The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-09-22

Ireiers Death at His Own Hand to
the Fury of tho Mob That Would
Ovortafe Him-Great Excitement and
Rejoicing mt the Death of the Dlctutor
j. -
0NEw YORK, Sept. 21.---[Speciall-A
cablegram to the New York Herald
from Valparaiso, Chilli, via Galveston.
Texas says: Ex-President Balmaceda,
of Chill, shot himself through the tenn
pie in his room at the Argentine lega-
ton in Santiago, at half-past eight a. M.
Saturday. Tho story became known in
Valparaiso Saturday afternoon and Gre
ated the greatest excitement. Every
part OF tho city was brilliantly illumi-
mated. and on every hand was heard the
sounds of rejoicing. Later accounts
from the capital confirm tho sensational
news and give the details of the suicide.
1t now seems that Balmaceda left
Santiago on August 30, last, in the
hope of making his escape from Chilli,
but seeing that every avenue of retreat
was cut off, he returned there on Sep
and went direct to tho Argentine le-
CATION His intention had boon to 90
on board the vessel Condell, which he
expected to find lying in San Antonio
bay. Upon arriving there, however, he
discovered, to his chagrin, that tho tor
pedero had sailed. After his return to
tho Argentine legation, in Santiago,
Balmaceda was in an extremely nor
vous condition. No one, with tho OK
C6nti0n n ba INT ~,
Republic and one other man who was
devoted to the unfortunate ex-prcsi-
dents cause, was permitted to talk TO
or even see him. All tho different
schemes of eight wcro considered by
the hunted cX-president.
Senior Urriburia went to the thcater
Friday night. When he returned to tho
legation he had a long and earnest talk
with Balmaccda relative to tho latter's
ideas, previously preached, about the
advisability of giving himself up to the
Junta. Balmaceda and Senior Urriburia
went to bed at midnight. Sonora Urri-
buria about a. m. Saturday heard a
pistol shotin the bedroom that had been
assigned to Balmaceda. She notified
her husband. Before he went to Bal
macedas room he ran around to tho
house. of Carlos Walker Martinez and
pIougRts that, gentleman back to the
legation. Upon breaking in the door of
Balmaceda's room it was found that he
had shot himself. The body was still
warm. There was a gaping wound in
the temple. The body was undrcssed
and lay on tho bed. The revolver was
still held in his right hand.
EGAN CONFIRMS TIE REPORT.
New York; Sept. 2l.-ISpeciall-A
CIV fob m Ace
tho date of Santiago, September 81,
from United States Minister Pncricl,
Egan confirms the published reports of
the suicide of President Ralmaceda.
CAPTAIN OF TIE TrATA HEARS TIE NEWS.
SAN DIEGO, Sept. Speciall-Tho
news of eX President Balmaceda's
suicide was not known TO Captain
Manuzon, of tho Itata until communi-
Gated to him by the Associated Press
reporter.
My God!" he exclaimed, on being
told of the tragedy: "that was what /
expected. There was no chance for
him to escape. You do not, because
you cannot, know tho fury of q Gillian
mob under such circumstances. 1t
would have boon Unsuitable. He would
certainly have been torn to pieces had
he been detected trying to escape"
BALMAcEDA's CAREER.
The death of Jose Manuel Balmaceda
ends the brilliant career of one of the
most distinguished men that Chilli has
ever produced. lie was nearing the com
pletion of his term of office, and, as the
CHILEAN constitution allows no second
term, was about to retire permanently
from active politics. He was born in
1910, and received his education at the
Seminario Conciliar of Santiago do Chilli.
For twenty years he was among the
prominent statesmen Of Chilli, and early
distinguished himself as an orator, his
leeches favoring radical reforms in the
constitution of 1893.
He was descendant of one of the
best families of Chilli, his father, Don
Manuel Balmaceda, having been sena-
tor for many years. Tho son was
deputy in five consecutive legislatures,
and in 1885 was elected senator. On
tho 18th OF April President Santa Maria
appointed him minister of tho interior,
which is in reality prime minister. In
1865 he and his brothers, Malta and
lsldoro ErrazuriZ, together with other
liberal Chilians. founded the Reform
Club, which has since become the lead
ing club of the republic. He was a bold
advocate OF the separation of Church
and State in tho congress in 1874, but
the measure was unsuccessful. In
1854, however, he succeeded in intro
ducing civil marriage and other liberal
laws.
During the war between Chilli and
Peru in 1880 the Gillian government
found it necessary to have tho services
o. skilled diplomat at Buenos Ayres
to secure tho good will of the Argen-
tine Republic toward Chilli. Balmaceda
was chosen for the task, and he rendered
his country great service by smoothing
over difficulties which were very critical
at the time. He was also minister of
| foreign affairs under Santa Mara uo