Rensselaer Republican, Volume 24, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 September 1891 — BANTIAGO HAS FALLEN [ARTICLE]

BANTIAGO HAS FALLEN

Balmaceda is a Fugitive Fron His Capital, The Mob Takes Possession of the City, an Applies the Torch to Salmaceda’s House—Other Outrages. New York, Aug. 31.—The Herald thf morning prints special advices from ChiF as follows: Valparaiso, Chili, Ang. 30—The Con gressional army took formal possession o Santiago tonight and practically the las act in the bloody drama of the revolutiw which has torn Chili to pieces for the pas- * seven months is closed. The capital city was in the hands of a bloodthirsty mob last night, and while iwas unable to satisfy its murderous in stincts, it did destroy a vast amount o. property. As soon as the news reached Santiago yesterday of the overwhelming defeat o; the government troops on the heights o; Placilla and the fall of Valparaiso, and tin people knew that Balmaceda’s power wai gone and they had nothing to fear front his wrath, their enmity to his government broke forth. The cry was raised that the presldem should be killed, and a mob started for lib house/ ■lt grew in pumbers and fury as it went through the streets, and by the time i' reached tho executive mansion was rip« for a bloody deed; ~——““““7 Short shrift would have been allowed t< the president had he been caught. The bloodthirsty fury of the mob was balked. Then the mob’s thirst for revengi found vent in the application of the torch Soon Balmaceda’s house was in flames Before it had been destroyed the mob wen to the house of Senor Goday, the en-min' ister of the interior, an ardent Balmacedest, and fired his house. „ Then the residences of Balmaceda’l mother, General Barbosa, who wa3 killed at the battle of Pacilla; Senors McKenna and Eastman, tho government newspapei offices and tho houses of several prominent ifficlais were burned to the ground. The city was panic stricken, businest was suspended and people outside of th« mob kept close to their houses. The sky was lurid with the light from the burning buildings.

The police, the fire department and the irmy were demoralized and made not the semblance of any attempt to maintain Drder. Balmaceda, when he heard of the fall of Valparaiso, sent for General Baquedano* :ommander of tho government troops in Santiago, to meet him at 3o’clok yesteriay afternoon at Moneda. This Baquedano jeclined to do, but suggested tbat the meeting be held at the house of General Valasquez. A council of was war held at Velasquez’s souse, at which President Balmaceda, tha jenerals and other leading Balmacedists were present. The situation was thorraghly canvassed and it was decided that She capital was tho only proper course. Baquedano was given charge of tho city tnd was authorized to arrange the )f surrender with the congresslonalistsi Word was at once sent to Gen. Canto that >ll the troops in Santiago had declared their adhesion to the congressional party ind that Santiago was at his disposal. Senor Don Jorge Montt, who is in charge »f affairs in the south, ordered that the jhanaral regiment proceed at onco to San- ~ liago, where they are to assist tho force* »f Gen. Baquedano in keeping order and llso to prepare barracks for 2,000 additiontl troops. Accompanying the troops which went >o Santiago to-day was Senor Alimieno, I who will act for the present aa intendente if the capital. From those who came in on the special train from Santiago to-day it was learned that the city is in a terrible state. In addition to the destruction by the mob the city was threatened by an irupUon of all the desperate characters, robbers and outlaws in tho surrounding country. Gen. Baquedano has posted the imperial regiment in a cordon about the city to prevent robbers and other dangerous people from coming into the capital The task is almost hopeless. Gen. Canto and his staff, with additional troops, have left Valparaiso for Santiago. A new chief of police for Santiago and a new administrator for the railroad have been appointed. I have it on good authority that Balmaceda went by special train to Talc&huano* cm Conception Bay, and that there he will make connection with tho Condell and Imperialle, and in one of these vessels, probably the former, make for Bueno* Ayres or Montevideo. If this is so ho will. In ail probability, escape. Comparative order has at "last been festored in this city. It took strong measures to do it Rioters who were caught in the work were summarily dealt with and many of them were shot out of hand But rioting was not stopped until property estimated to be worth $1,800,000 had been destroyed. Many acts of tyranny have been perpetrated hero by government officials since last January, and every war ship in the bay has its quota of refugees. This gave rise to much dissatisfaction on tho part of the Congrcssionalist’s leaders. The feeling was particularly bitter against the Americans,for Admiral Brown had given assistance to many unpopular officials on board the Ban Francisco and Baltimore. Admiral Brown has had a long consultation with the leaders of the junta and his explanations have had tho effect of putting an end to the irritation against the Americans. The junta are exceedingly anxious to secure recognition from the United States government and are now hopeful that it will be accorded them, a N uir.orous arrests of government officials have been made. The insurgents shew a moderate disposition, however, and the .eaderssay thatjßvery man against whom charges are made shall have a full and fair hearing before the proper civil authorities when order is restored. In all the campaign from the landing of the congressional forces at Quintero bay on August 20 until the capture of Valparaiso on August 27, there was only on* battle worthy the namo, and that was a! Curicon, when the congressionalits forced the passage. The ambulance service here has simply been disgraceful.’ Hundreds of wounded were left on the battle field to die whs might have been saved if prompt of relief had been taken. The surgeons of the foreign warship* have done most valnable service in caring f. r the wonnded. Especial credit is duets « th*i medical staffs of the United St&tef/ ships San Francisco and Baltimore. ■