New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-26
HOW MENENDEZ NET HIS DEATH
AN EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF THE OVER
THROW OF THE sALvADoRIAN
GOVERNME

A picturesque account Of the death Of President
Menendez in the city of san salvador. published
yesterday in the Courier des Etats-U Unis, from
letter written by one Of its subscribers IN CehtrA
America who eyewitness of the terrible scene
enacted on June %. lie describes it follows:
1.-The President. General Menendez, In order I"
celebrate the fifth anniversary of his trlumphal en-
trance into san salvador had invited the prominent
families Of the city and It's envrons TO grand ball
which was u be followed by banquet In the PoNl-
dental Palace. At IL o'clock, when the dancing was
at its height there arrived in front of the palace the
musical band of santa Ana, invited for the purpose
of adding TO the 1ubilaton Of the occasion lts mem
bers shouting Viva Menendez,' and playing u'e
Boulancer March, The company forming the guard
OF honor allowed the band and the escort accom-
panyng il to penetrate into the inner square OF lh0
bnildinu. In the belief that ii came TO serenade 'e
President suddenly the musicians throw out uleir
;natr,,mcnts which they replace with guns ana
WEAPONS carried by the escort Ihen' leo UE 'c''Ai
Blasio Marcal. they ascend the steps ra'h to o'''
of the dancing halls, and summon the FTeSiuent dnu
the Ministers 10 surrender.
General Menendcz at the moment sohe"ha'
,dierosad and reclining upon a sofa in his apart
,o,,s nm the second floor ON hearing the shouts oi
the INSURGENTS who had changed Their AuIFaH9 "i
viva Menendcz" for those OF Mucra Mcnc"u0N'
viva Ezeta' the President appeared al "lhuo",
talked exctedy TO the rebels. fired ms reNoNer a'
tber, and appealed % the guard OF honor - 90 ls
a., rvely fuellade was then opened just on the
level cS the dancing hall whence the guests cond SEQ
the flashes from the guns. Tremendous CONFUSION
eusued-mothers calling for their sons ana daughters
hnsbauds looking after their families the ar hhoI
with the shouts OF the soldiers, ana ue PI'eouS
cries Of the wounded and, above all, the stenOllah
voice of President Mcnendez. in a paro1ysm Of rage
calling for General Ezeta and defyns him TO personal
combat
suddenly the f1silade stops and a strange silence
prevails only two voices are heard-tat Oh tie
President standing at the window and continuing ms
imprecstions and that of BlasO Marcia standing on
The steps covered with blood and with only horse
whip IN his hand. encouraging his soldiers and for
bidding them 10 fire, while lie bcgS the ladies and the
strangers 10 get ont from the palace, assuring them
that there is danger and Offering 10 protect them
with his own body. The ladies, without their cloa1s.
their shoulders naked ard their hair flying 10 the wind
step down the few steps. Among them were the wife
and daughters Of the Minister Of War, whom they
embrace when Marcial intcrfercs.
".General' exclams the Minister, 'my wife and
daughters are dying with fright. Let me lead them
away and l return Immediately. give you my word
Of honor
al accept it, says Marcial, but don't fail to re-
turn
The Minister did not come back
Al this moment Colonel Martinez, cOmmandant Of
the guard Of honor who had not understood the mean
Ing Of the hsiade, and took it for salute 10 the Psi
dent arrived on the portico and The soldier, Of
MIrci$i. SurrendSr said the latter; let not Shed
"a q, th - ~ =. Ce DtiIdcA, are 10 our power
Mm In his arms. But meanwhile The President had
come doNn from his rtments. and seeing Martinez
IN the arms Of Marcial exclaimed:
what! even my body guard abandOus meT
"'No' answered Martinez, 4 come to die by
your side! struggle TAKES place between the two
chiefs who roll on the ground, and Marcla is killed
Then Nenendez, a sword in hand and a re
vOlvcr In the other, surrounded also by friends
and ordering his guard to follow him. madly runs into
the street In pursuit OF the rebels. ut he suddenly
turns himself around. his arms beating the air aud
falls under sudden Stroke Of apOpeXy He carried
into the palace and Colonel Martinez slowly r,rcats
toward the barracks Of the guard where he was som
subducd by the greater numbers Of the insurgents"