Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 March 1890 — BLOODY BATTLE IN PERU [ARTICLE]

BLOODY BATTLE IN PERU

FRIENDS OK POLITICAL CANDIDATES INDULGE IN A RIOT. Terrible Slaughter of the Contending Forces—A Horrible Butchery by Indians Maddened by Liquor—Score* of Inhabitants Sacrificed in Their Drunken Fury. Lima cable: The antagonism ex isting between the two candidates for the Presidential nomination has resulted in a battle in the streets of Huanta between the two parties and many on both sides were killed, among them being Senor Lazona. deputy of Congress and head of the revolution, and I)r. Urbina, chief of tho Rosas party. Dr. Urbina, having seen five members of his family fall at his side during the eight hours of the combat, left with tho remaining members to seek refuge at the Matrise church. There he found a number of women, children, and old people. The priest before tho horrlblo tragedy took place, exhorted tho Indians to desist, In tho name of humanity, from their horrible mode of procedure, but when the Indians are drunk they are most furious and incapable of reasoning. As they drew near tho church, threatening to burn it, Dr. Urbina, under terrible emotion, knowing that he had been the only cause for such action on the part of the Indians, and wishing to.save the lives of tho many innocent persons who had taken refuge in the church, resolved without losing timo to sacrifice himself and terminate tho anguish of his friends. Leaving the church lie nddresed his enemies iu the following manner: “I am Urbina, for whom you aro looking. Kill me If you like but tho persons in tho church aro not my accomplices. Do not injure them.” Tho priest, to whom ho aunouucod his determination, gave him Ills benediction and accompanied him to tho door of the church, opening a wicket and bidding him good-by, sobbing as ho did so. The priest intended to return and close the church, but as ho arrived at tho porch he became deprived of reason. A few moments afterward the head of this victim of tho implacable hatred and barbarity of his countrymen was to bo seen on tho Plaza do Huanta. The guerrillas, in their drunken fury, not being satisfied with the murder of Dr. Urbina, continued to slaughter the inhabitants and to sack and burn the town for many hours afterward. Over *OO lives were sacrificed to the old rancor existing between tho families of L'azona and Urbina.