The times., 1899-10-02

NEW fOhh, Oct. Z.-PaSSengerS on the
steamship Caracas. which arrived in New
York yesterday from Venezuela, brought
details of the revolution which is rending
that republic. H. T. Duke, of Philadel-
phia, who has large business interests in
Venezuela, and has resided there for years,
said:
When l left Caracas it was evident
that the days of the Andrade administra-
ton were numbered. General. Cipriano
Castro, the revoiutionist leader, after a
whirlwipd march of 600 miles through the
country, had taken Valencia, the most i'm
Dortant interior town next to the capital
after a severe engagement, in which the
government troops, led by President An
drade in person, were completely routed
Remnants of the government army in the
uttermost state of decentralization were ar
irving in Caracas when l left. Although
Andrade had announced his intention to
resist as long as he had single cartridge,
do not believe he can hold Caracas more
than a few weeks.
''Castro's revolution was well planned
and has been we'll conducted. 1t was or
ganized in Colombia and the better part
of the army is composed OF Colombian
cowboys mounted on mountain ponies and
armed with rifles.
1T is said in Caracas that General Cas-
tro has also with him 800 female warriors
from the headwaters OF the Amazon These
modern Amazons are mounted on ponies
and armed with machetes and long lances
Without warning Castro crossed the
frontier into Venezuela and began rapid
march toward the coast. He swept every
thing before him and the ranks of the
army rapidly swelled. After taking Falen-
cia he sent an ultimatum to Andrade, de-
manding that Caracas be surrendered with
in ten days. If this was done he promised
clemency to the Andrade party, but II an
unfayorable reply was sent he said he
would take the capital and give his SOL
diers six hours sack of the city.
"As Andrade ignored this ultimatum,
there will probably be some terrible
scenes in Caracas when the city falls. The
word 'sache' as used by Castro has
broader meaning than mere loot OF prop
erty. 1t would be wise for the German,
British, and United States warships now
in Venezuelan waters to land marines, to
be prepared in case General Castro car
ries out mis- threat.
.'Andrade dare not surrender. He has
now in Jail 500 Yenezuelans of the better
class charged with political offences. Many
of these men have sworn to kill him If
tney ever regain tnelr liberty.
THE country Is rotten to the core, and
is drifting surely to point where foreign,
Intervention viii become Inevitable think
Germany will make the break. The An
drade government recently defaulted IN.
interest on large German loan. II An
drade goes out OF power the Castro gov
ernment will be called upon to pay imme-
diately, and If 1T fails to promptly COM
ply a port will be seized.
I'VE all felt relieved when the Detroit
came down. She has already rendered for
eign residents a valuable service.
''The Andrade government. by sending a
enforcement to Puerto Cabello, sue
ceeded in repuIsing the revolutionists at
that place Andrade Immediately, on ac-
count OF this alleged succor. levied an as
sessment of $4,000 upon the foreign mer-
chants of the city. This they refused to
pay, whereupon Andrade gave them twen-
ty-four hours to deliver the money under
penalty of arrest.
Fortunately, one merchant succeeded in
telegraphing to La Guayra, and the next
day the Detroit appeared. She anchored
within 100 yards of the customhouse and
nothing further was heard of the matter.
Castro, who will be the new dictator,
is very small man, but wiry and active.
He has been for years prominent in con-
gress, and is familiar with governmental
matters. He has shown considerable mil
itary skill during this campaign. His ar
my is estimated at Is, 000
Il do not expect to see any material inn
provement In Venezuelan affairs under
him, or any other native ruler. My advice
to Americans is to keep out of Venezuela
until a better government Is established.
Coffee culture In Venezuela is in a very
bad way. Most of the planters are with
out money and cannot borrow a cent on
their plantations, because the banks know
the coffee at present prices cannot be pick
ed and shipped This season millions of
pounds of berries have been permitted to
drop from the trees and rot