The Campbell Brothers

James and William Campbell, both from Paul Boyton's former hometown, Allegheny City, worked for the M.A. and Panama Company, a railroad company in Peru. William wrote to his father from Arequipa (published in the New York Times May 10, 1880) that on March 7, 16,000 Chileans attacked Mollendo in Peru. James ran all the movable engines and machinery to a place of safety and buried the rest. The two brothers were captured and made an escape.

James was recaptured and refused to tell them where the machinery was buried. The Chileans tied him to a horse and forced him to walk 13 miles through the sands under the burning sun. They refused to give him water and threatened to shoot him. James was put into jail in Ansenia, where he was tried and sentenced to death. The Chileans burned or dynamited all the machinery and stores that they could find.

On August 18, the New York Times reported the two sons of Felix Campbell of Allegheny city were still captive. Mr. Campbell made application to Secretary Evarts, asking for his interference.