Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-09-03
THE BATTLE DECISIVE.

THE BATTLE DECISIVE.
A Brilliant victory Won BY Gen. Canto
Over Balmaceda in Chili-The Latter a
Fugitive Complete Rout of Govern
ment Forces.
VALPARAISO, Chilli, Aug. 2s.-Balma-
ceda's power in Chilli is broken. His
army has been crushed after five hours
hard fighting and is scattered beyond
all hope of reorganization.
The revolutionists have taken pos
session of Valparaiso.
The future of Chill for the time has
been settled. and settled conclusively,
on the hills to the east of the city by
the grim arbitrament of war.
With Balmaceda practically fugi-
tive, without resources in men or
money; with the principal seaports of
the country in the hands of the con-
Ing off of all income from customs re-
ceipts; with President-elect Vicuna a
refugee on board a German warship
and the country focking en- masse to
the standard of the invaders, it is only
a matter of a few days when the capitol
will fall into the hands of the revolu-
tionary leaders
Gen. Canto and his army won
yesterdays battle by superior general
ship. good hard fighting. assisted by
good fortune in the killing of Balma-
ceda's generals and the consequent
Generalization of the army and the
desertion of entire regiments.
Early yesterday morning the boom
of, cannon announced to the people of
Valparaiso that movement beyond
the ordinary skirmishes had begun.
The occasional loud reports of heavy
! guns soon swelled into one continuous
roar and then it was known that the
final, decisive struggle. which, at the
cost Of thousands of lives. perhaps, was
to decide whether Balmaceda or the
| junta was to be the ruling power in
| Chill, had begun
Gen. Canto's position was on the hills
! above the race track at Vina del Mar,
outside of the city. His raiders had
been getting holder and holder as the
time passed and had been making ex-
| cursionS further into the country. He
had absolute control of the railroad to
| Santiago and commanded the ordinary
roads Hence Santiago was practically
in state of siege.
Affairs had come to such a pass that
it was necessary for President Balma-
ceda to make some move, and little
after daylight yesterday morning the
word was given to attack the position
| held by the revolutionists, and led by
Gems Barbosa and Alzerraca, the gov
eminent troops left their breastworks
and advanced on the enemy under
cover of heavy fire from their bat
teries
AS soon as the approaching column
| got within range of the rifles of the in
surgents destructive fire was opened
by the intrenched revolutionists. The
! government troops advanced with much
steadiness to the attack. They were
| soon near enough to do effective work
with their pieces and the engagement
became general. Shot and shell, grape
and canister, and rifle bullets tore
through the ranks of the advancing
troops until it became too hot and de-
spite the efforts of the officers they
broke and retired almost in a panic.
| Then came another attack. In steady
ranks the government troops started on
a double-quick up into the torrent of
fire and lead which blazed from the
ranks of the insurgent army.
Early in the second charge Gen. Bar
bose was shot down and killed. The
live wavered but kept on. Then Gen.
|
unto death.
Another break and then Gen. Canto
| gave the order to charge. With a wild
yell the congressionalist army left
their defense and charged on the re-
firing enemy.
The fighting lasted little less than
five hours, and its desperate character
may be judged by the fact that fully
5000 men were killed and wounded
Shortly after noon the victorious
army began to enter the captured city
from the hills to the southeast
During the afternoon such of the gov
eminent troops as were in the city, or
who came in, gave up their arms and
most of them were paroled. Guards
were stationed in the streets to see that
the crowds of disbanded soldiers and
the dangerous classes did not make
|