Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-27

PRESIDENT BAI.MACEDA.
final test of strength is now beinp
made at Vina del Mar Beach, directly
across Valparaiso Bay, and is less than
fifty miles away.
When the news reached here that an
army 5000 rebels had been landed
at Cualntcro Bay Thursday Balma .cda
and his Generals were taken bv sur
prise, but the utmost activity was used
in getting troops to the front, so as If
possible to prevent the invading army
from crossing the Aconcagna River
Immediately south of the bly. The
arrangements were made hurricdly,
and only a little over half of tho troops
were available for this purpose
Six OF the inSurgcnt warships were
anchored IN CouSOn Bay, at the mouth
of the river, and under the cover of
their guns the army of the Junta
undertook the task of forcing passage
in the river Friday morning.
most desperate and bloody battle
resulted, lasting pretty nearly all day.
A CALLING fire from the lnsurgent
artillery, which was packed on the
northern bank of the rive, aided by
the heavy batteries and machine guns
from the ships, was too much for the
government troops and they were
forced to retire, which they did in good
order
Three Thousand Killed and Nounded
Both sides fought with the greatest
valor, and the desperate character Of
the battle may be judged from the fact
that viii less than 20, 900 troops were
engaged the list Of casualties will foot
up nearly 5000 men killed and wounded.
Bamaceda found that the insurgents
are something more than nitrate
stealcrS."
All day long Sunday the insurgent
forces pushed their way steadily for.
ward, driving the ,omparatil ely small
government forces before them 1t
was constant sllirmiSh for fifteen
miles over broken country. At every
point of vantage the Balmacedists
made stand, and while they constant
ty were forced to give way before SUI
perior numbers they retarded the adj
vance and gave the main army at Vina
del Mar chance to better prepare
itself for the decisive fight
1t was not until late in the evening
that the attacking party arrived in
front OF Balmaceda main line of de-
Tense. 1t was then too late to give
battle.
Balmaceda Fakes Comm and.
In the meantime President Balma-
ceda- with every available man in his
department., with himself in command,
went to the front. lie had over Is, 0Ou
available fighting men, wnile the in
surgcnt for eS had recn reduced to.
less than 1000.
force Sunday morning, and ali day
long the battle ragged with the utmost
ferceneSs.
walls in this city. The roar of heavy
artillery and the sharp rattle of small
arms resound through the street, and
are echoed back from the high hills
surrounding the city. Every BODY who
is lef, here has sought some place
overlooking the battle ground, and
watching the desperate struggle
which is being fought under their
very eyes.
a Scene Of Awful Grandeur.
The scene from Valparaiso Is one of
awful grandeur. A heavy pail of
smoke hangs like cloud over the con-
tending armies. 1t is lit up almost
constantly by sharp flashes of light
from cannon and rifles. and the thumb
erous roar of artillerr can be heard
continuously.
The most powerful glass cannot pene-
trate the cloud of smoke, and only &C.
ca>ionally can the movement OF troops
be even guessed at, though from Gene
sec Point gimpses of charging regi-
ments can occasionally be seen
through riffs in the smoke cloud
Caring for the wounded.
There is a constant stream of wound
ed being brought into the city from
the front and temporary hospitals are
being fitted up wherever possible.
Nearly all the w men who had not left
the citJ have volunteered their services
as nurses, and they and the full medi-
cal force of the city have their hands
full.
From the wounded and their attend
ants only the most fragmentary in
formation as to the progress OF the
fight can be obtained. and it is utterly
impossible at this writing to form any
Judgment as to which side is getting
the better of it.
1t is the universal belief here that
Valparaiso will be bonn barded by the
feet should Balmaceda be defeated.
and the victorious army make d land
attack. If. on the other hand. the
Balmacedists gain the victory the fleet
will cover the retreat of their army.
and ii necessary reem barb them.
All the government officials here are
confident that Balmaceda will drive
the rebels back and, If he does not en-
tirely destroy them, compel the insur-
gents to reem bark in their transports
and go back to the north.
Protecting the Foreigners
Admiral Brown, commanding the
American feet here, and the command
ing officers of other foreign naval
forces, have combined to protect the
lives and property OF the foreign citi-
zens, and in case of an attack on the
city, marines and blue jackets from
the fore gn warships will probably be
landed to see that order, so far as the
foreign element is concerned, is pre-
served.