Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-21
BALMACEDA DEAD.
The Ex-President Puts a Bullet
Through His Brain.
HE HAS BEEN IN SANTIAGO.
Finding All Avenues Of Escape Closed to Him
He Cheated His Enemies.
The People of Santiago ercnzied with
Joy When They Hear That the
Tyrsnt Is No More-DetaIls
of the Tragedy.
HE HAS BEEN IN SANTIAGO.
Balmaccda's Suicide.

New YORK, Sept. 20-The Herald prints
the following cable this morning:
VALPARAISO, CHILL, Sept. l9.-Ex-Presi-
dent Balmaceda OF Chill shot himself
through the temple in his room at the Ar
geptine legation in Santiago At q. m. to-
day. The story became known this after
noon and created the greatest excitement.
Every part of the city this evening IS bril-
hantly illuminated. and on every hand is
heard rounds of rejoicing. Later accounts
from the capital confirm the sensational
news and give the details of his suicide.
1t now seems that Baimaceda left
Santiago on August % last in the hope of
making his escape from Chill, hut seeing
that every avenue of retreat was cut off he
returned there on September , and went
direct 10 the Argentine legation. I learned
to-day the route taken by Balmaceda after
the disastrous battle near Valparaiso and
the surrender Of Santiago. On August 90,
III company with ex-Alcaide Victor
Echrawrem. he took a carriage and drove
to point two miles outside the city. Here
a SPECIAL train of one car and Il
locomotive was in waiting. Balmaceda dis
guised himself with heavy Spanish CLOAK
He was recognized, however, by the driver
OF the carriage, Il Scotchnan named Gil
more. The train went at a high speed as
far as L.inderDS, forty five miles south of
Santiago. There more carriages were in
waiting. Hurricdly alighting from the
train they entered the carriages and were
again driven RAPIDLY away. The route was
toward San Antonio bay. All trace of the
fugitivcs was. however. lost. The police
from Santiago learned of the rOnte taken
aud searched for the carriages. They were
unsuccessful, but | learn from a detective
who was engaged on the case, that
on September :! the carriages were
traced to the outskirts of Santiago.
His intention had been To go on board the
vessel Condell, which he expected to find
lying il san Antonio bay. Upon arriving
there, however. he discovered TO his
clagrin that the vessel had sailed. Since
HIS return to the Argentine legation in San
tia%c BaimacedI has been in an extremely
nervous condition. No one, with the cX-
ccption Of the minister OF the Argentine
Republic and one other man who was de-
voted to the unfortunate ex-presideut's
cause. were permitted to talk to or even
sec him. All the different schemes OF
flight were considered by the hunted eX-
president. Senior Urriburia went to the
thrater last night, and when he returned 20
the legation he had Il long and earnest talk
with BalInaCCda relative to the latter'S
idea, previously preached. about the adj
visibility OF giving himself up TO the junta
BalmaceGa and Senior Urriburia went 70
bed al midnight. Sonora Crriburia about
S o'clock u IN. today heard pistol shot in
the bedroom that had been assigned to Bal
maceda. She notified her husband. Be
fore he went to Balmaccdas room he ran
around to the house of Carlos Walker Mar
tinez and brought that gentleman back to
the legation.
Upon breaking in the door of Balmaceda's
room il was found that he had shot himself.
The body WAS still warm.
There was Il gaping wound in the temple.
The body was undressed and lay on the
bed. The revolver was still held in his
right hand
Domingo Zorro. Balmaceda's brother-in-
law. and the minister TO Chill from Cru-
quay Ar'ietia AIllichOr Corietta. also soon
Concho ran to Nioneda and informed
the Junta of what had happened \ COM
mission of inquest was promptly ordered.
Ii comprised Carlos Walker Martinez.
Senior Malichor, Senior COncho, and Judge
Augurra of the supreme court. They went
direct to the legation from the Office Of the
juntaS' representatives and viewed the
body. They drew. up ''proces verbal
certifying to the facts already stated. Tie
German minister, Gutschmidt. accompanied
the commission TO the legation us an old
friend of Balmacedas.
{, adually the news spread all over San
tiago. The excitement it created is in
deScribable Great crowds of terribly ex-
cited people gathered all around the Argen-
tine legation. They cheered and they
booted and went into frenzy over the
death of their chief enemy Abo e all the
discOrdant shouts We're heard cries CON
graduating the unfortunate Balmaceda that
upon taking his own life he had escaped a
worse fate.
Z The junta has the Argentine legation
guarded BY troops TO prevent an attack on
the part of the populace, but everything is
quiet at Santiago tonight.
Balmaceda'S body mas been removed to
the general cemetery. 1t was accompanied
by members of the family and friends
The widow of the dead ex-presdent was