The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-16


was on Cerro Gordo Hill and the GENE
terry. The fight at the cemetery wall was
fierce and bloody, but it was repulsed with
great oss to the Government, one COM
mand of 200 losing sixty and others sustain
Ing equally heavy losses.
The attack was renewed AT 10 O'Clock and
again repused with heavy losses on both
sides. A third attack wa made at o clock
directed fiercey upon The three important
defences, the Cemetery, Cerro Gordo and the
Zamora Again the ragged revolutionsts
met' superior numbers with indornitable
courage The charge was repulsed at the
cemetery, the Whites pursuing their
defeated opponents into their intrench-
ments. But the "Yellows" had gained the
Zamora and the Whites" on returning to
their Notifications saw the yellow flag floating
over their strongest defence, me capture
of the fort was secured by the treachery or
an officer named Cordero, who murdered
his superior officer with machete, opened
the gates and with his command went over
to the Government The revollltionistS
made brave fight to retake the Iamora'
but failed after severe losses by hayol et
and bullet. Eight hundred attacked The
fort, climbed up It's walls. were driven back
reiterated through heavy fire and got back
with only about half the force that went out
The Zamora was the key to the situation
without il Gomez probably could not have
Captured the city, Its loss-no doupt py
bribery settled the fate Of therevolitioh'
Close fighting continued during the even
ing and heavy firing all night win the
exception Of the Zamora the relative POSI-
tions of the armies were the same as when
the battle began The Government loss on
the first day " as 800 killed and 800 wounded;
the rebel loss, $50 killed and 200 wounded;
On the morning Of the. second day ths
prospect was good for bombardment OF
IA in A
number of women, therefore,, who had
previously declined to leave their homes
asked TO be taken of and We're removed
to the Bancroft during hall in the hghting,
about 8 o'clock In the bombardmsnt
that followed twenty eight shells exp,ouea
innumerable bullets. A general attack be-
gan at $50 O'Clock all along the land lines,
with spirited bombardnent from the
gunboats, Soledad village and the Zarnora;
The Government troops on the east crossed
the cut in the levee and seized the rebel
redoubts. They then advanced up tne
broad water front as far AZ the Amerlcan
consulate, where they met stubborn re-
sjstance The garrison at the market
made a hot fight. The soldiers took post
behind every object that would furnish
shelter--houses, quays, benches and trees
and shot to kill.
The Government troops. aided by the
steadily and finally reached the market,
but at fearful cost to beth sides the rebels
staying TO be shot down rather than flee.
The Government made less rapid progress
at the cemetery. The rebels, fighting be-
hind the wall and the tombs, held their
own till the Quartet gave, way Then
they withdrew along a sunken road to
their breastworks in the city Dislodged
from here, they retired through the streets
fighting as thew retreated from behind
barricades and houses
In Bolivar, as in all Spanish Americ an
towns, the houses can easily be turned into
rortre The thick stone walls, rising
Tile roof, make strong breastworks The
fight from these houses was sanguinary
and the street = were heaped with dead and
diving. The fighting was also close and
severe in the plaza around the Capitolia
AT nightfali the rebels held only the
pitolia fortress and the houses In its
immediate vicinity. At midnight the firing
ceased and the city was In possession OF the
Venezuelan Army. Ferreras did not wait
for Come, He and n few faithful follow
ers escaped to the hills but Rolando was
captured In the German consulate. The
late rebel troops threw away their white
hat hands and guns and AZ once became
ordinary citizens, mingling with the con-
ouering -yellows
The CITY and surroundings presented a
horrible sight on the next morning, with
bodies wing all around, singly and in groups,
and the wounded utterly lacking attention
from ANYBODY. A conservative estimate
Of the losses by an American officer who
went over the field was 200 to 400 dead
given to either dead or wounded. They all
law as they fell or could crawl. The living
soldiers lounged about the city and In
groups PLAYED cards among the wounded,
paying no attention to their groans.
Neither of the armies had am bulance
corps or hospital supplies, and not even
a surgeon made himself known by rendering
aid 70 the suffering. Here was call OF
humanity that touched the American hearts
and the Bancroft promptly responded to
the call. Early In the morning after the
battle ceased Surgeon James G. Pryor 81
supplies and set up temporary hospital