New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-21
THE FIGHT AT BOLIVAR
Il DESPERATE CONFLICT.
Capture of the City Described by One
of the Bancroft's Crezc.


San Juan. P. r. Aug. II CspeciaD.-A private of
the detachment of the United States Marine Corps
on the United States steamship Bancroft which
returned to her station san Juan a few days
ago from Venezuela gives the following dssc-iP-
ton OF the light between the Venezuelan Govern
ment forces and the rebels at Ciudad Bolivar:
We sighted the city OF Bolivar the morning o.
a fortidcatiou in itself the buildings having thick
cement wal.s Few OF the houses. are more than
iaokiTS b IN 1e.Sn' Inc city Is on NH over
Ciudad Bolivar was the only province that Castro
had not crushed Generals Ferreras and ROandO
were the rebel leaders having an army OF about
three thousand men. well armed and supplied with
ammunition
the city being natural defence. the rebels had
little ditnculty in strongly iutrenching themselves
70 await the attack by the government forces
II was fourteen months before any attempt
Inc government had force Of 5000 men sur
Bolivar. a small gunb5at. the miranda and the
JanuTa an o.d tramp steamer. which acted as
which we're under command OF General Gomez.
The government also had possession Of a small
was mounted a Inodsra aelt piece and held about
were below the city and the Miranda above. block
Upon anehS-ing below ScIedsd our CAPTAIN went
ashore and secured the release of three American
down he stream he e7Tre tSa4 me reSeis wsrs
willing surrender II pardOued but Castro
wanted the head Of Ferre-as they held out. Our
gh he coud 2 Vi ita dRs t9o h8 On F
day morning, July II. Castro
the form Of an ult-raaturn declaring that ne would
gFa9s no aaart1r TO- TIE rgv9guo9ary sadeTs Tas
preparations 10 Ouer strong resistance
THE BEGINNING OF THE FIGHT.
Early in the afternoon a scattered FIRE began
aIong the Outposts. and occasional cannonading
could be heard in the distance which was kept up
all day Toward night. only the Outposts fred &C
casiOnal shots. This continued CT Saturday even
ing The people were IN FEVER or excitement
gathering in indignant groups 10 discuss their
Ist. S,+,,~5,,- af+a-,oor ,ba r-ra7cb er,nboa+
Jouffroy was sighted After taking aboard twelve
- -, az 7jcC,-a,,5 that one % -ba
steamers that had been released by the rebels had
been detained by the government gunooats after
he had ordered her release. and was anchored out
An on 7er was sent aboard the Restaurador. and
demanded the steamers instant release. and after
to proceed and anchor inshorg OF me Baneroll'
a 6eaIT rife IRE assisted by heavy cannonading by
All the ships and the gun at soedad. and the hsht
was on 4 general attack was being made on al
sides OF the city the lighting was all at close
quarters. and was spirited and fierce.
little later SPIRITED Ss'4eA $3.50 %S annr GS ~
the city. stronghold in itself The reoels II
tpch 16n6a fbem In some parts they built
scaffoIds so that a double IRE could be poured
The ~ EoTernmenf troops were led BY colonel
They charged with determination; out eaen me
seven times they tried that charge. the fghtng at
at the approach OF the cemetery had been cut
away by the rebels. leaving an open Held, which
set in. stiH leaving the rebels in possession
The fighting continued all nlght moi aoallng H
ground.
FORT LOST BY TREACHERY.
The hardest ghRs Vas on the s2gSh side 9 q
the city TINS lurhlns OGI % oe 80
small fort there but this, We learned, was betrayed
was practically over although the rebels fought
with desperation. They retreated step by step
TO the centre OF the city conlesJng every lnca OF
The ships. with the exception Of the Bolivar. did
little execution The Bolivar the admiration
! of all by her excellent work. She went close to
the beach and cleared way for her soldiers under
Toward evening the battle subsidized somewhat
the lighting being almost altogether on the south
side of the city. and later in the evening the fire
OF both sides became desultory. About 10 o'clock
signal was hoisted by our consul asking for aid.
All hands volunteered 10 60 The steam launch
the crew 81 ave- foIr y,a7 rats In oSSS -
assistants and medical emergency supplies This
extremely dark and the o1Dosi1s forces On atft%%
hour and brought of some treasure the consul and
his people remaining in the city overnight coming
on board IN the morning and staying until after
On. on Monday July 49, about 10 O'Clock, the nrnz
guns in stio ~ y ap we 1esrd several Hachns
and was being waged almost hand 10 hand
sea wall and pour shot and shell into the CITY az
times having 10 retire on account OF the heavy rh5
behind every possible shelter.
me sOVernInent troops again tried 70 take the
cemetery and after several unsuccessful Charges
captured it and pushed their way into the city
AMERICANS AID WOUNDED.
About : o'clock the next morning We weighed
anchor, ana Proceeded down the stream 10 q posi-
llOn opposite the american Consulate Upon sscJIr-
ing our ship Mr.. Henderson. the American con-
suar agent, impaired the information that the Citv
was IN bad state and upon hearing this the BAN
crofts doctor and the hospital staff went ashore To
give all the aid possible Soon after almost eve-y-
man VoIunteered his services and went ashore 10
Temporary hospitals were tnp-ovised IN publi,
buildings and the doctor and his assistants from
French gunooat Jounroy. began work which lasted
far into the next morning.
The government being without medical assist.
wounded were left in the sun 70 die: NOT a bsrT
was lent 10 assist them until the Bancrofts men
went ashore IL is certain that The death Ilss
any aid at the proper time.
The killed amounted 10 about twelve hundred and
ngures being given. most OF the wounded dying
from lack OF proper care.
They were also slow IN removing the dead. and
the city was in frightfuI state the CdOr from
the bodies OF men. horses and mules benz
nauseous N the extreme Some o. the bodies
almost stark naked lay in the hot sun until rhav-
Later they began 10 remove the bodies Ustn-
q small tWo-wheelzd cart, on which they put eighr
or ten bodies n each load. and then trampled
them down 70 make room for more. They cartsd
them 70 place just beyond the cemetery and pile5
them IN stacks. on top OF dry timber where thew
were 70 De burned The line was almost a mile
long In some places could see individual bodies
burning. and in rhe I'D not perform
its work. leaving arms hands and feet lying along
side the pile.
ROBBING THE DEAD BODIES
The people themselves made no effort vbateye-
To clean dsirfect the city: il was nothing out a
a.