Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-08-31
DETAILS OF FIGHT
Holly Contested Rattle and Many Of
Balmaceda's Officers Killed.

| Valparaiso dispatch says that BslmAceda's
power in Chill is broker. His army has
been crushed after Ave hours hard fighting,
and is scattered beyond all hope of recog-
milton.
| The revolutionists have taken possession
of Valparaiso.
| The future of Chill has been settled con-
| clusively. With Bxlmsceda practically
fugitive, without resources in men or
money; with the principal seaports Of the
| country. in the hands of the Congressional
lists, and consequent shutting off of all in
| coma from customs receipts; with President.
electVicuna refuge upon sGerman wArship
and the country fl,ckiug en- masse to the
standard of the invaders it 10 matter OF
only few days when the capital will fall
| into the hands ef the revolutionary leaders.
A new government. with possibly Judge
Belisiaro PlAts, head Of the last Parliamen-
tsry cabinet Of BAlmaceda, or Manuel
Jose Irsrrszaval. head Of the Congress cab
met, at its head, will be formed and things
will 20 along in about the same way in
| Chil as they did before Jan. I, when hog
tili,ies we're formally begun.
| Gen. Canto and his army won yesterdays
battle by superior generalship, good. hard
| dehting, assisted by good fortune in the
killing Of Balmaceda's generals and the
copss uent demorAliz Atom q the army and
the desertion Of entire regiments.
Ever since the arrival of the Congres-
| sionsllst army at Vina del Mar there has
been constant series of marc avres for
position on the part Of bo,h generals.
| Every day and nearly every hour there
have been skirmishes. In nearly all Of
these the Insurgents have had the better VI
| 1t.
Then sll was no, harmony in the military
| couaciIs OF President Baimaceda. Both
| Gems. Barborx and AIzerre;A wanted
to have suprt me commend OF tue forces IL
| the field.
| This friction and JEALOUSY resulted in
almost open rupture thursday, and the two
officers worked at cross purposes. Gen
| CAnlo WAS in no hurry to move on the en-
| emy, because he WAS II tceivl1g constant
| accessions to his ranks fsUm the surround-
ing country. y.
| Early yesterday morniog the boom Of
| cannon AMI Iounced to the people Of Valps-
raiso that a movement beyond the ordinary
skirmish had begun.
The excitement in Valparaiso was intense.
Gen. Canlo's position WAS on the hills above
The rae. track, at Vins del Mar. outside OF
the city. He mad aosolut, control OF the
railroad to Santiago, and commanded the
| ordinary roads. Hence Santiago was prac-
uc.lly Ia a STATE OF siege.
EMly yesterday the word was given in
| the government camp to ats cx the revolu-
| tiopis,s' position, and the government
troops, led by ,h.ir generals, advanced on
the enemy under cover Of heavy fire from
their batteries.
| The insurgents were generally armed
with Manplicher rifles and used smokeiess
pow der. The government troops were not
50 well armed.
Assoon as the approaching column got
within range Of the insurgents destructive
| FIRE began from the intrelched insurgents
and the engagement became general.
SHOT and .h Ill and r.fl, bullets tore
through the ranks on ths advancing troops
until II became too hot, and. despite the
# orts of their leaders, they broke and
retired almost in panic.
| OH ,srs worked like beavers to reform
their columns, and at last succeeded. Then
came another attack.
| In steady ranks the government troops
started oH q double quick up in the torrent
of fire and lead which blszed from the ranks
Of the insurgent army.
Early in the second th Afge Ten. DAfpofs
was killed..
The lie wavered but kept on.
Then Gen. AlzerrecA fell from his horse
wounded unto death. He was removed
from the field and died within IN hour.
| Another break and then Gen. Csnto gave
the order to charge.
With . wild yell the Congressionslist
army left their defeIcss and charged on
the retreating enemy.
The retreat became . rout, the rout
panic and then came utter demoralizatio
The governm mt cavalry made stan
but il was short. Tneye were literally cut
to pieces.
Whole regiments that had not lost their
reeimental ioim alton, vent over to the VIC
tosious troops of Canto and joined in the
attack oa their late comrades.
These deserters were generally the'"vol-
unteers" who bad been impressed into the
service. Their sy mpsthies ali along have
be en- with the insurgents, and they took the
frs, opportunity to go over to them.
The ishting lasted little less than i've
hours, aud its desperate character may be
j Judged by the fac. that fully 5000 men
we're killed and wounded.
The defeat Of the government 10 abso-
lutely complete.
These is no possibility Of areorgariz alton
and II he does not succeed in making hii
escspe through the mountain passes which
are vet open, the chances are tnat Presiden,
BsImscsda will b. captured and shot.
l President elect Vicuna took the alarm
early ard went aboard the German fAgship
snd asked the protection Of the admiral,
which was granted.
Then the intendente, Admiral Oscst
Viele, sent . communication, TO Admiral
Brown, and the Com handing offeers OF the
other f.ets in the harbof requesting them
TO send m n ashore 10 protecs theif ciszens
A landing party Of blue j,ckets vas sen'
| from the San Francisco, and took up Z
, position at the American consulate The
other naval officers followed suis, and socr
there we're enough foreign men-of-wsismer
, ashore to protecs the city against any pos
sible ou break
:, The streets by IL O'Clock were iilsd viii
1 n disorg snized mob ofBalmae sdas soldiers
: The execution among the officers had oeeI
J terrific. Ia addition to the swo generals
!. Bar bora and Alzerreca, nearly all the stAf
4 off GERS bad been either killed or wounded
: and the fatalities among the line Gficers hs
also been great.
1t vas evident that the government ha
o met with An overwhelming defeat. sud .
. attack on the city Was momensarily ez
6 pecsed.
( To svoid the bloodshed which voul
e probsbly have resulted from the victofi0u
y army entering the city heated With the fir
4 80 10 Rr