The San Francisco call., 1896-11-28
GUAYkQUIL WAS
RAZED BY REBELS
The Fire That Destroyed the
City Followed a
Battle.
Heavy Fighting on the Streets
of the Republics Pic.
turesQue Capital.
Wives and Daughters of the Insur-
gents in the Thick of the
Engagement.

SAN DIEGO. CAL, Nov. 27-The Brit
ish sloop-of- war Wild Swan arrived yes
terday afternoon from Guayaquil, via
Acapulco. 1t brings an interesting story
of the great fire that devasted Guaya-
quill, the ancient capital of Ecuador, on
October 6. From the officers of the
Wild Swan and from the newspapers they
bring it appears that the fire was started
by the rebels who had been in the city
fighting the Government troops a few
days before. The Wild Swan had been
sent to Guayaquil from Callao to protect
British interests during the conflict and
when hostilities seemed to have ceased it
returned to Callao, having the British
Minister to Gaayaquil aboard. The
steamer had not been long In Callao be-
fore orders were received to hasten back
to GuayaquiI, as fire had destroyed the
greater part of the city. Clothing, pro-
visions and means CT shelter were ordered
to be taken along.
The Wild Swan arrived at Guayaquil on
October 10 and found two-thirds OF the
city in ashes. The poorer people had al
ready been attended by several relief So
cieties organized in the city, and supplies
had been received from Chilean and Peru
Wan vessels sent for the purpose by those
governments.
"The poor people were the last 10 COM
plain OF the fire." said an officer OF the
Wild Swan. "They seemed to like the
idea, and were better clothed, fed and
sheltered than they had ever been before.
Some were in favor OF burning the rest OF
the town, so as to keep up the stream of
rh Anuipo IN fhan1 We had
hard work TO get r:d of our supplies. No.
BODY wanted the provisions, as there were
plenty, and we had 1900 pieces of clothing,
some of which were entirely new.
I'VE saw no sign of trouble upon our
second visit, the rebels having been driven
into the mountains But the beautiful
city, one of the most picturesque in the
tropics, lay desolate. l took a number of
photographs of the city before and after
the fire, and one can see by them the ter
Tible loss OF property. Among the build
ings destroyed was the Church of Santo
Domingo, which was believed to be the
oldest IN South America. 1t stood on an
eminence, an extremely beautiful build
ing.
ION our first visit, just before the fire,
we saw some lively fighting in the streets
between the rebels and the Government
troops. OF course neither side dared to
attack the British legation or meddie with
British property, as We would have opened
fire at once. The slaughter in the streets
on one occasion was tremendous. The
rebels were in some cases accompanied by
their women, who rode astride, carried
rifles and displayed the greatest bravery.
! saw a big fellow shot off his horse and
~-l,l
rode with him, probably lis vile, stood
her ground and poured hot shot into the
enemy until ne retreated. Then she
managed to get her mate across the saddle
and rode away with the rest of the gang
toward the mountains. They made seve-
raT sorties while We were there andkep t
the city in constant terror"
From a Guayaqui newspaper it was ap-
parent that the war feeling was at fever
heat just before the fire. One advertise
ment revealed this particularly. 1t was
dated at little town near Guayaquil, and
said:
81, Eusebio ViIlandon de Copay, will
pay any man 10000 sucres (about $5000)
for the head of the infamous Alejandro
Rosales, now with The shameless vioiators
OF their country"
Ii was related that the rebel bad led a
small party that visited the country estate
OF Villandon and despoiled his household.
NOW Inat the rutnleSs vet slgnincant I
rebels have been driven like rats into the
confines of the Santa Anas," said one
newspaper, 'let them be pursued with
diligence and killed without mercy or
quarter. II is enough that our beloved
country should have harbored such
wreiches without being called upon to
endure their further existence within her
borders Let the destruyers of our coun-
try's honor be wiped out as foul stain of
blood from glittering blade. Praise 10
the undaunted general, Enrique Gailardo,
who pursues the villain Nunez and his
deformed crew."
The Wild Swan sailed from Guayaouil
on Novembe 3, and mad excellent weather
all the way up, except for the past two
days, when the tail end of the northern
gale was struck. This caused the steamer
to battle against strong head wind into
Ban Diego. After taking on coal here ii
will proceed to Esquimalt.