The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-04-09
CHILI'S REVOLUTION.
PRESIDENT BALMACEDA'S Gov
EMINENT SUFFERS.


A special from Santiago says. During
the last ten days President Balmaceda's
Government has suffered most terrible
blows. The insurrectionists are gaining
ground every day, and the fact seems to
be very generally known, despite the
vigorous efforts of the War Department
to suppress all news of a nature likely
to Increase enthusiasm among the friends
OF the revolutionistS or to dampen the
ardor of Balmaceda's followers The
revolutOniStS have now complete con-
troll of the northern provnces-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 5000 and
the revolutioniSts had 5000 men. The
revolutionists were defeated, but it is
impossible to get any details of the en-
gagement. A large number of soldiers
have been sent into the northern PROV
inces to drive out the revolutionistS. At
Talcahuano and at Conception the gov
eminent has 5000 soldiers. These
troops were to make a descent on the
north 'rn provinces, but the plans of the
officers have been changed somewhat by
the desertion of the First Regiment of
Infantry, which has to man gone over
to the reYolutionists.
Blood flowed in torrents at IquiQue
and Tarapaca. The revolutionists began
a second bombardment of Iquique. The
attack was so sudden that the people
had no time to prepare for the murder
Gus fire which was opened on the town.
While the Government forces were we'll
trained their work did little good as all
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 al
most every house which was left stand
ing after the first bombardment several
weeks ago was destroyed utterly. Late
in the afternoon a pitched battle oc-
Cured between the land forces, in
which some two hundred were killed.
When night drew on hostilites were
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 Robes
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 mass of ruins and piles of
dead bodies. The town was totally
destroyed and fully twelve hundred
people were killed. Just before the bonn
bardment began the consuls of all gov
ernments represented at Iquique pro-
tested against the brutality of the reyo-
lutiOnists in commencing bOmbardment
without giving at least the women and
children al opportunity Of escaping to
place of safety.
But by far the bloodiest and most mer-
CHESS 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, destroy
ing 200 people. When the firing began
the inhabitants made wild rush for the
heights back Of the town, but they were
stopped by the relentless fire from the
land forces. Balmacodas troops fought
like tigers and we're met by the rebels
with equal ferocity. The scenes were
frightful Men fought hand hand
conflicts by themselves. They pur-
sued the defenseless ones into
the houses, where many were
brutally cut down on both sides. Con-
secrated ground was not exempt from
the ravageS of the rebels, for some Sc
we're fighting occurred in the churches,
where hundreds of women and children
were praying for the safety of their hus-
bands and brothers. Soon after the bonn
bardment 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 moth
ers and their children seemed to have no
effect on the soldiers except to slim
uate them to new outrages, to more
devilish actions. The sight Of young
mothers trying to protect their little
ones added to their thirst for blood. II
is said that personal r2ncor entered
largely into the battle. Many old feuds
were settled forever at the bOmbardment
Of Tarapaca The town is total wreck.
Every prominent building has been lev
eled to the ground. The number of dead
and wounded cannot, Of course, be &C
curately calculated, but it greatly eX-
ceeds 1000. Many bodies are being
taken from burning buildings, and it is
believed that many women and children
persisted in the flames.
At Cana 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 whole
sale destruction of property owned by
British subjects. He says that inasmuch
as President Balmaceda refuses to recog-
nize the revoutionists as belligerents,
but persists in treating them one
and all as rebels and traitors, he thereby
makes his government responsible for ali
damage done to the property of British
subjects The consul has made formal
demand for full reparation, and he
saws that he will press the claim at once.
is now completely fortified,
and the harbor is patrolled by several