Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-01-28
FIERCE WARFARE
A BLOODY BATTLE WITH THE
VENEZUELAN REBELS.
FRANTIC SOUTH AMERICANS.
Troops Spare Neither Age Nor Sex
Let Them Kill Each
Other OF.

New York. Jan. 2S.-A dispatch to the
Herald from Port of Spain. Trinidad,
says:
Details have been received here of
acute lighting last week on the main
land near Guiria and Carupano, result
ing in final defeats for the government
troops. Several hundred men We're
killed in the engagements.
CarupanO has been recaptured by the
insurgents and large quantity of
arms and ammunition taken. Irapa
and Guiria. ports on the gulf of Paria,
have also been occupied, despite the
tivity of the gunboats that are patrol
ling the coast.
Reports from Caracas also indicate
grave conditions. Persons here who are
in touch with the situation are informed
that a chief of battalion of the govern
ment forces in Caracas has revolted
The cause of the mutiny is said to
have been an order issued by President
Castro that certain prominent persons
suspected of being in league with the
rebels should be shot. The orders were
given to one of the military command
ers and disobeyed.
Trouble in the central states seems
to be growing although the censorship
prevents details from being sent 1t is
reported that the rebel leaders are re-
ceivirE aid from Colombia. and that
Wig us protest will be made by the
Castro government.
AS Colombia has long believed that
President Castro has been giving aid
to the rebels in that country. there is
possibility of a serious clash.
The chief fighting on the mainland
took place near 1rapa. A force of 900
rebels, having 100000 rounds of ammu-
niton,. part captured at Krupano and
part received from fiibustels. en-
trenched themselves near Los Ceuvas.
a town a few miles inland from Irapa.
They were under command of Generals
Costa and Cosca. They were closely
watched by 100 government soldiers.
One of them left the shelter of the en-
trenchmentS to seek food in their camp.
A party of the enemy made 4 sOrtie
and captured the man before he could
reach his comrades. The main body of
the rebels opened fire on the govern
ment forces and the latter charged the
entertainments. They We're driven back
several times, but continued the at
tack for five hours. They gained no
substantial advantage until a battery Of
four field guns was brought up. These
shelled the position of the rebels and
finally they reiterated, carrying most Of
their supplies. They had eigh. killed
and four wounded, but the gov :rnment
forces are said to have lost 80 killed
and 27O wounded in the fight. Eleven
women. who were with the troops, were
slain during the battle.
The town was abandoned by the
rebels during the night and was en-
tered by 800 regulars the next morning
The insurgents retreated to Irapa and
marched to Guiara to secure ammuni-
ton and reinfOrcements They had
been followed by the government forces.
but returned from Guiara and gave bat
tie. compelling the enemy to retreat
from Irapa.
Charges that many atrocities We're
committed in Los Ceuvas and Irapa by
the government troops are made by
| p rsons who have fled here. 1t is de-
| clared that neither nationality nor Sex
| We're respected by the soldiers.
| Armed men are said to have swag-
| gered through the streets frightening
| men and women by threats of putting
| them to the sword and coma,.liins them
to pay large sums in order to save
| their lives.