The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1881-04-23 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

WAR AND MASSACRE.  The war between Chili and Peru, whits' has terminated so disastrously for the latter country, has produced a rank harvest of indescribable hideosities. In Peru anarchy of the most awful character—anarchy complete and demoniac '—prevails. • In the beautiful and fertile valley of Cahete tho Cholos and negroes are reported to have risen against the Chinamen, about 2,000 of whom have been brutally massacred. On one plantation alone about five hundred persons have been murdered in cold blood, while property to the value of one million pounds sterling has been destroyed. Foreigners are flying from the district, where the work of rapine is still going on. A telegram observes :—" At Chincha, an adjacent valley to Cahete, the same desolation was threatened, and it was feared that similar outrages would be enacted throughout the whole of Peru. A large number of women and children had sought safety on board vessels which had been chartered to convey the refugees to Callao. As an instance of the chaos prevailing consequent upon the war, it is mentioned that one general had collected a million soles from a custom house in the north, and had also obtained a forced loan in Trujillo. Upon hearing that a body of troops under the command of Colonel Martinez was in pursuit of him, he fled from Trujillo. One of his acts before doing this was to arm the prisoners for the purpose of opposing Martinez, but the men deserted. Amongst the working population of Lima great poverty was said to prevail, and the Chilians were distributing provisions. It was stated that .the Chilians had issued a list of 60 property owners, from each of whozb it was intended to demand twenty thousand dollars as the first instalment of the war indemnity; and that the persons named in the list had held a meeting, at which they refused to pay the money. The demand of Chili was for one million dollars per month to cover the expenses of the army. Notice was given that if the demand was not complied with by the 19th of March, the houses of the persons concerned would be destroyed." Such blood-curdling accounts as this should have the effect of making the thoughtless, who are apt to gather their "impressions of war from 'what they have seen at a military parade, realise the ttanseendent bloomy; of peace.  itioem•To mar. 4. tr./- .•, . Another 0f_044 epinnif for the manufactis*f-diatricii of Lancashire and also Ilivexpoeil HO locality enjoy an unenviable notoriety has been committed at Preston. On Saturday two men named James Hunter and Alfred Foster were ill-using a drunken woman. She appealed to another man named Eecleston for protection, and he chivalronaly went to her assistance. He pushed Hunter away, on which the latter exhorted his companion, Foster, b "Come on." Foster, obeying the invitation, ran at Eccleston, " tapped " him with his head, and, taking hold of his legs, threw him to the ground. Whilst this was going on Hunter attacked Ecoleston's companion, and kicked him so severely on the legs that he fell three or four times, and became unable to stand. Hunter then turned round and called ' out, " Where are you, Foster—top or bottom ?" and Foster, who was on the ground with Eccleston, cheerfully replied "At th' top." Thereupon Hunter commenced kicking Eecleston on the head, and said, "I'll kick your h— head off your shoulders." Foster rose from the ground and joined Hunter in his brutality, both kicking Eccleston until he showed no signs of life, when they left him and his companion. Eccleston was taken up by some persons who had heard the disturbance, and carried to the house of Mr. Earner, surgeon, in Pole-street, about 150 yards distant, and that gentleman found that he was dead. The head and face present a horrible sight, being a mass of cuts and bruises and covered with blood. Above one is a hole as large as a crown piece. Hunter and Foster were both wearing at the time what are called "duck-bill toed" clogs, shod with iron, which look as if they were specially made for such murderous attacks. Eccleston was a "steeple Jack," 25 years of age, and has left a wife and three children. Hunter is a spinner, 19 years of age, ' and Foster is an ironturner, only 16 years old. The two young savages have been arrested, and there is every probability that they will he committed to stand their trial on the charge of wilful murder.  •-...