The Indianapolis journal., 1903-07-22
Government Troops Resisted Desper-
ately by the Rebels, Many of Whom
Were Slaughtered.
CITY FINALLY CAPTURED
HUNDREDS OF DEAD IN STREETS
AND BEHIND BARRICADEs.
Women and Children Forced to Leave
Their Homes, Amid Showers of
Shot and Shell, and Seek safety.

CARACAS, Venezuela, July 21.-A mes
senger who has arrived here by steamer
and train from Ciudad Bolivar reports that
the city was 'aptured by the government
troops at o'clock this morning
SOLEDAD, Venezuela. July 20 delayed in
Transmission)-Since the last dispatch was
sent, at 8 o'clock yesterday afternoon, the
battle between the revolutionary forces at
Ciudad Bolivar and the Venezuelan govern
ment army commanded by General Romez
has ragged madly. Block after block was
disputed, the government troops entering the
city slowly. All the houses had been barri-
caded and the revolutionists had been forced
from fiat roofs called azotas When the
revolutionists finally abandoned the houses.
after having taken all that could be used
for barricades or TO otherwise stop the ad-
vance of the government troops, they were
Immediately occupied by the government
soldiers, who bored big holes into them So
as to communicate with the next house
They now look as If they had been struck
by a cyclone
At o'clock in the evening the govern
ment forces. which were advancing from all
directions, arrived near the center of Ciudad
Bolivar. For two hours previously firing
had diminished, but it was renewed with
more vigor at 10 o'clock at night, and illum-
mated the sky.
AMID SHOT AND SHELL.
At o'clock in the morning, when the in
habitants of the commercial and foreign
part of the city, near the Alameda, saw the
advance of the government troops. they
abandoned their homes and sought refuge
in other parts of the city, crossing the
streets amidst a shower of bullets and shells.
the women carrying their children, the
hal,
trying to help the women fell. struck nv
bullets. In the middle of the streets what
with the firing. the yells of the wounded
and the crying of the women and children,
q terrible scene was witnessed bad enough
to disgust anybody forever with civil war.
At o'clock this morning, the government
generals having formed junction of their
forces north and south. and having received
further supplies of ammunition, decided TO
push the attack on the center of the CITY
At o'clock the government troops had
captured the north side of the Alameda. the
public park of Ciudad Bolivar which had
been defended by a double row of barri-
cades. Behind one of these were found more
than thirty dead soldiers lying on top of
each other, while wounded men were seen
on all sides.
At 10 o'clock the government commanders.
seeing that only the artillery could make
a breach in the barricades of the Alameda
ordered twelve guns to open fire on them
and at the same time the fleet, which had
changed its anchorage so as to bring ifs
guns to bear effectively on the city. opened
fire
The soldiers on both sides have had no
food for two days. ambulances are he
ing used. and yet the fighting continues
On Monday at p. m. the advance of the
government troops had reached the palace
The old customs house and water works
have been taken. The Dalton block. the
property OF the United States consul. where
all the leading German and French firms
reside, is now being attacked. All the de-
feated revolutionists have concentrated II
is estimated that more than 200 men have
been killed in that vicinity. The artillery
of the revolutionists is fercely replying to
the attack of the fleet.
shelling l.. azol da, which has suffered ter
the revolutionists. but the complete sue
cess of the government forces is assured
SCENE OF CARNAGE
The fight from 1 o'clock this afternoon has
been horrible and at this hour the only
places which still resist the onset of the
government troops the Jail and capitol.
Early in the afternoon the government
troops, which received all the reinforce
ments available. together with ammunition
and who numbered in all 500 men, were
ordered 10 make general attack upon all
positions still held by the rebels.
At o'clock this afternoon the "Zamora" +"
called the Sebaatoool of ciudad Bolivar.