The Forrest City times., 1891-08-28

PRESIDENT BALMAcEDA. final test of strength is now being 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 of 5000 rebels had been landed at Quaintero Bay Thursday Balmaceda and his Generals were taken by 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 Aconcagua River immediately south of the bay. The arrangements were made hurriedly, and only little over half of the troops were available for this purpose.
 Six of the insurgent warships were anchored in Couson Bay, at the mouth of the river, and under the cover of their guns tho army of the Junta undertook tho task of forcing passage in the river Friday morning.
 most desperate and bloody battle resulted, lasting pretty nearly all day.
 A galling fire from the insurgent artillery, which was packed on the northern bank of the river 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 Wounded
 Both sides fought with the greatest valor, and the desperate character of the battle may be judged from the fact that while less than 20, 900 troops were engaged the list of casualties will foot upnearly 3, 1000 men killed and wounded.
 Balmaceda found that the insurgents are something more than nitrate stealers."
 All day long Sunday the insurgent forces pushed their way steadily for ward, driving the paratively small government forces before them It was constant sl1irmish for fifteen miles over broken country. At every point of vantage the Balmacedists made stand, and while they constant ly were forced to give way before su- perior mum bers they retarded the ad- vance and gave the main army at Vina del Mar chance to better prepare itself for the decisive fight.
 It was not until late in the evening that the attacking party arrived in front of Balmacedas main line of de- fense. It was then too late to give battle.
 Balmaceda Takes Comm and.
 In the meantime President Balma- ceda- with every available man in his department, with himself in command, went to the front. He had over I3, GOO available fighting men, while tho in- surgent forces had been reduced to less than 1000.
 The Congressionalists attacked in force Sunday morning, and all day long the battle ragged with the utmost tierceness.
 The most intense excitement pre- vails in this city. The roar of heavy artillery and tho sharp rattle of snail arms resound through the streets and are echoed back from the high hills surrounding the city. Every body who is left here has sought some place overlooking the battle ground, and watching the desperate struggle which is being fought under their very eyes.
 Scene of Awful Grandeur.
 The scene from Valparaiso IS one of awful grandeur. A heavy pail of smoke hangs like . cloud over the con-
 
 constantly by sharp flashes of light from cannon and rifles, and the thund- erous roar of artillery can be heard continuously.
 The most powerful glass cannot pene- trate the cloud of smoke, and only oc. casionally can the movement of troops be even guessed at. though from Gene see Point glimpses of charging regi- ments can occasionally be seen through rifts in the smoke cloud.
 Caring for tho Wounded.
 There is . 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 men who had not left the city 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 tho 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.
 It is the universal belief here that Valparaiso will be bomb barded by the fleet should Balmaceda be defeated. and the victorious army make land attack. If, on the other hand. the Balmacedists gain the victory the fleet wlll cover the retreat of their army. and if necessary reembark them.
 All the government officials here are confident that Balmaceda will drive the rebels back and, If he does not en- treiy destroy them, compel the insur- gents to reembark in their transports and go back to the north
 Protecting shs Foreigners.
 Admiral Brown, commanding the American fleet here, and the command lng officers of other foreign naval forces, have combined to protect the lives and property of the foreign citi- xens, and in case of an attack on the city. marines and blue jackets from the foreign warships will probably be landed to see thAt order, 50 far us the foreign element is concerned. is pre- served
 perverted but . truthful proverb: A4Iffa q l<u.s, 1cas kh~k bss n .,,t ., ..t-