Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1902-12-17
ERTOCABELLOBOABARDED
VENEZUELA FORT ATTACKED BY
COMBINED FORCES.
British and German Cruisers Worked
for As Minutes, Then All Was ST.
Ience-Fort Commander Taken Pris-
oner-Fort Demolished-Great Ex-
citement Prevails Everywhere.

oaer-Fort Demolish ed-Great Ex
citement Prevails Everywhere.
Puerto Cabello-The British cruiser
ChaIybdis and the German cruiser
Vineta bombarded the fortress here al
. o'clock in the afternoon and quickly
silehced it. The bombardment lasted
45 minutes. The fortress is composed
OF Fort Solano and the Castle Liber
tador. After the firing ceased the
Charybdis sent marines to occupy the
castle. The fortress was almost de
few persons were injured by the shell
ing. The commander of the Castle
.bertador has been taken prisoner
lhe cruisers are still here
The Charybdis and the Vineta are
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
man Topaz, which was seized by the
British commodore on board the
Charybdis and lodged protest
against the violation of his ship. The
captain returned an hour later with
detachment of so marines, who took
charge of the Topaz. The populace
was greatly excited at this incident
and raised the cry, ITO arms" but
there was no disorder.
The British commodore then sent a
message to the authorities at Puerto
faction for the action of the mob in
having hauled down the British flag
from the custom house, saying il this
satisfaction was not forthcoming in
two hours, at o'clock the fortress and
the custom house would be bombarded.
On receipt of this demand, the au-
thorities sent message to President
Castro asking for instructions.
A committee of the merchants of
Puerto Cabello then approached the
American consul, petitioning him to
intervene. The consul accepted this
mission and visited the cruisers, but
he could obtain no alteration In the
decision Of the allies.
Satisfaction Was Delayed.
At o'clock a message was received
from President Castro, who authorized
officials here to give the British COM
mander ample satisfaction. Before this
answer could be communicated to the
American consul the hour stipulated
for the reply arrived. The cruisers
Immediately opened fire on the fort
ress. The fire was returned from Fort
Solano and Castle Libertador, but the
Venezuelan guns were soon silenced.
While the firing continued there was
intense excitement In this port. Every
house in town was closed.
The people Of Puerto Cabello can
not account for this precipitate action
on the part of the allies, which they
consider to be proof that Great Britain
and Germany intend forcing war upon
Venezuela. The British marines pro.
pose to make use OF the cannon in
Castle Libertador. No damage was
done to the town. The excitement OF
the citizens Is subsiding.
The entrance to the inside harbor
and Puerto Cabello is through mar,
row channel not more than few hun.
dred feet wide. To the left OF this
channel, as one enters the harbor,
situated on a low sand spit, is the
fortress which was bombarded by Ger
man and British cruisers. 1t is an old
fashioned structure which was rebuilt
In the 18th century. Its sides are COM
paratively low and would offer but
poor resistance to modern shells. 1t
Is not probable that the Venezuela
government had any cannon there.
The custom house at Puerto Cabello
Is situated on the west or mainland
side of the channel. 1t Is long, two
story brick building and contains, be,
sides executive offices, large ware
houses. Steamers discharging at
Puerto Cabello tie up Immediately in
front of the custom house. The town
itself is fiat and stretches from the
water inland to the base OF the hills,
a distance OF two or three miles.
The outside harbor at Puerto Cabel'
10 is hardly more than a large bay,
offering comparatively little protection
to shipping.
The inside harbor is very secure and
quite commodious.
Italy Makes Demands.
Caracas-The British legation here
will be reopened 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 not been confirmed.
The arrival of the United States
gunboat Marietta at La Guayra was
due to a rumor that United States
Minister Bowen was in danger. There
has been no ground for such rumor,
and the presence Of the Marietta was
not requested by Mr.. Bowen.
The situation in Caracas continues