A DESPERATE FIGHT IN PERU.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1201, 6 March 1885, Page 3

A DESPERATE FIGHT IN PERU.

The Peruvians, not content with their thrashings at the hands of the Chilians, have been lighting ever since among themselves in the sanguinary manner peculiar to internecine struggles. 'A despatch from Lima, date I October 22, gives ah' account of the capture of Trujilio by the Government forces on October 10. The fighting is described as being the most desperate and bloody ever seen in Peru. The place was defended by Captain Gregorio Mire Que* zada, a naval otlicer, with 1,200 men and 7 small field pieces, most of which were cast from the bells of the larger churches. The assault was made by Colonel Iglesias, brother of the President, and the Minister of War, Echenrique, at the head of as many more soldiers, provided with field pieces and mitrailleuses. Quezida had erected barricades in the streets leading to the Plazi. The church towers were converte into fortresses, and were filled with riflemen and men throwing hand grenades into the ranks of the attacking columns. Thu Plaza itself constituted ihe. centre of resistance, and the Town Hall was strengthened on the ou'side by large sheets of iron nailed to it. After various summonses to surrender, which were disdainfully rejected, the advance began in the morning, and after seven hours of street fighting, the Government troops gained the Plaza, and put the. rebe's to flight, capturing nearly all their principal offioetrs The small guns of the rebels did god service from the barricades in the narrow street. The small guns of the rebels did good service from the barricades in the narrow street. The fire from the towers, and the hand grenades; thrown on the enemy were severe in their effects, but the Government soldiers halted at no obstacle, and showed no quarter. Three hundred were killed on both sides, and 400 wounded. It is estimated that nearly 200,000 cartridges were burnt. Don Jesus Elios, who had supplanted Puga, and who afterwards gave over the leadership to Quezada, was captured, as was also Quezada, with three severe bullet wounds. After the victory the Government troops commenced an indiscriminate sack of the houses of the people whom they considered as inimical, and several mercantile establishments were broken open, the effects stolen, and the buildings greatly damaged. Diplomatic claims against: Peru will soon be presented ou this account. Some Spanish and German merchants lost heavily in the general loot. The Government captured seven field pieces, 600 rifles, 26,000 rounds of fixed ammunition, a number of the pestilent hand grenades referred to, and a quantity of dynamite.