The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1891-09-22
Chili's Ex-Diciator Sends a Bullet
Crashing Through His
Brain.
He Was In Hiding Mt the Argentine
Legation ana Saw No Other Way
80 of Escape.
A Letter Left to the Press Of the
United States-Mexico's Rev0lu.
tiOn Still in Progress.

NEW YORK, Sept. 22.-The Herald's
Valparaiso correspondent telegraphs as
follows: Ex-President Balmaceda, of
Chill, shot himself through the temple
in his room at the Argentine legation In
Santiago at $50 a. m. Saturday. Itnow
seems that Balmaceda left Santiago on
Aug. 19 in the hope of making his es-
cape from Chilli, but seeing that every
avenue of retreat was cut off, he re-
turned there on Sept. and went direct
to the Argentine legation. After the
disastrous battle near Valparaiso and
The Surrender of Santiago,
on Aug. 30, in company with ex-Alcalde
Victor Echauren, he took carriage and
drove toa point two miles outside the
city. Here special train of one car
and locomotive was in waiting. The
train went at high speed as far as Lin
deros, forty-five miles south of Santiago.
There more carriages were in waiting.
Hurriedly alighting from the train they
entered the carriages and were again
driven rapidly away. The route was
toward San Antonio bay. All trace of
the fugitiyes was, however, lost. His
intention had been to go on board
the vessel, Condell, which he expected
to find lying in San Antonio
bay. Upon arriving there, however, he
discovered to his chagrin that the
Torpedo Boat Had Sailed.
Since his return to the Argentine lega-
tion in Santiago, Balmaceda had been
in an extremely nervous condition. No
one, with the exception of the minister
of the Argentine Republic and one other
man who was devoted to the unfortunate
ex-president's cause, was permitted to
talk to or even see him. All the differ.
sent schemes of aightwere considered by
the hunted ,ex-president. Senior Urri-
buria had long and earnest talk with
Balmaceda relative to the latter's ideas,
previously broached, about the advisa.
bility of giving himself up to the junta
Balmaceda and Senior Urriburia went
to bed at midnight. Senior Urriburia
ABOUT O'CLOCK a. m,
Heard Pistol Shot
in the bedroom that had been assigned
to Balmaceda. She notified her husband
Upon breaking in the door of Balma
cedas room he found that he had shot
himself. The body was still warm
There was a gaping wound in thu
temple. The body was undressed and La,
on the bed. The revolver was still helt
in his right hand.
Great crowds of terribly excitet
people gathered all around the Argen
tine legation. They cheered and the,
hooted and went into a frenzy over tn
death of their chief enemy. Above al
the discordant shouts were heard erie
congratulating the unfortunate Balma
ceda, that in taking his own life he ha,
escaped a, worse fate. Balmaceda lef
the press of the United States state
ment As almost the last declaration O
adying man it is Of especial importance
He says:
acted all during the last eight month
with the firm conviction that was right
had no one in the army in whom ! coul
place any trust. My generals were falls
to me. My heart all through this troubl
has been with Chilli. / sought to rescu
my country from foreign domination.
.strove to make her the first rennhlic q
America NJ NJ enemies say that l wa
SIuel. Circumstances compelled me :
sanction certain acts, but many deeds tina
have been attributed to my orders wer
never known to me until they had bee
committed. i now know those who onl
pretended friendship for me becalise of th
money that was to be gotten out of m,
Your minister, Patrick Egan, many time
offered me good advice. He urged me I
make peace with those opposed to me an
10 rr.ss.e from Chill. Ibid not heed hi
wise advice, for thought that he was III
der the influence of the junta's order,
who were then refugees in the America
legation. All through the trouble m
closest advisers were always opposed {
anv overtures. for peace.