The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-02-04
President of the Republic Is
Made q Prisoner.
Rebels Attack the Palace Early
in the Morning.
PEOPLE RUSH TO THE STREETS
Soldiers Fire in Air to Keep
Them Moving.
Business Houses Are Closed
and Residences Barricaded.

Lima, Peru, Feb. 4.-The presldent
~ the republic of Peru, Guillermo Bill
linghurst, was taken prisoner too"S
by military revolutionists.
The rebels suddenly attacked the
presidential palace, this morning, uii-
der the leadership of Colonel Bena-
vides.
General Enrique varela. premier
and minister of war, was killed III INC
sharp fight which ensued. Dr. Au-
rusto Durand, a former revolutionary
leader whose arrest was sougnt ny INC
police. took possession of the palace.
1t is generally believed that ne VIII "'
once organize a new government.
The attack on the palace Degan at
half past four in the morning. Inou-
sands of the inhabitants of Lima
dashed into the streets alarmed py
the firing. Squads of soldiers were
ordered to fire volleys into the air IN
order to prevent the formatlon Oi
cd they kept the panic. st icken people
moving from place to place:
In the vicinity of San Pedro church.
a. civilian bystander was killed Dy a
bullet. Great alarm prevails through
out the city. Banks and stores were
closed today and private houses barri-
caded The street cars. however, began
running before noon.
President Billinghurst was later TAX
en- by the rebels as a prisoner to Cal
lao, from which port he will be- sent
into exile in a foreign country.
Mexico Over Again.
Washington, Feb. 4.-The military
uprising in Peru, with the arrest or
President Billinghurst came as sur
prise to officials and diplomatic author
tiles here, recent advices having given
no indication of serious unrest. The
presidents latest message to the Pc
ruvian congress appeared to present an
exceptionally favorable condition of af-
fairs, following a long period of de-
preston, due to Peru's loss OF her rich
nitrate lands to Chile.
The president outlined plans of de-
velopment in which it was desired to
enlist American enterprise. The pres
ent crisis appears to grow out of local
political complications in which a
strong element headed by DR.. Durand
opposed the plans Of the president and
sought the dissolution Of congress.
1t is expected that when official ad-
vices of the revolt are received, the
American government may have pre-
sented, the question of it's attitude to
a revolutionary government set up by
force. At the outset of the present ad-
ministration, warning was given that
recognition would be given only to gov
ernment founded on law and order.
Peru's sudden revolution is due
principally to President Billinghurst's
earnest effort to place the finances
of his country on a sound basis. His
scheme for doing this involved the
strictest economies throughout the
public service and naturally proved
unpopular, particularly among hold
ers. who saw their salaries and esti-
mates pruned with a merciless hand.
At the end of last year congress re-
fused to vote the budget and President
Blllinghurst issued decree declaring
that the old estimates would remain
in force till the end of 1914.
Petitions from many of the prov
inces were presented to the president
asking for the dissolution of the con-
gress but all the political parties op-
posed this step as unconstitutional.
President Billinghurst is the son Of
an Englishman and was born in Peru.
His mother was a Peruvian. He is
about SIS years old. In 1868 his father
was drowned in tidal wave. Young
Billinghurst was educated in Peru
Wan schools and was brilliant schol-
ar He wrote several books in his
early manhood. He took an active
part in the war between Peru and
Chile and later became mayor of
Lima, the capital. He became presi-
dent in September, 1912.
DR.. Augusta Durand. who today
seized the government, has led several
revolutions in Peru. He fought against
President Pardo in 1908 and against
President Leguia in 1909. After his
followers had been defeated and had
surrendered to the government troops
in the later year, DIR. Durand escaped
to Chile, but he returned to Peru
some time later and continued con-
spring against the government. DR..
Durand was generally supposed to be
the leader of the agitation against
President Billinghurst.