New-York tribune., 1900-09-08
SAW UPRISING IN COLOMBIA.
AMERICAN TELLS HOW HIS MULES
WERE SEIZED-REVOLTINGB BAR
BARITIES IN WAR

J. c. Ellerbe who was caught in the middle OF
the South American Republic Of Colombia on the
eve of the recent insurrection there, telling
last night to party of friends at the Hotel Amer
lea of how he finally made his escape and what he
saw in the of his journey.
Mr.. Elerbe born in South Carolina. Ex-Gov-
ernor Ellerbe, who died about year ago, was his
cousin
IT was down in Colombia Mr. Ellerbe began.
"as agent for portrait concern of Philadelphia
I would get photographs of the inhabitants send
them Philadelphia for enlargement. and then de-
liver the finished portraits muleback.
ut was for this reason that l happened to be in
Bucaramanga, about hundred miles west of
the boundary line between Venezuela and Colom-
bia 1t last year, in October. 1 had just
bought six handsome mules for my business, and
was about to start out, when the nsurrection
broke out and 1 found myself prisoner In the
city The insurrectonists were without, and a
lively siege began. The first thing done to by
the Government to take my mules. used to
see the generals riding them around the streets
There was DR.. Harris, OF Philadelphia with me.
and as many were being killed and wounded every
day became a physician for the nonce and took
care of the sick and wounded.
ION December 20 reinfOrcementS arrived for the
besegers and the town captured by them.
As all the territory between the town and the
Venezuelan border in the hands Of the insur-
rectonists, 1 made my way safely to the neigh
boring State. I passed over many battlehelds and
learned the terrible barbarism practised by these
people In times of They do not bury the
dead but burn them. and often they forget to
burn the bodies of the slain. have ridden over
the bones and skulls Of whole armies, which the
vanqushed had left to lie in the sun.
TT is true that the Spanish-American does more
execution in battle with his dirk than with fire.
arms Each soldier carries such knife, which
looks exactly like a huge carving knife whetted to
a fine sharpness. At close quarters he drops his
gun and rushes at his enemy with this keen blade.
AS a consequence many of their battles end in ter
rible carnage.
although the insurrection in which was
trapped was nstigated by such liberalists as Gen
eral Vergos Santos 1t finally controlled by
President Sanclemente. but the trouble has by no
means ceased. As has been learned from an inter-
view with Senior Benito Zalamea, United States
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT at Bogota, published in The
Tribune the other day. Sanclemente has been de-
posed and usurper rules in his stead.
"Sancemente is old man, and had gone to
Vieta, an Andean village. for his health. While
he there the Vice-Presdent. Se1or Marroguin,
executed a coup d'etat, threw the President into
prison. and with him General PalaciO. Secretary of
State Sanclemente represented the utra-conserv-
ative party, whereas Marroguin is more lib
era conservative both are bitterly opposed by the
radicals who instigated the insurrection.
There still wilder times coming for the
publics of Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador 1t
the plan OF General Castro now the President
Of Venezuela, for the liberal parties in these three
States to rise up and overthrow the ruling
servatives. IN execution of this plan he raised an
army conquered the conservative Andrade Gov
ernment. when in possession of Venezuela, Cen
eral castro began sending arms ammunition and
men into Colombia. and famed the embers of
revolution there; More forces were dispatched
into Ecuador, but this part OF the plan proved
futile In Colombia his forces are still waging
There is now a movement on foot among the
conservatives of Colombia TO make an inroad into
this end that the Government purchased the Ata-
ianta, Mr.. Gould s yacht; and is now transforming
her into man of war
Mr. Ellerbe goes this morning to Philadelphia
He VIII return 10 Colombia next winter.