The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-08
Mistake of Stubborn Colombian
Rebel Commander.
THOUGHT IT WAS ENEMY
EXCITING BATTLE ON THE MAG.
DALENA RIVER.
Insurgents Lost Their Best Boat,
Which So Disheartened Them
That They Ran From the Govern
ment Forces to the Shore, Where
They Deserted Their Vessels.

| washington. Dec. Tine government
has received through one of its agents
| a most interesting account. dated the
| latter part of November. of the incep-
ton and growth of the present revolu-
| tionary movement in Colombia. The
revolution, according to this statement,
| is an attempt on the part of the liber-
ais to GUST the conservatives, who nave
been in power for many years. Inc
finances of the country are said TO De
in a bad condition. The present rate
of exchange is eight Colombian dollars
for one dollar in gold. but ten to one is
often given. The effect OF this state
of affairs upon trade and commerce
was disastrous and the liberals saw
their opportunity to revolt.
The present revolution is represented
to be well organized with directories
for each of the nine provinces and
military officers of reputation as lead
ers. such as Uribe-Uribe. Ruiz, Cigare-
70, etc. Their troops are poorly armed.
undisciplined and green, so that Tor
the present they can carry on only a
guerilla warfare.
The uprising was premature and in
advance of the arrival of proper arms
and supplies. being melted by the revo-
luton in Venezuela. The disturbance
began in Santander. which is now the
of the coast towns and ports when the
advices were sent. were being hurried
to the scene of revolt by the govern
ment, and only a few ragged conScripts
We're left for protection
Regulars Poorly Armed.
The regular troops were asserted to
be 10000 strong we'll armed with Maui
sers, and disciplined, but so far as the
agent could see they were really armed
with antiquated guns of every make
The revolutionary movement had SO
far been confined to Santander. and IL
was affirmed that the liberals would
make no demonstration in Panama and
Colon on account of foreign interests
there The town was under martial
law and all males capable of carrying
arms were being impressed into the
military service. so that a state of ter
rorism prevailed.
The principal engagement so far has
been naval one. and the agent gives
a graphic account of it. 1t took place
on the night of Oct. "a, at Losobispo.
some 300 miles up the Magdalena river,
below Puerto Nacional-
The revolutionists were embarkinS on
seven river steamers which they had
seized, and were coming down the river,
presumably with the hope of capturing
Cartagena or some other coast town,
tom house and revenues.
Naval Battle On a River.
Their steamers were unprotected and
unarmed. while the government troops
were on two side-wheel vessels. which
had been protected by plating and rail-
way iron and were armed win Cat
lings and one HotchlSisS gun.
+ The two fleets met in the dark, one
steaming- up the river at a speed OF
seven knots, the other coming down
the rapid current at twelve to fourteen
knots an hour. The government yes
sais-the Hercules and Colombia-were
charged by the Helena and others OF
the insurgent force, and the Hercules
was rammed by the Helena, but the
blow struck her on the paddle box and
did No material damage
The general on the Helena then or
Gered his pilot to ram another vessel
which the pilot assured MN was one
of his own squadron: but with a re-
volver to the mans head, the general
insisted on his command being obeyed-
The result was that the Cristobol Colon.
a steam dredger and his best ship. was
struck anlidships and went down, car
rying with her $50 men.
Insurgents Then Ran.
This loss so disheartened the insur-
gents that they put about, ran thelr
vessels alongshore and deserted them
Other than this one great disaster there
were only eight or ten casualties III an
including the generals pilot. VINO was
promptly shot to cover the mistake of
his superior.
1t was reported that since then the
insurgents had lost Cigarero. one OF
their ablest generals, in a recent en-
gagement. and rumors were current
without confirmation. that the insur-
gents had captured Bogota.
With the exception of the capture OF
Rio Hach by the government forces,
after slight resistance. all operations
have been confined to the original prov
ince of Santander and Tolina. and the
seacoast was unaffected except by mar
tial law, CONSUMPTION and paralyzlnS
uncertainty.