Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 April 1891 — CHILI’S REVOLUTIONS [ARTICLE]

CHILI’S REVOLUTIONS

PRESIDENT BALM ACEDA’S GOVERNMENT SUFFERS. Bloody and Merciless Fighting—lquiqn®and Tarapaca Almost Annihi ated— Women and Children Slaughtered—Rebels Victorious. A special from Santiago says: During the last ten days President Balmaceda’sGovernment has suffered most terrible blows. The insurrectionists are gaining ground every day, and the fact seems tobe very generally known, despite the vigorous efforts of the War Department, to suppress all news of a nature likely to increase enthusiasm among the friendsof the revolutionists or to dampen the ardor of Balmaceda’s followers. Therevolutionists have now complete control of the northern provinces—a great source of strength to them and a great-, injury to the Government. The first battle of last week was fought on the pampa of Dolores-. The government forces numbered 3,000 and the revolutionists had 5,000 men. Therevolutionists were defeated, but ,it isimpossible to get any details of the engagement. A large number of soldiers have been sent into the northern provinces.to drive out the revolutionists. At. Talcahuano and at Concepcion the government has 5,000 soldiers. These troops were to make a descent on the north >xn provinces, but the plans of the officers have been changed somewhat by the‘desertion of the First Regiment of Infantry, which has to a man gone over to the revolutionists.

Blood flowed in torrents at Iquique and Tarapaca. The revolutionists began a second bombardment of Iquique. Theattack was so sudden that the people h ad-no time to prepare for the murderous fire which was opened on the town. While the Government forces were t well trained their work did little good, as alb their efforts were more than offset by the concerted action of the land and naval forces of the revolutionists. The encampments of Government forces, were completely destroyed. In the city almost every house which was left standing after the first bombardment several weeks ago was destroyed utterly. Late in the afternoon a pitched battle occurred between the land forces, in which some two hundred were killed. When night drew on hostilities jvere suspended, but on the following day the fighting was resumed with greater vigor than ever. Three pitched battles were fought during the day. Late in the afternoon the fighting ceased, for there were few government soldiers left who were able to fight. Colonel Robles escaped with the fragments of his army to the mountains, pursued by the rebels. The government forces were terribly beaten and at night there was left in. Iquique a mass of ruins and piles of dead bodies. The town was totally destroyed and fully twelve hundred people were killed. Just before the bombardment began the consuls of all governments represented at Iquique protested against the brutality'of the revolutionists in commencing a bombardment without giving at least the women and children an opportunity of escaping to a place of safety. But by far the bloodiest and most merciless battle occurred at Tarapaca. The revolutionists attacked the city and the government forces by sea and by land. The firing began early in the morning and continued for several hours, destroying 200 people. When”the firing began the inhabitants made a wild rush for the heights back of the town, but they were stopped by the relentless fire from the land forces. Balmacada's troops fought like tigers and were met by the rebels with equal ferocity. The scenes were frightful. Men fought hand-to-hand conflicts by themselves. They pursued the defenseless , ones into the houses, where many were brutally cut down on both sides. Consecrated ground was not exempt from the ravages of the rebels, for some severe fighting occurred in the churches, where hundreds of women and children were praying for the safety of their husbands and brothers. Soon after the bombardment began several large buildings were discovered to be on fire. Hundreds of people who had taken refuge in their homes were driven from them by the flames, only to be shot down when they sought new places of refuge. The cries and heartrending scenes between mothers and their children seemed to have no effect ■on the soldiers except to stimulate them to new outrages, to more devilish actions. The sight of young mothors trying to protect their little ones added to their thirst for blood. It is said that personal rancor entered largely into the battle. Many old feuds were settled forever at the bombardment of Tarapaca. The town is a total wreck. Every prominent building has been leveled to the ground. The number of dead and wounded cannot, of course, be accurately calculated, but it greatly exceeds 2,000. Many bodies are being taken from burning buildings, and it is believed that many women and children perished in the flames At Gana'' another battle has been fought. Colonel Huarez, the commander of the. government troops, was badly wounded and his troops defeated. About two hundred and fifty were killed in this battle. The last has not been heard from Iquique by any means. The English Consul there says that he proposes to have something to say about the wholesale destruction of property owned by British subjects. He says that inasmuch as President Balmaceda refuses to recognize the revolutionists as belligerents, but persists in treating them one and all as rebels and traitors, he thereby makes his government responsible for all damage Hone to the property of British subjects. The consul has made a formal demand for a full reparation,- and he says, that he will press the claim at once. Valparaiso is now completely fortified,, and the harbor is patrolled by several powerful torpedo boats. The 'forts are supplied with Armstrong guns of the latest pattern, and every approach to the city is commanded by a raking cross fire. The government is determined to save Valparaiso, but the heavy, wellequipped navy of the revolutionists will likely visit the harbor soon, and then there will probably occur a conflict of no mean degree.