The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1902-12-16
WITH SHOT AND SHE'LL
FOrt and Castle at Puerto Cabello
Quickly Destroyed.
This Means That War Has Begun Be-
tween Great Britain and Germany
On One Side and Venezuela
On the Other.

uSI W OdUSllC, OdbUIudg, OOC. To-
The British cruiser Charybdis and the
German cruiser Vineta bOmbarded the
fortress here at o'clock this after
noon and quickly silenced it. The bonn
bardment lasted for As minutes. The
fortress is composed of Fort Solanc
and the castle LibertadOr. After the
firing ceased the Charybdis sent ma
rines to occupy the castle. The for
tress was almost demolished. 1t is
probable that only a few persons were
injured by the Smelling. The com.
mander of Castle Libertador has been
taken prisoner. The cruisers are still
here.
At Z o'clock this morning the Char
ybdis and the Vineta arrived here
searching for Venezuelan gunboats.
The two cruisers sent their boats into
the inner port, but finding no gunboats
the boats returned The captain Of
the British merchant steamer Topaze,
which was seized by the mob here last
Wednesday, then visited the British
commodore on board the Charybdis
and lodged a protest against the viola
ton of his ship. The British captain
returned an hour later with detacn-
ment of so marines, who took charge
of the Topaze. The populace was
greatly excited at this incident and
raised the cry, "To arms!" but there
was no disorder.
The British commodore then sent
message to the authorities at Puerto
Cabello demanding immediate satisfac
ton for the action of the mob in hav-
ing hauled down the British flag from
the TOpaze, saying that ii this salts
faction was not forthcoming i'll two
hours, at o'clock the fortress and
the custom house would be lombard.
ed. On receipt of this demand the
authorities sent a message 70 Presi-
dent Castro asking for instructions.
A committee of the merchants of
Puerto Cabello then approached the
American consul here petitiOning him
70 intervene. The consul accepted this
mission and visited the cruisers, but
he could obtain no alteration in the
decision of the allies.
At 5:15 a reply was received from
President Castro, who authorized the
chief official here to give the British
commodore ample satisfaction. Before
this answer could be. communicated to
the American consul the hour slip
ulated for its receipt had arrived; the
cruisers Immediately opened fire on
the FORTRESS. The fire was returned
from Fort oolano and Castle Liberia
dor, but the VeneZuelans' guns were
soon silenced. While the firing con-
tinued there was intense excitement
in this port. Every house ii town
was closed.
The people of Puerto Cabello can not
account for this precipItaFe action on
the part of the allies, which they CON
slider to be proof that Great Sritain
and Germany intend forcing war upon
Venezuela.
The British marines propose to make
use of the cannon in Castle Libertador.
No damage was done to the town.
The excitement of the people is sub
siding.
Caracas, Saturday, Dec. 13.-The
British legation here was reOpened
tonight under the American flag by w.
w. Russell, secretary of the American
legation.
The statement that Italy, through
her legation here, is to demand pay
ment of her claims against Venezuela
has been confirmed.
Of he nj
gunboat Marietta at La Guaira yester-
day was due to a rumor that United
States Minister Bowen was in danger.
There has been no ground for such
-umOr, and the presence of the Mari
eta was not requested by Mr.. Bowen.
The situation in Caracas continues
to be critical, and there is intense
excitement among the German resi-
dents of the city To-day the Germans
sought refuge at the American lega-
ton, where they were sheltered. Mr..
Bowen has gotten in quantities of all
kinds of provisions, to be prepared for
any emergency.
The enlistment of Venezuelan sol
diers continues Two thousand men
from the environs of Caracas and Va
lencia came into this city to-day.
Priests are preaching for war. 1t is
reported that so Germans living in
the country have offered to support
the Venezuelan government against
Germany.
The people of Caracas are astonish-
ed that the government at Washington
remains silent in spite of the recent
acts of the allied fleet
Aged photographer Dead.