The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-04-19
In NORTHERN CHILL
The Present Feeling Among
Resident Foreigners.
HOW THE TROOPS ARE RAISED
The Present State OF the observation-disclosures
teers" in Chains-Some of the Most
Interesting Sections.

VALPARAISO, Chill, March 10, 1891
Especial correspondence of TIE HERALD
in these days Of war it is not an easy mat
ter to get into this mis-named ''Vale of
Paradise" from either direction, by land or
sea-not only on account of the blockade in
the bay and the infrequency and Irregular
ity of railway trains, but because of the I'm
certainty of coming events and the direful
certainty that revolters ara everywhere,
liable at any moment to perpetrate unheard
OF atrocities under the guise Of revolution.
Should one come by sea just now, he would
not be permitted to land: and the only way
to get here from the direction of Santiago
is by rail- or in the saddle from the north
and east.
Have you ever reflected how much of
everyday comfort and safety is due to the
enforcement of established laws? II requires
some great upheaval, like this in Chill, to
remind one of his obligations to good gov
ernment-as health is best appreciated dur
Ing an Illness. The foreigner in Chill who
VALUES LIFE AND LIBERTY
will do well TO entertain no opinions con-
corning the questions at issue, or to keep
them religiously TO himself Bitter feelings
run high, and these volcanic people are by
nature given TO excuses. The landlord
whose guest you are, or the untidy man who
pretends to set your room in order there
are no chambermaids in South America) is
as likely TO resent your rash expressions
with dagger in your heart or razor-edged
curvo at your throat as the soldier is with
hic ;,,C III
lea your personal property is much safer
from thieves than in most parts of the United
States ;but human life is rated very cheaply
and taken on slight provocation.
Regarding the unhappy situation in Val
paralso, have CLEANED the following facts
from resident foreigners. Nobody can yet
clearly foretell the result of the revolution,
except in the destruction of the credit and
prosperity of the proud little country that
has so long stood at the head of
SOUTH AMERICAN REPUBLICS.
AS to the details of the causeless conflict,
the present scene of action being several
hundred miles to the northward, the news
papers suppressed and all cable and tele-
graph communication cut off-the citizens
of Valparaiso are not so well posted as peo-
pie in Europe or the United States.
You can readily imagine what consterna-
ton prevailed that bright afternoon in Jan
uary when the rebellious Gillian feet, with
decks cleared for action, came sailing into
the port after the"sangre aZul' (blue blood,
of the country, supported by Congress, and
the navy had gone into revolution against
the government. Many fed from the CITY,
fearing bombardment and the landing of in
surgents-which would mean another gen
eral massacre, greater than that which re-
Gently took place at Iquiqui; but the few
Americans resident here remained. to a man
(and may also add to woman), feeling
that the arm of the home governments long
and powerful and bound to be respected.
Valparaiso Is so situated,
ALONG A NARROW STRIP OF COAST
backed by steep hills, as to be exposed to
bombardment in every part, and being al =
most entirely a wooden city, with extremely
narrow and crooked streets, it would burn
like finder.
But instead of plucking the plum of COM
plete victory, as the rebels might easily
have done that day, they simply pillaged the
government store ships, issued q bombastic
proclamation and maneuvred the feet
around the bay with flying colors and a
brave show of what they might do if so
disposed. 1t is asserted, however, that the
forbearance of the rebellious navy was not
due to any consideration for Valparaiso and
the people thereof, but to the army officers,
who had pledged themselves to join the up
rising and pocketed the cash therefor
failed to 'rise'' when it came to the scratch.
During the few days Immediately follow
ing this bootless demonstration, Balmaceda
armed the forts that command the entrance
to this most important of Gillian harbors,
and
RE-oRGANIZED HIS ARMY.
The regular army numbered only about five
thousand before these troubles began; but
it has since been augmented to more than
twenty five thousand. The government
now offers its soldiers $50 bounty and regu-
lar pay OF $40 per month-eXtraordina
wages in Chill; so that the old saw is being
reversed and the plow shares hguratively
beaten into swords. A great many of the
new troops are conscripted. 1t is related
that recruiting officer recently sent fifty
men to headquarters, chained together like
wild beasts, accompanied by the character
istic message: 81 herewith send YOU fifty
volunteers. Please return me the chains"
OnJanuary 18th a shell was fired into the
Gale Blanco killing six men and woundiDg
G score. Then Admiral Morett declared a
blockade IN Valparaiso bay: but at the ex-
piration of the usual forty-eight hours no.
Iice the valiant squadron was no where tc
be seen, they having folded their tents, OF
rather their sails, like the Arabs, and
SILENTLY STOLEN AWAY BETWEEN TWO DAYS
inpursuit Of mischief elsewhere. The north
ern blockade depriVes the government of its
customary 81, 100000 per month-in nitrate
export dutieS-and there has never been g
time when the revenue was more needed
than at the present. All manner of rumors
some do doubt greatly eXaggerated-are
afloat hereabouts concerning the recent bat
ties at Iquiqui, Antofogasta and other places
N northern Chilli; but owing to the cutting
of the wires and the suppression of the
newspapers, little reliable information can
be gained. There have been several minor
engagements in this neighborhood, chiefly
on the bay, and for several weeks past, in
lieu Of the usual theatres, testas and horse
grand military funerals and impressive
guard mounts.
President Balmaceda has proved himself
to be by no means the weak and yacillatinp
creature that his early course toward Con-
gress led some people to suspect, and there
is now no doubt that he will
HOLD FAST TO HIS POINT
SO long as q cen. romans in the public
treasury or can be raised by leyying on the
private means of los rtcos. He is certainly
very liberal with the contents of the cash
box though they are dwindling lower anc
lower. Naturally, frequent reports are
afioat to the effect that he is about to abdi
cate. or has been assassinated; but neither
Ia likely to occur. He has hardly shown his
head outside the Moneda Tor treasury build.
ing, portion of which serves for the exec
utive residence) since the dawning Of these
DAYS of danger, appearing 10 find life safer
if not more agreeable, under shelter ius1
now with an armed guard IN every doorway
and angle of the wall.
1t is certain that the wealth and aristoc-
racy of the country are almost universally
against the president, as well as many of tht
lower class. But whatever his faults anc