Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-08-30


page TO Gillian news this morning, its
news leader being the following:
VALPARAISO, CHILL Aug. %
Balmaceda's power in Chill is broken.
His army has been crushed after five
hours of hard fighting, and is scattered
beyond all hope of reorganization. The
revolutiOnistS have taken possession of
Valparaiso. The future of Chill for the
time has been settled conclusively to-day
by the grim abitrament of war. With Bal
maceda practically 4 fugitive, without re
sources in men or money, with the principal
exports of the country in the hands of
the congreSSiOnaliStS and consequent
shutting off of all income from customs
receipts and the country fiOclling en- maSSe
TO the standard of the invaders, it is Il mat
ter Of only few days when the capital will
fall into the hands Of the revolutionary
leaders. Gen, Canto and his army won to-
days battle by superior generalShip and
good, hard fighting, assisted by good for
tune in killing Balmaceda's generals
and the consequent decentralization of
the army and the deSertiOn of entire
regiments. Every day ard nearly every
hour of the day since the arrival of the
COngreSSiOnalistS there have been Skin
mishes, in some instances almost amount
ing to battles. Early this morning the
boom of cannon announced TO the people
that 4 movement beyond an ordinary Skir-
mish had begun. Occasional loud reports
of heavy guns nSOOn Swelled into one
continuous roar. ana il was then known
that the final decisive struggle. which, at
the cost of thousands of lives, perhaps, was
to decide whether Balmaceda or the Junta
was to be the ruling power in Chill, was
begun. Affairs had come 10 such a pass
that it was necessary for President
Balmaccda to make some move,
and 4 little afccr daylight this
morning word was given to attack the posi-
ton held by the revolUtiOniStS. and led by
Gems. BarboSa and AlzerTica the govern
ment troops left their breastworks and adj
vanced on the enemy under cover of
heavy fire from their batteries. As soon rs
the opposing column got within range of
the rifles of the insurgents Il destructive
fire was opened by the intrenched
revolutlonists. The government troops adj
TanCed with much steadineSs to the attack
They were soon near enough to do effective
work with their pieces and the engagement
became general Shot and shell, grape and
canister and rife bullets tore through the
ranks of the advancing troops until it be-
came too hot, and despite the efforts of the
officers they broke and retired
almost IN panic The officers
worked like beavers to form their columns
as soon as they got without the range of the
insurgents deadly ire, and ut last sue
ceedcd Then came another attack. In
steady ranks the government troops started
on the double quick up
INTO THE TORRENT OF FIRE
and lead which blazed from the ranks of
the lusureent army. Early in the second
charge Gen. Barbosa was shot down and
killed The line wavercd, but kept on.
Then Gen. AlZerrica fell from his horse
wounded unto death He was re
moved from the field and died within
an hour Another break, and then Gen |
Canto gave the order 10 charge With u |
wild yell the congressional army left their |
dcfenses and charged on the retreat |
ing enemy. Their artillery poured a
deadly fire into the ranks of |
Balmacedas army. The loss of their gen !
erals left them without a head. and all the |
efforts Of subordinate officers to rally them |
10 meet the onset of Canto's regiments and |
squadrons were of no avail The retreat /!
became a route, the route panic, and then |
came utter decentralization. The govern |
mcut cavalry Iaade Il stand, but it was !
short They were literally cut TO pieces.
.NOLLEY AFTER VOLLEY |
was poured into the demoralizcd mob of |
Balmacedists Whole regiments, which |
had not lost their regimental formation, |
went over to the victorious troops of Canto |
and joined in the attack on their |
late comrades. The fighting lasted little |
less than five hours, and its desperate |
character may be judged by the fact that |
fully 5000 men We're killed and wounded. |
The country for miles around is filled with |
men, many of them wounded, who were, |
this morning, the dependence of President |
Balmaceda. The defeat of the government |
is absolute and complete. There is no |
possibility of reorganization, and if he does |
not succeed in making his escape through |
the mountain passes which are yet open the |
chances are that he will be captured and |
shot
President-elect Vicuna took alarm early |
ana went aboard the German flagship and !
asked protection of the admiral, which was
granted
The execution among the officers has
been terrific. Ia addition 10 the two gem
erals, Barbosa and Alzerrica, nearly all the
stan officers had been either killed |
or wounded, and the fatalities among
officers of the line had also been great
To avoid bloodshed which would probably
have resulted from the victorious army
entering the city heated with the fire of
battle, Admiral Wei sent flag of truce 10
Gen. Canto with proposition 10 surrender
the city. 1t was accepted and Senior Don
Carlos Walker Martinez congressional
leader, was requested by Gen. CantU TO take
possession of the city and act as intendante,
until such time as a permanent arrange I
ment could be made, which he did.
Shortly after noon the victorious army
began to enter the capital. As the iusur-
gent troops marched through the streets
they were greeted with the widest en-
thusiasm and the streets resounded with
their shouts of Viva Chii'' viva
Cantol"
During the afternoon such of the govern
rnent troops as were in the city, or who |
came in gpye up their arms and most af |