The record-union., 1891-08-29

the officers, they broke and retired al
most IN panic. AS soon as they got out
side Of the range of the deadly fire the
officers worked liked beavers to reform
their columns, and at last succeeded.
Then came another attack In steady
ranks the Government troops started on
double-quiclz up into the torrent of fire
and lead which blazed from the in
surgent ranks. General Barbosa was
killed. The line wavered for an instant,
but then went on. A short distance fur
ther on General Alzerreca fell from his
horse wounded unto death.
Again the line wavered, and then GEN
eral Canto gave the order to charge. With
wild yell the Congressional army left
their defenses and charged on the now
retreating enemy. The artillery poured
deadly fire into the ranks Of Balma-
ceda's troops. The loss OF the general
officers had left the latter without head.
and all efforts of the subordinate officers
to rally them were of no avail. The re-
treat became rout, the rOut panic, and
then utter decentralization. The Govern
ment cavalry made a stand, but it was
short They were literally cut to pieces.
VOlley after volley was poured into
the demoralized mob, while the regi-
ments which had not lost their regi-
mental formation went over to the vic
toriOus troops of Canto and Joined the
attack on their late comrades. These
deserters were generally volunteers, who
had been pressed into service by Balma-
ceda since the beginning of hostilities.
Their sympathies all along have been
with the insurgents, and they grasped
this, the first opportunity, to go over to
them.
The fighting lasted less than eight
hours, and its desperate character may
be judged by the fact that fully 5000 men
were killed and wounded. The country
for miles around is filed with men, many
of them wounded, who were this morn
ing the dependence Of Balmaceda.
The defeat of the Government is abso-
lutte. There is no possibility of a reor-
ganiZation, and if Balmaceda does not
succeed in making his escape through the
mountain passes, the chances are that he
will be captured and shot.
President-elect Nicuna early took the
alarm when the stragglers began coming
from the battlefield. He went aboard the
German flagship, and asked the protec-
ton of the Admiral. 1t was granted.
Then Intendente Viel sent a communica-
ton to the Admiral of the United States
Navy and the commanding officers of
the other foreign fleets, requesting them
to send men ashore to protect their citi-
zens, as the probabilities were there
might be trouble. A party of blue jack
cts and marines from the cruiser San
Francisco quickly came ashore and took
up positions about the American Consul
ate. The other naval officers followed
suit, and soon there We're enough foreign
sailors and marines on shore to protect
the city against an outbreak.
The streets of the city by IL o'clock
were filled with a disorganized mob of
Balmaceda's soldiers. The execution
among the officers had been terrific. In
addition to Generals Barboza and Alzer-
reca, nearly all the staff officers had been
killed or wounded, and the fatalities
among the line officers had been great.
To avoid blOodshed, which would prob
ably have resulted from the victorious
army entering the city, heated with the
fire of battle, Niel sent flag to General
Canto with proposition to surrender the
city. 1t was accepted, and Senor Walker
Martinez, the Congressional leader took
possession of the city.
Shortly after noon the victorious army
began to enter Valparaiso, led by General
Canto with his staff. The insurgents
troops were greeted with the widest en-
thusiasm. The people were wild with
excitement, and the streets resounded
with the shouts of "Viva Chile, Viva
Canto"
Shortly after the army entered Captain
Fuentes of the torpedo boat Alciente
Lynch was summoned to surrender. He
attempted to steam out, and opened fire
with his machine guns. There was
sharp engagement, and then Captain
Fuentes hauled down his flag, and there
was not an enemy to the revolution from
Fort Naldivia TO Nina del Mar. During the
afternoon such of the Government troops
as were in the city delivered up their
arms.and were paroled.
The city is as quiet as could be ex-
pected. Nobody here has any knowledge
of the whereabouts of Balmaceda. al
though the insurgent leaders are exceed
ingly anxious to find him. The general
belief is that he is making his way out of
the country, perhaps overland to Buenos
Ayres.
NADINE nICkCTCD