitement, equivalent to
a change on the part of President Cleve-
land to Republicanism, this course was
held out as the only one open to the
Chilean Chief Magistrate. He was sup
posed to be confronted with the alterna-
tive OF accepting the Liberal demands or
lose his seat, and possibly his head. Ijut
up to the departure of the steamers from
Valparaiso the expected CONFUSION had
not occurred.
After vainly calling upon Sanchez Fon-
tecilla to form new Ministry, who
AIMED men repugnant TO the Liberals,
and who might have worked against free
election next Ma rch, another man was
called upon. T his was Elias Fernandez
Albano He was Minister OF Public
Works under President Montt, After u
laborIous effort AIbano renounced the job
and left ErraZurIZ in worse plight than
before. AS a last resort ErraZuriz called
upon Carlos AluneZ, BalmaCeda's Minis
ter to France during the revolution of
1891 This raised a tremendous howl from
all parts Of the republic, and what with
conspiracies and counter plots the admin
istration of ErraZuriz the younger is prov
ing of great damage to Chile, If not invlt-
ing revolution.
The uprising among the Indians IN
Peru has assumed formidable size. At
Huanta the center of the troubles, the
Indians massed early in November, and
after securing all possible booty they set
to work destroying all kinds OF property
in order to make pursuit by Government
troops difficult and costly. Plantations
were burned from one end to the other.
cattle driven off for the use of
the Indian hordes all plumber found was
taken and the district left stark and black,
without a spear OF grass for the Govern
ment cavalry.
Colonel PARA, an experienced Indian
fighter, was sent against the ragged and
poorly organized Indians, and a terrific
battle followed on November IL. The In
dians displayed daring and a reckless dis
regard of life similar TO the wild charges
OF the Egyptian Dervishes. But the Peru
Vians stood firm and poured into the In
dian crowds a terrific fire from Maxim
guns and Mannlicher rifles. Tue Indians
were in the town OF Huanta and opposed
the entrance of the troops. Colonel PARA
ordered an advance and the machine guns
were brought into play. This fire forced
the Indians out and they tried to over
whelm the artillerymen. The result was
a veritable, slaughter. In less than half
an hour 500 Indians were dead on the
field. and the troops entered the town and
possessed it..
Three Government officers and fifty SOL
diers were killed. The Indians u sed rifles
as well as bows and arrows. They re-
treated after the defeat and intrenched
themselves in the mountain strongholds
of Mariquita. An old Indian chief, ia
cobo, is said to be their leader, and not
withstanding the defeat of November IL
he has displayed genuine military ability.
The Government is determined to stamp
out the instruction and has sent more
troops and artillery into the section sur
rounding Huanta.
:.
devastated portions of the south, and
the fever extends as far north as AGA
pulco, where there were three cases in
quarantine. Farther south, and especially
in Salvador, the plague is practically be-
yond control. The inhabitants ascribe it
to the great number of dead bodies left on
the ground during the battles during the
Ezeta revolution, many OF which were
never buried and spread contagion. At
Panama the fever is kept strictly confined,
but cases continually break out.
The city of Guayaquil, Ecuador, has the
plague, and other South American ports
have declared to shut off communication.
The steamer Palena, which plies between
Guayaquil and Peruvian ports, was not
allowed to enter any port IN Peru on ac-
count of the widespread prevalence of
yellow fever in Ecuador's capital. The
British cruiser Comus, which arrived at
Paita from Guayaquil was placed in quar-
antine for ten days.
In the southern part of the Argentine
where cattle-raising in on a scale even
greater than it was formerly on the
American plains great trouble has been
caused BY Indians who steal cattle and
sheep by the hundred, living off the car
cases and driving off herds into the noun
tains. The cowboys have had several
skirmishes with the natives, which reached
the proportions of battles. The natives
are WliO, u6TCS anu are equipped with
rifles, so that they are no mean foe.
The continued troubles resulted in war
of determination, the cowboys trying TO
kill off the Indians and the savages retail
atlng by killing al the cattle they could,
driving off others and hamstringing the
remainder, so they were rendered value
less TO the owners.
The cattle-owners hit upon unique re-
venge, which it IS believed will put a stop
to to the savage marauders. The cowboys
gathered all the cattle in settled districts
under protection, except a small band,
which was allowed to feed on the old
range. In the course of week or so
the Indians had disposed of their stolen
cattle and were hungry again. They
swooped down on the little herd one
night and killed a few head and ham
strung the remainder.
They carried away great deal OF meat.
but could not get away with any live cat
tie on account of the battle given by the
herdsmen. When the Indians retired the
cowboys killed the hamstrung cattle and
placed in the carcases large quantities of
poison. They then hurriedly withdrew.
The savages returned that night in a
large body and carried off all the carcases.
They had a big powwow in the hills,
building great fires and barbecuing the
A1-t~ l.