The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-08-05
C|UDAD BOLIVAR CAPTURED
Venezuelan Rebels Defeated Alter
Three Days Of Fighting.
LAST INSURGENT STRONGHOLD

Ofeat CarnaSe AttenuS the desperate he-
sistance to the Victorious Government
Troops - Women Run With Babies
Through Hail Of Bullets and Cannon
Balls-2OO Defenders Die Together.
Caracas, Venezuela.-After 4 bloody
battle that ragged from noon on Sunday
until 8 o'clock Tuesday morning. the
Government troops have captured the
city of Cuidad Bolivar. During the
fighting hundreds of revolutionary
troops and citizens of Cuidad Bolivar
were killed and the city was complete
ly wrecked by shells.
The fighting was of the most deSper-
ate character. Block after block was
disputed, the Government troops enter
ing the city slowly. All the houses had
been barricaded and the revolutionists
had been firing from fiat roofs. called
azotoas. When the revolutionists final
ly abandoned the houses, after having
taken all that could be used for barri-
cades or to otherwise stop the Govern
ment troops, they were Immediately
occupied by the Government soldiers.
who bored big holes in them so as to
communicate with the next house.
At I o'clock Sunday evening the Gov
ernment forces, which were advancing
from all directions. arrived near the
centre of Ciudad Bolivar. For two
hours previously firing had diminished.
but it was renewed with more vigor at
10 o'clock at night" and Illuminated the
sky.
At 5 o'clock Monday morning. when
the inhabitants Of the commercial and
foreign parts Of the city, near the
Alameda, saw the advance Of the Gov.
ernment troops, they all abandoned
their homes and sought refuge in other
parts of the city, crossing the streets
amidst hail Of bullets and shells, the
women carrying their children, the
strong helping the weak. Many men,
in trying to protect the women, fell,
struck by bullets, in the middle Of the
streets. With the firing. the yells of
the wounded and the crying Of the
women and children, terrible scene
was witnessed.
The Government troops. however.
acted with humanity, especially the
forces of General Rivas, who, fighting
bravely was the first to order the at
tacking force to be merciful.
At 8 o'clock the Government gen.
erals. having effected junction Of
their forces, north and south. and hav-
ing received further supplies Of am
munition, decided to push the attack
on the centre Of the city. At 10 o'clock
the Government troops had captured
the north side of the Alameda. the pub
lie park of Ciudad Bolivar, which has
been defended by double row of bar
ricadeS. 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 CON-
mantlers. seeing that only the artillery
could make breach in the barricades
Of the Alameda. ordered twelve guns
to open fire on them, and at the same
time the Venezuelan fleet, which had
changed its anchorage so as to bring
its guns to bear effectively on the city,
opened fire.
The soldiers on both sides had had.no
food for two days, no ambulances were
being used, and yet the fighting went
OIL. At p. m. the advance Of the Gov.
ernment troops reached the market
place. The old customs house and the
water works were taken. The Dalton
block. the property Of the United States
Consul, where all the leading German
and French firms reside, was being at
tackled when the last telegram was
sent
The jail was the centre of q terrible
resistance. All the defeated revolu-
tionists were concentrated there. 1t is
estimated that more than 200 men
were killed in that vicinity.