The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1891-09-23
BALMACEDA
Shoots Himself Through the Head
at
THE ARGENTINE LEGATION
In Santiago, on saturday-Great Ex-
msnt In the City.
HE LEAVES A STATEMENT

ing His ACtlonb IN tho Lhto troupiss
New YORK, Sept 21.-The Herald's
Valparaiso correspondent telegraphs as
follows: Ex- President Balmaceda, OF
Chile, shot himself through the temple
in his room at the Argentine legation
in Santiago, at $3.50 a. m. Saturday.
The story became known here in the
afternoon and created the greatest ex-
element.
It now seems that Balmaceda left
Santiago on August 30 in the hope OF
making his escape from Chile, but see
ing that every avenue OF retreat was
cut off, he returned there on September
Q and went direct to the Argentine
legation.
Since his return TO the Argentine le-
cation 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 unfortu-
nate ex-presidents cause, was spermitted
to talk to or even see him. All the diff
ferent schemes Of fight were considered
by the hunted ex-president Senor Ur-
rubria went TO tho theater Friday
night. When he returned TO the lega-
ton he had long and earnest talk
with Balmaceda relative to the latters
ideas, previously broached, about the
! advisability Of giving himself up to the
tunta
Sonora Urriburia about o'clock a
: m. heard pistol shot in the bedroom
that had been assigned to Balmaceda-
She notified her husband. Before he
went TO Balmaceda's room he ran
around To the house of Carlos Walker
Martinez and brought that gentleman
back to the legation. Upon breaking
in the door Of Balmaceda's room he
found that he had. shot himself. The
!, body was still warm. There wasa gap
! ing wound In the temple. The body
: was undressed and lay on the bed. The
5 revolver was still held in his right
y hand.yqf' Gro u 9.f
4 Gradually the news spread all ovei
: Santiago The excitement II created Il
lndescribable. Great crowds OF terri
bly, excited people gathered all around
the Argentine legation. They cheeret
and they hooted and went into q frenzy
over the death of their chief enemy
: Above all the discordant shouts wers
heard, cries congratulating the unfor
tunate Balmacsds that In taking hi
own life he had escaped q worse fate. :.
Balmaceda left 70 the press Of thu
United States statement As almos
the last declaration Of dying man II 4
Of especial importance. He says: g
acted all during the last eight months
with the firm conviction that ] wa
right. ! had no one In the army Il
whom could place any trust Mygen
erals were false TO me. They lied al
through the war. Had my orders beer
obeyed believe that the battle Of Con
con would have resulted In decisiv,
victory against the enemy. My hear
all through this trouble has been witt
Q Chile. sought 10 rescue my countr.
from foreign domination. ! strove b
!. make her the first republic Of America
My enemies say that was cruel Cir
sumstances compelled me TO sanction
certain acts, but many deeds tina
have been attributed to my order
were never known TO me unit
they had been committed. Until tn
6nal battle at Placilla / had stronI
# hopes Of triumphing over my foes Vic
tory was assured by my generals
> Alcerra, Barbosa and We'll They al
6 lied. now know those who only pre-
q tended friendship for me because Of tn
a money that was to be gotten out OF me
u All the money that have in my poi
o session is So, 5O0 My wife gave II 10 m
a on the night Of August 2S Your mir
= lster, Patrick Egan, many times offere
1t me good advice. He urged me TO max
J. peace with those opposed TO me and I
!. retire from Chile. did not heed HI
II wise edyice, for thought that he wa
q under the influence OF the junta's or
ders, who were then refugees in tn
:, American legation. All through tn
II trouble my closest advisers were a
,t ways opposed to any overtures fc
I peace" ft
u The junta has the Argentine legatio
guarded by troops to prevent an attac
,f on the part OF the populace, but ever,
thing is quiet at Santiago. Balmaceda
)I body has been removed TO the generi
8, cemetery. II was accompanied by tf
members OF the family and friends. III
- widow Of the dead ex-president was II
y formed Of his tragic ending by HI
N brother, Domingo Zorro There is
guard stationed at the cemetery. A
a- Intendente Is keeping order.
Found Dead In Bed.