The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-07-05
business is handled there. This is a very
important point ard. one might say. the key

business is handled there. This is very
important point and, one might say, the key
TO the country.
The insurgents have possession of 1t, and
were attacked by Balmaceda'S forces, who
we're determined in their assaults on the
town, and fought their way into the very
streets. They attacked the Custom-hOuse,
where there were a great many English
goods, and a number of English and Ameri-
can residents had taken refuge Things
were getting desperate, and chances for
getting out OF there alive seemed mighty
slim.
BRUTAL FIGHTING TACTICS.
Just at the critical moment, however.
came the commander of the British vessel,
Warspile, with a detachment of marines.
He informed both sides that foreigners and
their property would be protected, and if
they did not stop fighting in the streets he
would take a hand himself. They retired
to the country back of the city and had it
out, the Insurgents finally coming off vic
toriouS. The soldiers carry knives and it
is the custom, in this war at least, to
show. no mercy, and after the fight
the victorious troops may be seen going over
the field dispatching the wounded with
their knives. The fight in which the Banco
was sunk by the Government torpedo boats
Lynch and Condell was the most foolish
thing ever heard Of The Blanco was an
chOred in port and it being fete-day almost
the entire ships crew and officers were
ashore. In the afternoon the captain and
part OF the crew returned. Toward evening
the vessels Lynch and CUndeil stole up aud
fred six times. First the Condell fired two
shots and missed.
THE BLANCO WENT DOWN.
Then the Lynch tried it four times in quick
succession, the two last shots being effective,
striking her amidshipS and near the stern
and sinking her in about fifteen minutes
The captain saw them approaching and
made heroic effort to get into the magazine,
but failed His subordinate officers were
on shore with the KEYS, and it was impos ST.
bic to get ammunition. If he had succeeded
he could easily have stood OFF the two torpedo
boats. The Lynch, Condell and lmperiale
appeared off 1quique while we were there
and commenced sham battle. They fired
great many shots in order to make the in
surgents believe that one of their
vessels was in danger. They came
near being successful, too. The
insurgent vessel in the harbOr fired signal
gun calling her crew and officers off shore,
cleared her decks and got ready for action.
In the haze of smoke and excitement, how
ever, the Cundell came 10 too close and fired
brosdside from both larboard and star
board ports. They had been firing blauk
cartridges, however, but she go; mixed up
and fired the wrong gun, dropping a shell
within 30 yards of the Charleston. AS soon
as this was done they saw their scheme had
failed and put to sea.
SYMPATHY WITH THE INSURGENTS.
Sympathy there is almost entirely with
the insurgents.
Several Of the cities still in possession of
the Government are known to be in SYM
pathy with them, and it will take but little
encouragement for them to join the ranks
of the insurgents. The latter are trying
harm to induce the United States to recog-
nize them as belligerents, and if this is done
their success is assured. AS yet Bolivia is
the only country that has recognized them
as such. | have been told that there is an
| Insurgent Commissioner on this vessel now
on his way to Washington; but if such is
the case he has kept his identity concealed,
for am unable to point him out. l be-
lieve 1t Is true, however, as ! have heard
| the officers talking IL over.
Balmaceda is tyrant and the insurg-
! ents' cause IS the cause of the people. Bal
maceda's army and navy are kept loyal to
! him by the payment of large salaries to Of
| hcers and high wages to the rank and file
! But his means are being rapidly exhausted,
| and the insurgents hope for great defectons
! when his money power is exhausted. The
| insurgents have badly needed small arms
| and ammunition, aud it is believed that this
| need has been supplied within few DAYS
| past by the arrival of cargo of arms and
ammunition at Iquique. If these are OBJ
| tanned 1t IS believed the cause Of the iDsurg-
! ents viii make rapid Roadway.