The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-08
COLOMBIA UNDER
MARTIAL LAW
State of Terroris N Prevails Through
out the Republic-Revolution
Gaining Headway.

Washington, Dec. 7.-The government
mas received through one of it's agents
most interesting account dated the
latter part of November, of the incep-
tlon and growth of the present revo-
lut1onary movement in Colombia, The
revolution, according to this statement,
is an attempt on the part of the liber-
ais TO oust the conservatives, who have
Deen IN power for many years. The
finances of the country are said to be
IN bad condition; the present rate of
exchange is 8 Colombia dollars for one
dollar in gold, but 10 to is often given.
Inc erect 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 director
ates for each of the nine provinces and
military officers of reputation as lead
efs: Ihelr troops are poorly armed,
undisciplined and green, so for
the present they can carry on only a
guerrilla warfare. The uprising was
premature and in advance Of the ar
rival OF proper arms and supplies. be-
ing hastened by the revolution in Ven
ezuela The disturbance began in
Santander which is now the center
Of the revolution. The garrisons of
the coast towns and ports " hen the
advices were sent We're being hurried
to the scene of revolt by the govern
ment, and only few. ragged con-
scripts We're left for protection. The
regular troops Were asserted to be TO-
goo strong, wen armed with Mausers
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 it
| 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
| roTism prevailed.
| The principal engagement so far has
been naval one, and the agents gives
| 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 revolutfonists We're embarking on
seven river steamers, which they had
seized, and were coming down the
river. presumably with the hope of cap
turing Cartagena or some other coast
town in order to get possession of the
custom house and revenues The
steamers were unprotected and unarm-
ed, while the government troops We're
on two side-Wheel steamers, which had
been protected by plating and railway
iron and We're armed with Gatlings
and one Hotchkiss gun. The two fleets
met IN the dark, one steaming up the
river at speed of seven knots, the
other coming down the rapid current
at u to Il knots an nour The gov
ernment vessels. the Hercules and Co.
lombla. were charged by the Helena
and others of the insurgent force, and
the Hercules was rammed by the Hell
ena, but the blow struck her on the
paddle box and did no material dam
age. The general on the Helena then
ordered his pilot to ram another vessel,
which the pilot assured him was one
of his own squadron, but with a re-
volNer to the mans head, the general
insisted on his command being obey
ed.
The result was that the Cristobal
Colombo and a steamer dredge was
struck amidships and went down, car
rying with her $50 men. This loss so
disheartened the insurgents that they
put about ran their vessels along
shore and deserted them. Other than
this one great disaster there were only
eight or 10 casualties in all, including
the generals pilot who was promptly
| shot to cover the mistake of his su-
| perior.
1t was reported that since then the
| insurgents had lost Cigarero. one of
their best generals, in recent engage
ment, and rumors We're current, with
| out confirmation that the insurgents
| 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.