The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-03-02
COUP 'ETAT,PARAGUAYSTYLE
DETAILS or THE REVOLUTION
or JAN. Q LAST.

President Aceval Made TO Resign nv .
Revolver at His Head One Nan
Killed and Many Wounded In a
Debate In Congress. as to Whether
This Was Proper Jal,s Opened.
Further details have been received in
New York concerning the revolution in
Paraguay on Jan. 0 last. Acab,e despq. ,h,
stating that II had taken place, has alrp.iy
been printed in THE Sun.
At $50 A NJ on Jan. 9 a Ale Of sold ars
were seen to emerge from he cavalry
barracks IN Asuncion, tho capital Of Para
quay. They stopped IN front Of the house
occupied by DR.. Accyal, President Of ne
republic, and the officer in command
handed a note To the President in which
his presence on urgent business was 10
quested at the barracks.
Although the request was oouched in
courteous terms he PRESIDENT recognized
ut once that a coup d'etat was on the cards
and that he was virtually a prisoner. He
followed his captors TO the barracks. A
note was handle TO him. which he was
asked 20 sign.
The note was simply a letter Of resigna-
ton. and at first he demurred. 1t was
not until a loaded revolver had been pointed
at his head and be was informed that his
refusal would he followed by instant death
that he complied
A few hours later when Congress mot
there vas a lively scene. The leaders OF
the revolution were In strong force, and
there were the usual speeches denouncing
the President rs a traitor, who had forfeited
the confidence Of his countrymen, DC.
This did not satisfy Aceval's supporters,
who wished TO have more specific charges
brought against him. and who urged that
in such a case the proper course 70 pursus
was TO arraign him before the House aud
impeach him formally.
This suggestion did not suit the revo-
lutionists, and while a heated discussion
was taking place some one present fired a
revolver. This was the signal for a general
fight, n In an instant the hall Of Congress
was transformed into a field Of battle.
All the members who were armed drew
their weapons. The leaders Of Or. Aceval's
party had apparently specially armed
themselves for the occasion, but many Of
the revolutionists were also armed.
The first to fall was DR.. Insfram, who
had Just been defending the revolution in .
violent speech. He fell with a bullet
through DIS Urdln.
Another bullet passed under the ler
eve. He had, besides, half a dozen wounds
in ether parts of his body. So swift had
been the attack that he had had 40 time
TO use hi. weapon. which was found lying
beside him. 1t was a smAllbore Mauser
revolver,
The scene which ensued bafiee descrip-
ton. For a quarter OF an hour members
Of Congress chased one another among the
desks and chairs. Those who had re-
volvere chased, the others lodged OF made
their escape In the best way they could.
Order was finally restored by the arrival
a body Of soldiers with two Maxim guns.
which were trained on the body Of the
House. A threat TO sweep the benches
with those weapons proved e~fectual.
Then doctors and surgeons were able TO
attend 70 the wounded, of whom there were
many. Peaceful spectators also suffered.
for among the wounded were two stenog-
who were on duty at the time.
The yice-President, DR.. Hector Carvalho,
was declared President, and In twenty-four
hours every thing had quieted down and
business was resumed as usual.
One Of the first acts Of the new Govern
ment Yves 10 release all the prisoners In the
public tails, whether with a view to economy
or with the intention Of gaining new adj
herents il not known.