Los Angeles herald., 1891-09-21
Chile's DepOsed Dictator Gone
to His Doom.
The Junta Had Left Him No
Avenue of Escape.
TO Avoid a Worse Fate He Put Bull
let in His Brain.
The Tragic Act Took Place in the Argen-
tine Legation in Santiago, Satur-
day Morning-Great Rejoice
ing Among the People.
Associated Press DISPATCHES.

Associated Press DISPATCHES.
New YORK, Sept. 2O.-The Herald's
Valparaiso cablegram states that ex-
President Balmaceda, of Chile, shot
himself through the temple in
his room at the Argentine le-
cation, Santiago, on Saturday morn
ing. The story became known in
Valparaiso, Saturday afternoon, and
created the greatest excitement. Last
evening the city was brilliantly illu-
minated, and on every hand was heard
sounds of rejoicing.
HE DID NOT ESCAPE.
It now seems that the story that Bal
maceda escaped on the United States
steamer San Francisco was erroneous.
Instead, he left Santiago August Goth,
in the hope of escaping from the coun-
try, but finding every avenue closed,
returned to the city September I'd and
went direct to the Argentine legation.
Since then he has been extremely ner-
vous. No one, save the Argentine min
lister and one other man devoted to
.Balmaceda, was permitted to see him.
PUT BULLET IN HIS BRAIN.
About 8 O'Clock Saturday morning
pistol shot was heard in Balmaceda's
room, and Sefior Urriburia, rushing in,
found that the ex-president had just
put bullet into his brain.
The junta was notified, and a COM
mittee Immediately went to the house
and viewed the body.
ESCAPED WORSE FATE.
As the news spread, crowds of people
gathered around the Argentine legation.
They cheered, hooted and nearly went
into frenzy over the death OF their late
enemy. Above all were heard shouts
congratulating him that in taking his
own life he had escaped worse fate at
the hands of the junta.
THOUGHT HE WAS RIGHT.
He left letter to his mother and
also a statement to the New York Her
aid. AS almost the last declarations of
the dying man, they are of especial i'm
portance. He says. among other things;
81 acted during the past eighteen
months with the conviction that l was
right. l had no one in the army l
could trust. The generals lied to me.
Had they obeyed my orders, l think the
battle of Aconcagua would have resulted
in the defeat of the enemy"
DECEIVED BY FALSE FRIENDS.
"My heart has been with Chile
through the whole trouble. l thought
to rescue my country from foreign DOM
ination and make her the first republic
in America. My enemies say l was
cruel. Circumstances compelled me to
sanction certain acts, but many acts
attributed to me 1 never knew until
AlU6T UIlcy uhA OCCh OOHAAhhoUSA' OS>N
the final battle at Placilla, / had strong
hopes of triumphing over my enemies.
NY generals assured me of victory. But
they all lied. 1 know now that they
only pretended to be my friends because
of the money they could get from me.
All the money have is $25OO that my
wife gave me August 2Sth.
REJECTED GOOD ADVICE.
"Your minister, Patrick Egan, many
times offered me good advice. He urged
me to make peace with those who op-
posed me and retire from Chile. did
not heed his wise advice, for l thought
he was under the influence of the junta,
who then were refugees in the American
legation. All through the trouble my
closest advisers were opposed to any
overtures for peace"
Balmaceda's body has been removed
to the general cemetery. 1t was accom-
panied by members of his family and
friends.