The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-04
LATEST ECUADOR REVOLUTION
,IAILS BREAK OPEN AND CAPT
IRE THE CAPITAL.
Every Army But One, Which Was Too Late
That Garcia sent Against Alfaro I'm
medlately Joined That Energetic Cit.
zen Minister Plaza's FOrlorn Hope.

Daniel I. sra pletOn, Il INNING engineer
# New York and Ecuador, is at the Holland
House He vent through the revolution of
last January, by which the Garcia Govern
mept was overturned by Gen. Alfaro, and
came r.' of Ecuador because, as he says,
be haa enough.
When you consider your interests and
what has happened to Them he said yes
terday. "rhe revolution was a tragedy. All
the rest Of the way it was a comedy. The
scane on January IS, when Gen. Alfaro came
in TO take possession of the conquered
capjta,. deserves to live in history.
ITO understand the revolution one has
10 20 back into history. In 1895 this same
Gen. Alfaro gathered together the Liberals,
came down from his own hill province and
CONQUERED the Conservatives. The half
breeds are the backbone Of the Liberal
partv. the Spaniards are mainly Conserva-
lives. Aliaro reigned for a year as Dictator.
Then be had himself elected President,
and in 1897 the republic adopted a new
constitution. By its terms a President
cannot succeed himself. Gen. Plaza took
his place. Then Garcia, a banker Of Guaya-
mil. the metropolis and seaport city, was
elected IN 1904 TO succeed him. Elections in
that country are all more or less fixed
vet Garcia was popular, and I think that
be would have been elected anyway. Plaza
had pro-American plans. After his retire
nent he brought pressure to bear upon
Garcia to nave him appointed Minister at
Washington. For a long time Ecuador had
maintained no Minister to the United States.
IN September last Plaza was sent, duly
accredited, to Washington, and Joseph
II, II IN 90 Rn1tirnnra uaa aYNha rod
with hin as American Minister to Ecuador.
The two Ministers met at a formal banquet
a, Sherry's last September. Lee was re-
ceiyed with great honor by President Garcia.
A military escort met him at the terminus
Of the Guayaquil and Quito Railroad, which
has not yet reached Quito, the capital. and
Garcia invited all the other foreign Ministers
TO the reception of Mr.. Lee. Mr.. Lee was
also the guest Of honor at the Presidents
ball on New Years eve. Inside Of two
weeks Ecuador was giving him an enter
tainment of another kind. He was privi-
legged to see a South American revolution.
Why it started just at that time, no
one knows exactly, although all Ecuador
has it's theories Garcia was apparently
popular, and things seemed to be going
well; but early in January ex-President
and General Alfaro came down from his
hill province, hoisted the standard of revo-
hutton and marched on a little interior town
named Rio Bamba, which was garrisoned
with leo soldiers. A few shots were fired
as a kind Of formality, but no one was hurt;
and then the garrison marched out and
Joined the revolution. With this nucleus
Alfaro marched on against the next garTi-
son. The same thing happened. Wherever
he wen. the soldiers Joined him.
when the news reached Quito President
Garcia despatched three battalions Of in
fantry against the insurgents. The troops
marched on until they reached Alfaro, and
Joined him. Garcia, learning of this, sent
his artillery and the rest of his infantry
to garrison the town. They marched to
the outskirts Of the town, packed up INC
kept on marching until they reached Alfaro.
He took them in and started for the capital
With nearly the whole army at his hack.
Not a soldier was left in Quito.
On January le, the very day that the
last soldier left the city, an attack was made
from without and within on the warden
and keepers of the penitentiary and jail
il QuIto. All the officials were overpowered,
bound. gagged and locked into cells. The
prisoners streamed out. formed before the
jail and were taken in charge by a nephew
Of Alta 70 who had been locked up charged
with an attempt to assassinate President
Garcia. These prisoners took possession of
the town, made Garcia practically a pris-
oner il his own house and prepared to hold
Quito for the coming Of Alfaro. For three
days the citizens remained barricaded in
their houses, while the prisoners ran the
pty 7 ,-,l en,, co. tbona flo. 49,. 49,.
pretty well in hand. They stole a good
many things, but there was no systematic
looting. Three or four Of them were killed
by their companions in drunken fights
over loot, but the citizens, as far as I heard,
were not harmed. And on January 10 Alfaro
entered the town at the head Of his fol-
lowers and his army
The citizens we're all assembled on the
street but there was not a cheer as Alfaro's
carriage drove across the plaza past the
Cathedral and up to the steps of the Capitol.
Behind him, in the place of honor, came his
revolutionists. I wish l had a photograph
OF that crowd. There were half breeds
wrapped up in ponohos and riding little
mules 50 small that the riders had to tuck
up their knees 70 keep their steeds from
walking out from under them. There were
greasy looking Indians, sleepily hugging
old fashioned muskets with which their
fathers made revolutions. A whole lot of
them were barefooted and ~bareheaded; and
Id hate 70 meet any Of them on a dark
night, Behind trailed the army.
'A!faro walked ont on the balcony Of the
Capitol and read a proclamation naming
himself as dictator or 'Jefe supreme He
posted a document declaring Garcia's Office
forfeited, and proceeded to run the Govern
ment. ! will say for him that he proceeded
With great moderation. He ordered no exc
c%utlons, and eXiled only Garcia. The ex-
Presiden was escorted to Guayaquil, from
which place he sailed with his family for
barcelona, where he expects to pass the rest
Of his life.
What converted the army 50 suddenly
and thoroughly The Ecuadorians say
that II was money. Certainly there was a
strange ulanlmity in the way they joined
The conqueror. Only one considerable
body Of troops failed to join. There were
1000 men in garrison at Guayaquil. They
started by troop trains for Quito as soon as
the trouble broke out. They were nearly
three days in making the trip. When they
arrived II was too late.