The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-26
IN CITDAD BOLIVAR.
The Scene OF the Latest Venezuelan Battles
bad Place for o Nervous Man.


Ciudad Bolivar, the scene of the Vene-
zuelan revolutionists' last stand against
Castro's army, Is an exciting place to live
in, even at the best of times.
at is semi-civilized spot on the verge
of the unknown Jungle" said New Yorker
who has been there. Il WAS condemned,
for my sins, to spend week there shortly
before the town fell into the hands Of the
revolutionists last year.
"I noticed that il anybody went out
after dark he always stuck his revolver
in his belt, and | was warned by several
friendly citizens not to stay out late In the
streets unless | wished TO be held Up and
perhaps murdered.
1T was paradise for the adventurous
One day | saw rum-shop keeper chase
the local barber do wn the street with a
loaded pistol in one hand and machete
In the other. I offered up a prayer for
the tonsorial artist, because had no razor
and he was the only one. Luckily he
escaped,
-The trouble was about an overdue ac-
count. The purveyor of liquid Joy was
simply trying to collect his money accord
ing o the approved local custom.
Another day an imprisoned revolution
list escaped from the Quartet, or barracks,
and couple of soldiers ran out to stop
him with bullets He got one in the lev
and pulled up bowling. The people thought
the revoMtionists had come, 30 in a trice
shops were shut, doors bolted, and every
body disappeared OF the streets like magic.
"The doors and shutters of the merchants
stores are made of sheet iron. When they
are closed the stores become veritable
fortresses.
MOST of the private houses are SINH
larly protected, and have little grilles
through which the inmates can spy out
to see whether visitors are enemies or
friends. Truly, q soothing place for a
nervous man to live In.
@Whent he sho ts were fired at the runaway
/ happened to he in the British consulate,
spinning yarns with the Vice. Consul I'm
mediately he heard the shots he locked his
safe, the clerk shut and barred the steel
doors, and then we got our revolvers and
went out on the balcony to see the fun.
poor, wounded wretch was dragged roughly
along the street back to the Quartet.
"Ciudad Bolivar Is probably the hottest
place on earth II is built on solid black
rock which retains the days heat far into
! the night. 40 that there is practically no
| respite. New York 3 recent heat wave would
have been welcomed as a cool spell by
| the inhabitants Of this 0rinoco hades.
IAN day long one IL plagued by myriads
Of mosquitoes more aggressive, even, than
those which have made New Jersey famous;
| and at night battalions Of frogs croak hor-
ridly and murder sleep.
"rhe walls Of the houses are badly pitted
with bullet marksgrm relics Of former
revolutions many are in ruins. Ciudad
Bolivar has often been battlefield before
| to day.
"The streets are unpaved. and in the
centre of each there Is a green, stagnant
| ditch. Where streets intersect, a. plank
Is thrown across to bridge these bitches
There are no vehicles, and indeed very
little civilization OF any kind The place
Is always sswarming with nickel-plated
on the unfortunate inhabitants, sip aqua
diente. smoke their eternal brown cigarettes
and discuss the glorious victories they are
going 20 win