Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1882 — A RACE FOR LIFE. [ARTICLE]

A RACE FOR LIFE.

Frantic Endeavors of tbe Foreign Ministers at Lima to Dodge Chilian Shells —The Venerable Christiancy as a Pedestrian. [Washington Telegram.] The diplomatic correspondence of • the yea is being published at tho Government Printing Office. From advance proof-sheets is gained a very interesting account of the narrow escape of the corps in Peru upon the 15th of January, 1881. The story of this event has never been more than briefly mentioned, owing to the remoteness of the locality. Lima was surrendered on the 17th of January. On the afternoon of the 15th our Minister, Mr. Christiancy, accompanied by the members of the diplomatic corps, wept out to a village five miles from Lima to have a consultation with President Pierola and to learn from him his answer to the terms of surrender offered by the commander of the Chilian forces. The Peruvian and Chilian armies were drawn up in line of battle in the neighborhood of this town, but hostilities had been suspended for twelve hours. By an accident a heavy gun was fifed, and, without waiting for any explanation, both sides at once entered into battle. The representatives of the diplomatic corps who came out suddenly found themselves between the fire of the two sides, and had a very narrow escape. From an extract made by the English Minister, the Hon. Spencer St John, it appears that Minister Christiancy had himself a very trving time. It is evident that Mr. St John did not understand Mr. Christiancy’s relations with his wife. In his report, in describing the escape he says : “ The corps divided, one party making for the railroad train they had left but a little while before, while another party sought to gain the railroad track far ahead of the train. Mr. Christiancy, the United States Minister, advised that course, saying that, though he was not actively engaged in the late rebellion in his country, yet he understood flanking. I joined the Christiancy party, and the race for life commenced. Tne shot and shell came thick and fast, and our party displayed aH the leg activity each one was capable of. Shells would explode in front of ns, causing a temporary halt, whep an enormous solid shot in our rear, plowing up the ground for rods and throwing the dirt over and around us, would give a sudden impetus to a forward movement, and we would again hasten toward Lima. The United States Minister fared badly. Aged, tall, and of a figure not adapted to gymnastic exercises, he made but sorry work, and I felt for him deeply. The perspiration rolled off him, and at times his legs would totter, and he but feebly staggered on. It looked very serious for us, but I endeavored to cheer him up. After a narrow escape from a round shot I cried; to him: ‘Keep up a good heart, your Excellency, remember your wife at home.’ ‘Oh, i my wife!’ was the startling reply, but I noticed with much satisfaction that the thought seemed to give him renewed vigor, for he sped on with increased speed, doing excellent work for a while. Through deep marshes, over hills, climbing walls, etc., we pushed on toward Lima, tbe shot, the shell and the dirt Hying Ml around us. The distance from Lima to Milaflores is but five miles, tut we must have traveled over twice that distance to reach.the capital It was late when we got there. Mr. 0., our leader, was forlorn, dejected and in an exhausted condition ; the rest of us but little better.” In 1823 Amsterdam was visited by 102 American vessels; in 1880 by only ten.