Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1891-08-24
BLOOD FLOWED FREELY.
A Series of Terrible Battles in
Chill.
ABOUT THREE THOUSAND DEAD

President nalmaeeds's Force Driven
Back by the Plucky Insurgents, and
Valparaiso In Danger OF Falling Into
the Hands of the Governments Foes.
VALPARAISO, Chilli, via GALVESTON, Aug.
@-President Balmaceda and the Junta
de 1obierno are clinched in the final des-
perate struggle for the mastery of the re
public Of Chilli The chosen battle ground
Is ia full view Of the city of Valparaiso,
and thousands Of anxious eyes are watch
ing from every point Of vantage the battle
which is TO decide the fate Of the country
The battle has been raging practically foI
three days The first engagement was al
the mouth Of the Aconcagus on Friday
and resulted in a reverse to the govern.
menr The final test OF strength is now
being made at Vina del Mar beach, directly
across Valparaiso bay and less than five
miles away.
Protected by war ships.
When news reached here that an army
Of 5000 rebels had been landed at Quintero
bay Thursday Balmaceda and his gener,
ais were taken by surprise. but the utmost
activity was used in getting troops 10 the
front, 50 as If possible to prevent the Ia
vading army from crossing the Aconcagua
river Immediately south Of the bay. Six
Of the insurgent war ships were anchored
no Cosnon bay at the mouth Of the river,
and under the cover OF their guns the
army OF the Junta undertook the task OF
forcing a passage OF the river Friday
morning.
II Was bloody Battle.
A most desperate and bloody battle re-
suited. lasting pretty nearly all day. A
CALLING fire from the insurgent artillery,
which was parked on the northern bank Of
the river, aided by the heavy batteries and
machine guns from the ships, was too
much for the government troops aud they
were forced 10 retire, which they did in
good order Both sides fought with the
utmost valor and the desperate character
of the battle may be judged from the fact
that while less than 10000 troops were en-
gagged. the list of casualties viii foot up
nearly 5000 men killed and wounded
More than Nitrate steaiers.
Balmaceda found out that the insurgents
arc something more than nitrate steal.
ers. The general in command of tho
tion on the beach Of vina del Mar. the
eastern shore Of Valparaiso bay, as his
second line Of defense and leaving force
enough in front of the enemy to check his
progress somewhat took his place there
yesterday and went to work to strengthen
it as much as possible
The Government Troops Reiterated.
All day long the insurgent forces pushed
sheir way steadily forward, driving the
comparatively small government force be-
fore them II was a constant skirmish for
fifteen miles over broken country. AZ
every point OF vantage the Balmacedists
made a stand. and while they constantly
were forced TO give way before superior
numbers they retarded the advance and
gave the main army nc Vina del Mar a
chance to better prepare itself for the de-
uisive fight II was not until late in the
evening that the attacking army arrived
IN front Of Balmaoeda's main line OF de
Tense. Il WAS then TOO late 70 give battle.
Baimaceda a. the Front
In the meantime President BalmacedA,
with every available man in this depart
ment. with himself in command, went TO
the front He had over 1900 available
hghting men, while the insurgent force
had been reduced TO less than 700. At the
back of the government linei ia Fort Callao,
the heavy guns Of which have done good
work, both in raking the enemy by land
and preventing the insurgent fleet, which
had entered the bay, from doing anything
effective than long range firing.
They Attacked Ia Force.
The Congressionalists attacked in force
In the morning and all day long the battle
has ragged with bhe utmost fierceness The
warships did all they could to aid their
land forces, but they had a healthy regard
for the heavy guns in the fort and were
compelled 70 do their fighting at long
a scene Of Awful Grandeur.
Fhe scene from Valparaiso is one OF
awful grandeur. A heavy pail Of smoke
hangs like a cloud over the contending
armies. IL is lit up almost continuously
BY sharp flashes Of light from the cannon
and rifles, and the thunderous roar Of the
artillery can be heard continuously.
The most powerful glass cannot pene
trate the cloud Of smoke, though from
esruesa Point glimpses OF charging regi
ments can occasionally be seen through
riffs IN the smoke cloud. There is a con
slant stream OF wounded being brought
into the city from the front, and tempo
rary hospitals are being fitted up. Nearly
all the women have volunteered their serv
ices as nurses.
Valparaiso in Peril.
Should the reYoluticnists succeed in de
feating or repulsing the government troop
they would have 80 cross small oreel
which separates the beach from the villag
Of Vina del Mar and on taking possession
OF the village would be in the rear OF For
Callao With the feet on one side Of thl
fort and the insurgent army on the othe
IL would be untensble and thus the north
erA defense Of Valparaiso would fall, max
ing the work Of capture Of the city mucl
easier The fall Of Valparaiso woul
mean the practical collapse Of Balmaceda'
poYaer.
On the other hand the defeat Of the il
surgents would mean results little less d,
cisive, for the rebels have put forth all I'll
strength they have.
Two Girls Drowned.