Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-07-01
LEAD FOR REBELS.
An Incident of the Bloody War
in Chill.
TWELVE DEsERTERs PUT TO DEATH.

An Attempt to Steal One of BaImace-
Those Guilty areShown No Mercy-A
Short shrift and yolley of Bullets
Closes the Careers of the Prisoners
alleged Torture Before the Prisoners
Were Executed.
NEW YORK, July Nothing in all his
tory can surpass in horror the stories that
come from Chill of the inhuman outrages
practiced by Balmaceda's government on
those who are found or even suspected to
be in sympathy with the instruction now
in progress n that unhappy republic. A
correspondent writing from Santiago I'M
der date of May 80 says that that day,
which in the United States is dedicated to
remembrance of the dead who fell fighting
for the Union, scores of men were shot by
their countTymen in Chilli.
One of the Special Features.
In the city of Santiago the shooting of
the officers and sailors of the torpedo
launch Gualla was the special feature of
the wholesale execution. The men were
placed in one of the large rooms of the Jail
last night, the correspondent says, and
those who desired TO confess did So At
one side, on 4 table, was a silver crucifix,
between two candles. The half-broken
sobs of the prisoners mingled with the
low tones of the priest who, on his Bonded
knees, eXhor-ed the condemned men. Even
the stern, rough soldiers of Balmaceda
who We're on guard could not repress tears.
All the night the solemn ceremonies cen
tinued.
Marched Out to Their Death.
1t was scarcely day break when the
shrill notes Of bugle were heard. Soon
six companies of infantry were in line in
the prison yard. Another officer quickly
assembled the steps leading to the capilla,
as the room i called, and handed the Of
ficer on guard document 1t was the
sentence anC order of execution, which
was read, anC then the funeral procession
was formed As the prisoners stepped out
of the room each was put between two
grim soldiers When all had been thus
placed the procession moved out of the
prison and was met by two companies Of
mounted men. formed in two long lines,
between which the men on foot proceeded
to the place o. execution.
The Fatal voliey Fired.
There was lot a soul in the streets On
arriving at the plaza the troops formed in
hollow square, and a section of sharp
shooters took position opposite the con
demned men. Not a muscle of their faces
moved; by 10 sign did they betray the
least emotion. They did not seem to real
lie that these men whom they We're in the
next minute 70 send TO their graves were
their brothers. After the prisoners had
kissed the CrNriiX their hands were tied
behind them. and then the command.
~Prepare-aiu-trsl rang out y close
volley, little pJffs of smoke, and the exc
cUtion was accomplished. About a dozen
had been sent into eternity because they
espOused the cause OF liberty as they IN
derstCod it.
They We're All Deserters.
This butchery-for that is what the
shooting i called-has not only caused
indignation among the friends of the
dead, but also among Balmaceda ardent
defenders Tie dead sailors and officers
Were in charge of the steam torpedo Launch
Gualda, in Valparaiso hay. one night the
commander proposed to his crew to desert
and 90 over TO he constitutional party.
All acquiescei except one; and before
steaming out If the bay he was landed.
He notified tie authorities at once. and
the Almirante Lynch was sent in pursuit.
At Papudo the Lynch caught up with the
launch. and quickly captured it.
starved Before They Were shot.
The men were put in irons and taken
back to Nalp IraiSo, whence they we
sent to Santiago. There they were
thrown into prison. One by one they
were tortured by the brutal keepers
They We're literally made to 90 without
food and water for two and three days
at a time. The cells to which the
men We're assigned were reeking with
filth and vern in. On the day on which
they We're brought out to meet their doom
they were so weak that they had 70 toe as
sisted to walk or they would have fallen.
Their faces we've haggard and a deadly
pallOr oyerspreld their features. showing
what hunger and suffering had done.
SUPPRESSION OF SLAVERY.