New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-06
Taken by Surprise, Many Flee,
but Others Fight Fiercely to
Stop Onslaught of In
vaders, Who Dash
Through a Gulch.
FEDERALS TAKE MASAYA
Opponents Driven Into Church and
Are Slaughtered-General Zeledon
Escapes, but Is Captured and
Shot After Desperate
Encounter.


San Juan del Sur. Oct. 5.-American
marines and sailors assaulted and
captured the ~insurgent fortresses OF
Masaya on Barranca and Cayotepe
hills yesterday morning. The federal
government forces afterward defeated
the insurgents In the city and drove
them out.
The two hills, which lie just outside
have been an insurgent strong
hold since the outbreak of the revolu-
ton. Both were strongly fortified with
and barbed wire. The
garrison numbered 1000 and was boun-
tifully supplied with cannon and ma
chine guns.
Cayotepe is 300 feet high and Bar
ranca 200 feet. The railroad from
Managua TO Granada runs between
them and is commanded by the hills.
This fact led the American admiral,
William II. II. Switzerland, to demand
the surrender of the fortresses. This
was refused by General Zeledon, COM
manding the insurgents. At o'clock
on Thursday morning the Americans
began a bombardment Of the two hills.
This continued all day. but apparently
with little effect. During the night
the American forces moved around TO
the opposite side, and before daybreak
were in position-Major Smedley D.
Buffers battalion Of marines on the
east side OF Cayotepe, Major MeKel-
veys command on the northeast and a
battalion OF sailors on the north. Colo
mel John H. Pendeton was in supreme
command.
Fire voIIsy and Charge.
At daybreak they had gained a posi-
ton six hundred yards from the en-
and as the light came up
over the hills fired one volley and
charged.
The rebels. not expecting an attack
from that quarter. were taken by sur
prise. Many of them fed; others stood
and fought fiercely with machine guns
and rifles. The onward rush of the
American troops could not be stopped
In thirty-seven minutes they had gained
the crest OF the hill.
The fierceness OF the fight can be
Judged by the fact that forty insur-
gents were killed and seventy-five
Only fifteen were taken
prisoners.
In the charge four marines Of Com
pany C, under Captain Fortson, were
killed by the fire Of machine gun and
eight were wounded. Two or three Of
the wounded are in a serious condition.
including Lieutenant Martin, who was
shot In both feet. The names Of the
dead marines are Bobbstt, Durham,
McGill and Pollard.
All the killed and the eight wounded
men were In this company. which was
through gulch down
which the machine gun was trained.
a bullet struck the ma
chine gun, putting 1t out Of commits
sion. The rebels fought like tigers
and a number Of Americans in other
companies were slightly wounded.
Guns Turned on Barranca.
Having effected the capture OF Cay
otepe, the guns were turned on Bar
ranca, which was taken without much
trouble by the American forces. The
rebels retreated to the city OF Masaya.
The government forces had formed In
line waiting for the word to advance
and attack the city. This was done
on the capture of the two
hills. The federals gained an entrance
TO the city and threw up barricades-
Then began fighting in the streets, with
the rebels massed at the church In the
plaza. The federals finally drove them
within the walls Of the church. About
noon they succeeded In breaking down
the church door with well directed
shot from heavy gun, and rushed In
side.
The slaughter was terrible. Practi-
cally all the rebels were killed OF
and many OF the federa's
shared a like fate. General Zeledon
made his escape from Masaya wounded.
but was overtaken about ten miles
away by squad Of federal cavalry. In
A fierce encounter which followed he
was killed. General Zeledon Is the IN
surgent officer who bombarded Mama
qua in August bombardment which
resulted In the death Of 1876 women ana
children.
Cayotepe Hill is noted In Centrai
american warfare as impregnapie. IL
was never captured by assault until the
Americans took 1t. The American
'orces returned to their encampment
he same day, with the intention OF