SCENES OF HORROR. 



25 



pendence, and the drawing of the great party-lines be- 

 tween the Centralists and Federalists, the State of Nic- 

 aragua became the theatre of a furious struggle. In an 

 unfortunate hour the people elected a Central governor 

 and Liberal vice-governor. A divided administration 

 led to drawing of blood and the most sanguinary con- 

 flict known in civil wars. Inch by inch the ground 

 was disputed, till the whole physical force and deadly 

 animosity of the state were concentrated in the capital. 

 The contending parties fought up to the very heart of 

 the city ; the streets were barricaded, and for three 

 months not a person could pass the line without being 

 shot at. Scenes of horror surpassing human belief are 

 fresh in the memory of the inhabitants. The Liberals 

 prevailed ; the Central chief was killed, his forces mas- 

 sacred, and in the phrensy of the moment, the part of 

 the city occupied by the Centralists was burned and 

 razed to the ground ; besides the blood of murdered 

 citizens, the tears and curses of widows and orphans, 

 the victors had the rich enjoyment of a desolated coun- 

 try and a ruined capital. The same ruthless spirit still 

 characterized the inhabitants of Leon. The heroes of 

 Taguzegalpa, without a single prisoner as a monument 

 of mercy, had been received with ringing of bells and 

 firing of cannon, and other demonstrations of joy, and 

 they were still in the city, flushed with their brutal vic- 

 tory, and anxious to be led on to more such triumphs. 



I must confess that I felt a degree of uneasiness in 

 walking the streets of Leon that I never felt in any city 

 in the East. My change of dress did not make my 

 presence more acceptable, and the eagle on my hat at- 

 tracted particular attention. At every corner was a 

 group of scoundrels, who stared at me as if disposed to 

 pick a quarrel. With some my official character made 



Vol. II.— D 3 



