The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-07-12
NINE CHILIANS SHOT.
How They ExpIated Their Crimes In Incit-
=. sNi ing . Rebe lion.


From the San Francisco Chronicle.l
A private letter from Valparaiso to a
resident OF this city gives a detailed ac-
count of the execution of nine of the
leaders arrested for melting q rebellion
against the Government The day
dawned bright and cheerful, and as the
hour drew near hundreds assembled at
the place of execution to witness the
carrying out Of the death sentence. At
the appointed time the prisoners were
marched forth and formed in line.
Never did men awaiting death appear
more calm or Indifferent. Before seat
ing themselves on the banks surround
ing the square they asked pardon for
what they had done then, removing
their coats, they threw them into the
air with the greatest nonchalance. They
looked gay and happy; no muscle dis
played the slightest quivering, nor did
their countenances undergo any change.
The execution took place in Punta
Arenas.
Forty-two were implicated in the
revolution, one of the number being a
woman. Nine were sentenced to death,
and the rest to serve different terms in
the penitentiariesa at Valparaiso and San
tiago, their imprisonment varying from
one to eleven years. The woman was
sentenced to ten years in the House of
Correction at Santiago. At the COM
pletion of the reading of the sentence
the nine to suffer death were put in
irons, and the rest on board the steamer
Magellan, to be transported to Valpa-
raiso. Two carriages were in waiting to
convey the condemned men to the place
of execution. The prisoners, however,
asked the commandant, as last favor,
to be allowed the privilege of walking,
which was readily granted. Mr.. Eek
ers, the commandant, remarked that if
they had the strength and firmness to
walk the 400 yards to the place selected
for the execution he would not object.
At o'clock the solemn procession
reached the designated spot, and, as
preliminaries had been completed
early in the day, no time was
lost in carrying out the SEN
tence. The Major who COM
manded the troops then read document
containing warning that any one who
aSked the Government to pardon the
condemned should be also sentenced to
death. Senior Urcullo read the death
sentence, after which the prisoners were
placed in proper position. One Of the
latter requested permission to say few
words, and spoke briefly, as fellows:
Gentlemen, pardon everybody who
has been the means of my conviction,
and ask their pardon in return, though
Senior Olivaria and the Adjutant have
not asked me to pardon them. Never.
theless, freely forgive them, aud
wish the Government would make Oil.
varia and Garcia Frigate Captains.
Good-by ALL" Another of the con.
demned men said: 81 wish all good-by,
and ask your forgiveness, and hope you
will take care of my little son." A third
81 forgive you all. 1 depart from this
miserable world. My father calls me;
go to him. 1 die as CHILEAN, and should
like to hold flag while meeting DEATH
have always been an artillerist. Good
by all" At the conclusion of his
speech he threw his coat far from hin
and took his seat. Several others spoke
briefly in similar strain. After being
tied, the soldiers who were detailed tt
carry out the sentence of the court adj
vanced until within two yards of the
prisoners. At $50 o'clock the officer il
command gave the signal, and immedi
ately a sharp report of musketry rams
out in the air and nine lifeless bodies lay
upon the ground. The soldiers were
then marched to their various quarters
and the assembled people struggled
slowly honeward, discussing the affair
satisfied that the laws had been vindi
Gated and that the condemned men onl,
met their deserts. This closed the caree
of nine desperate murderers, who hat
perpetrated the most heinous crimes. ant
richly deserved the punishment they re
ceived. s1sp 7ian0