Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-12-18
CARACAS IN REVOLT.
VenezueIans Rise In Big Demonstra-
ton Anainst Castro.

Caracas, Monday, Dec. IA, via Will
lemstadt, Curacao, Dec. 16.-The peo-
pie of Caracas arose today against
President Castro. An infuriated mob,
unhindered by the police, swept
through the city, wrecking the prop
crty of his henchmen and closest
friends.
The people rounded up all the statues
and pictures of President Castro from
the clubs and other semi-public build
ingS and burned them with rejoicing on
the Plaza Bolivar. Castro's rule IN
Venezuela is probably ended:
In spite of Hollands warlike activity
on the coast there have been no dem
onstrations against the Netherlands.
They have all been directed against
Castro and Acting President Gomez.
Further dangerous demonstrations are
ANTICIPATED. No official act deposing
Castro has yet been taken, but such a
step is expected any moment.
An enormous crowd Of inhabitants
of the capital, swelled by people from
the outlying country, gathered in the
streets soon after daybreak. The peo-
pie began by marching up and down
the main thoroughfares, and It was
easy to see that their ill-temper would
soon result in violence. The police
stood by and made no attempt What-
ever to restrain the mob.
The first building to be attacked
and looted was that of the lottery mo-
nopOly The offices of the state en-
terprise that has enriched itself at the
expense of the people were ransacked
and pillaged. Furniture was broken
and thrown into the streets and thou-
sands of lottery tickets were destroyed.
The crowd then moved to the print
ing office of FL Constitutional, the or
gan of Castro, on which Gumersindo
Rivas is editor, and pillaged it com
pletely. A steam laundry belonging to
Senor Rivas also was wrecked.
The crowd then turned its attention
to several drug stores belonging TO
SenOr Thielen, Son-in-law or zen.
TellO Mendoza, and turned them INSIDE
out. Gen. Mendoza was at one time
minister of finance and public credlt
under Castro. He was also the pres
ident's private secretary for several
wears, and has been regarded as one OF
his staunchest supporters. He is unlVer-
sally hated by the enemies of Castro
and his unpOpularity and his close
connection with the president account
ed for the anger of the populace against
the property of his sOn-in-law.
The statues and pictures Of President
Castro were made into a huge bonhre
on the Plaza Bolivar. The crowd
cheered as the flames completed the
destruction of these effigies of the dc
tator
Numerous inscriptions setting forth
the virtue Of Castro and eXtOlling his
rowers next attracted the retaliation OF
the mob and every inscription bearing
CastrO's name was hacked out and
erased. Some of these legends were
carved on public buildings Of the city.
1t was after o'clock before the
crowd had got thus far in its depreda-
tions. 1t lacked leadership and paused
in default of other fields for its de-
structive energies. 1t was then that
detachment of troops was called out
for duty on the city streets and Act
ing President Gomez issued a manltes-
To prohibiting further demonstrations
Those measures had the desired erect
for the mob quieted down and then
dispersed.
The attack Yesterday on the Offices of
FL Constitutional, when the crowd was
curbed by a detachment Of soldiers,
who fired into the demOnstrantS, re-
suited in several fatalities. A GRIM
inal action has been begun against
Editor Rivas and other employees OF the
paper in which they are charged with
responsibility for these deaths. 1t is
declared that RivaS and his men hred
first on the people, making use OF re-
vOlvers.
FL Constitutional has suspended pub
lication and Caracas Is practlca!ly
without a newspaper.
The funeral Of Marcano RoJaS, one
Of the men killed in the fighting or
Yesterday. has been fixed for tomor-
row. A vast crowd will turn out and
further disorders and riOting are eX-
nected.