Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-11
ATTEMPT TO WRECK THE RAILROADS
Buildings In Santa Marta Are Seen TO Be
AblaSe.
CRISIS NOW BELIEVED TO Be At HAND
General Belief Expressed that Rebels
Will Attack Panama, Aided by the
GunbOsts-CuIebra Already
Occupied by Troops.

German steamer Valencia, from New York
August 23 for Cape Haytien and other
ports, which arrived here today from Santa
Marta. capital Of the Department Of Mag
dalena, Colombia, brings news Of a victory
at Santa Marta by the Colombian revolu-
honists over the government troops.
Captain Gronemeyer Of Valencia says
that last Friday the revolutlonlsts made
desperate attack on the outskirts Of Santa
Marta. The government forces withdrew,
leaving 100 dead, the rebels then starting
to destroy the railroad tracks. They de-
rallied several trains at various points, de-
molishing engines and cars the latter being
principally fruit vans. Today the revolu-
tlonists occupied the banana district OF
senega, where they tried to wreck the rail-
road, at the same time advancing toward
Santa Marta.
When Valencia sailed Monday the revo-
lutionists we're so near the town that Cap
tain Gronemeyer could see the flashes Of
their guns. Several buildings in Santa
Marta we're then ablaze, having been fred
by the evacuatlng troops. The town was
expected to surrender shortly Valencia
usually gets its cargo Of fruit at Santa
Marta.
Outrages by Rebels.
officers Of Valencia say horrible outrages
were committed during the fighting by the
rebels, who used chiefly machetes. All the
government troops were found along the
railroad tracks, their bodies being terribly
mutilated. They we're covered by branches
OF banana trees. Santa Marta is entirely
cut off from communication with outside
points and tine residents OF the port nave
sent an appeal by sea to Colon for pro-
lection. 1t is feared the revolutionists
will sack Santa Marta when they capture
the town.
The attack OF the revolutionists was en-
tirely unexpected and owing to their supe-
yior numbers the resistance Of the govern
ment troops was half-hearted. The ofncers
OF Valencia do not think the government can
get reinforcoments into the town in time
to save II.
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Sept 1o-The Brit
ish steamer william Cliff reached here to-
day from Colon. It's officers reported con-
siderable activity on both sides OF the 18TH
mus, which the vessel left Monday, and
that the revolutionists had occupied Guile
bra and were advancing in strength.
Concentrating the Troops.
General Benjamin Herrera is said to be
In command of the revolutionary forces,
which seem to be concentrating at a point
are strong government forces at each end
Of the railroad. Owing to the fact that tha
government does not know where to ex-
pect an attack II keeps the soldiers moving
along the forty miles Of railroad The rev.
olutionists gained possession of Culebra
without opposition. The government is
maintaining an attitude OF defense, and a
desperate engagement is expected shortly.
Business on the isthmus is suspended.
One Of the officers Of William Cliff said
TO q representative Of the Associated Press
that he had been informed by a reliable
person at Colon that the government con-
sidered the situation serious and that a
crisis was at hand When William Clin
left the prevailing opinion was that the
revolutionists would attack Panama first
because of the support they would get from
their gunboats on the Pacific side in an at,
tack on the nrst named city. The revo-
lutionists have no gunboats on the Atlantic
side.
VIII Push Their Work.
II is believed the revolutionists will push
their operations as quickly as possible, be-
cause OF the problem Of provisioning the
large government force that surrendered tC
General Herrera recently. 1t is thought
that some OF General Herrera's prisoners
will fight with his forces.
The government is said to be chatting al
the delay at arriving in Panama OF the
new gunboat Bogota. recently purchased
at Seattle, Wash, by Minister Concha
Lack OF transportation facilities for tbs
government is said to be largely respon,
sible for the present situation on the
isthmus.
PANAMA, Sept 10.-The censorship
maintained by the Colombian government
over press matters makes It impossible Il
cable many details concerning the surren
der Of Aqua Dulce. where the goyernmen
forces under General Morales Berti re
Gently surrendered to the insurgents.
The insurgents took possession Of Agui
Dulce in January of this year, after hav
ing defeated the government forces unde
General Castro. who managed to retrea
with nearly 400 men and reach Panama
General Berti was sent to recover tn,
place. When he arrived there he fount
that the strong forces under General Her
rera had retired from Aqua Dulce, which 4
situated between two big rivers, the Santi
Maria and the Nata, and General Berti en-
tered and took possession OF the town.
The insurgent gunboat Padilla capture
the port OF Aqua Dulce, severlng Genera
Berti's communication with Panama b
sea and the siege Of Aqua Dulce was begun