Evening star., 1903-08-18
A PRNATRS STORY
Vivid Description Of the Bat
tie of Ciudad Bolivar.
DESPERATE FIGHTING
AS SEEN FROM THE u. s. s. BAN
CROFT.
Venezuelan Troops Repulsed Many
Times, Finally Won Victory
Terrible Scenes Afterward.

Private Samuel L. Roseapple OF the de-
tachment of the United States Marine
Corps on the u S. s. Bancroft. which re-
turned to her station at San Juan few
days ago from Venezuela, used his eyes
during the battle of Ciudad Bolivar. and
gives of that sanguinary struggle de-
scription worthy of preservation as well for
its historic value as for its literary worth.
despite few crudities. Private Roseapple.
telling of the memorable trip Of the Ban
croft after briefly describing the voyage to
Bolivar. which was sighted May Is about
10 am. says:
Bolivar Is a small city situated on the
south side Of the river. 1t being a well-butlt
Spanish town. and almost a fortiflcation In
itself. the buildings being built of thick
cement walls. which were almost bomb
proof very few being more than one story
in height and very handsome. 1t IS built
on a hill overlooking the stream. and to an
invading army. II properly defended. Is al
most impregnable.
Ciudad Bolivar at this time was the only
province that Castro had not crushed. and
being the only revolutionary city in Ven-
ezuela. It having revolted against the gov
ernment on May %. 1902. at about II p.m..
Gems Ferrefas and Rolando being the Lead
ers. having an army of about 3.00 follow
ers we'll armed and supplied with ammun:-
ton.
The city being a natural defense. the reb-
els had little difficulty in strongly intrench-
ing themselves, and await the inevitable
attack by the government forces, 1t being
fourteen months ere any attempt was made
to take the city, owing chiefly to the late
trouble with the several foreign powers.
Upon approaching the city we sighted a
vessel which proved to be the Venezuelan
gunboat Restaurador formerly Gould's pa
latiaI yacht Atalanta, and which acted as
flagship.
The Restaurador sent a boarding officer
aboard and we learned that the situation
was as follows:
The Situation.
The government had force of 5000 men
surrounding the city. and besides the Res
taurador, the Bolivar, small gunboat: the
Miranda, also a converted yacht. and the
Janura. an old tramp steamer. which acted
as tender and supply ship for the govern
ment forces which are under command Of
Gen. Gomez, the vice president of Ven
ezuela.
The government also had possession Of
small village just opposite Bolivar called
Soledad. in which was mounted modern
field piece and held about 1900 government
soldiers.
AS soon as the boarding officer left US we
weighed anchor and proceeded past the city
and dropped anchor just below Soledad, and
in plain view of the whole situation.
The Restaurador and Bolivar were below
the city and the Miranda above. therefore
completely blockading the city both by land
and water.
Upon anchoring, our captain went ashore
and secured the release of three Ameri-
can mail steamers the property Of the
OrinOco Steamship Company. and sent
them to st. Felix, further down the stream.
and learned that the rebels were willing
to surrender If they would be pardoned.
but as Castro wanted the head of Ferreras.
they held out
pend hostilities until he could communicate
with Castro, he doing all In his power
to prevent bloodshed.
1t was on Friday morning. July II. that
Castro sent his answer in form Of an ulti-
matum declaring that he would grant no
quarter to the revolutionary leaders, this
causing great excitement in the city and
immediate preparations to begin hostilities
and offer strong resistance.
Early In the afternoon scattered fire
began along the OutpoSts. and occasional
cannonading could be heard in the dis
tance, which was kept up all day.
Toward night only the outposts fired oc
casional Shots the flashes we could plainly
see from where we lay. and continued so
all during Saturday and Sunday evening.
the lights still burning. the people in fever
ish excitement gathering in indignant
groups vehemently discussing and espous-
ing their cause.
Late Saturday afternoon the French gun
boat Jouffray was sighted We passed her
coming up: she being decorated In honor
of the French national holiday. 1.-The fall
of the Bastile." dressed ship for the
occasion. and at noon fired a national sa
lutte. which was returned, we drawing rap
idly away from her.
After taking aboard twelve refugees. all
men. she steamed away and out of sight.
Later reports showed that the casualties
had been very slight on both sides and
that the firing continued desultory and be-
came monotonouS.
Late Saturday evening Castro again Is
sued a grand proclamation declaring Fer
reras, RolandO & Co. traitors and deserv-
ing of no quarter. which resulted In a gem
eral call to arms and the signal to COM
mence hostilities.
A Steamer Released.
We discovered that one of the steamers
that had been released by the rebels had
been detained by the government gunboats,
after our captain pronounced release for
same and was anchored out of our sight
Upon learning Of this the captain sent
an officer aboard the Restaurador and de-
manded the instant release of same, and
after many apologies and evasive explana-
tons claiming that Capt. Alvar had given
Gomez. commanding government forces.
permission to use same dispatch boat
declaring such were the provisions made,
but being visibly scared and wishing to
avoid trouble, the demand was granted and
the steamer, the SOcorro was ordered to
proceed and anchor in shore of the Ban
croft which she did at about IL o'clock that
evening
On Sunday morning just before the break
of day, the time was about 4 o'clock, there
arose an awful rife fire. assisted by heavy
cannonading by all the ships and the gun
at Soledad and the fight was on.
A general attack was being made on all
sides of the city. the fighting was all at
close quarters. and very spirited and fierce.
A little later a spirited attack was made
upon the cemetery. the key to the western
approach of the city. verttable stronghold
in itself the rebels intrenching themselves
behind Its bullet-proof walls and driving
holes through same. so they could poke
their rifles. even in some parts building
scaffolds so that a double fire could be pour
ed upon the attacking party.
On came the government troops led by a
| gallant colonel, charging with determine
| ton, but each time being driven back by
| the awful fire Of the defenders: seven times
| did these courageous men try that charge.
| but each time they were driven back, the
| fighting at times being almost hand to hand,
| The shrubbery at the approach Of the ceme-
| terry had been cut away by the rebels. leay-
| ing a clear and open field. not the slightest
| obstacle which would afford shelter to the
attacking party. After some futile attempts