The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-09-21
BALMACEDA'SDEATH
The Ex-President Of Chile Blows
Out His Brains.
DEATH RATHER THAN SURRENDER.

of Night In the Headquarters of
the Argentine Legation at Santiago
After All Hopes of Escape Had
Proved fa1tiIe.
VALPARAISO, Sept. -Ex-President
Balmaceda, of Chile, shot himself
through the temple in his room at the
Argentine legation in Santiago. The
story became known here late Saturday
afternoon and created the greatest ex-
element Every part of the city was
brilliantly illuminated and on every
hand was heard the sounds of rejoicing
Later accounts from the capital con-
firm the sensational news and give the
details of his suicide. 1t now seems
that Balmaceda left Santiago on Aug.
30, in the hope Of making his escape
from Chile, but seeing that every avenue
of retreat was cut off he returned there
ON Sept, 2 and went direct to the Argen-
tine legation.
His intention had been to go 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 the torpedero had
sailed.
His Highly Nervous State.
Since his return to the Argentine Le-
cation, in Santiago, Balmaceda has been
i'll an extremely nervous condition. No
one, with the exception of the Minister
of the Argentine kepublic and one other
man, who was devoted to the unfortu-
nate ex-president's cause, was permitted
to talk to or even see him. ALI the diff
- 4
by the hunted ex-president.
Senor Urriburia had a long and
earnest talk with Balmaceda relative to
the latter's ideas previously broached,
about the advisability of giving himself
up to the junta. Balmaceda and Senior
UrribaTia went to bed at midnight.
Sonora Urriburia heard pistol shot
in the bed room that had been assigned
to Balmaceda. She notified her hus-
band. Before he went to Balmaceda's
room he ran round to the house of Car
los Walker Martinez and brought that
gentleman back TO the legation. Upon
breaking in the door of Balmaceda's
room he found that he had shot himself.
The body was still warm. There was
gaping wound in the temple. The body
was undressed and lay on the bed. The
revolver was still held in his right hand.
The iunta has the Argentine legation
guarded by troops to prevent an attack
on the part of the people, but everything
is quiet at Santiago. Balmaceda's body
was removed to the general cemetery
and was accompanied by members Of
his family and friends. The widow of
the dead ex-president was informed of
his tragic death by hef brother, Do
mingo Zorro. There is a guard sta
toned at the cemetery. An intendente
is keeping order.
Balmaceda's Career.
The stormy life thus brought to an
end began in Santiago tifty-one years
ago. Jose Manual Balmaceda was the
dead usurper's full name. He came of
an ancient family, rich, well known and
of high standing in Chilean affairs. 1t
was the intention of his parents that he
should have become priest, and to that
end he was carefully educated at the
Seminario Concilias, of Santiago. But
the young man had other ideas for him
self. There was at that time political
society in Santiago called the Club de la
Reforlna, composed of hot headed young
men who wanted to change or over
throw the constitution by which Chile
had been governed since 1880. Balma-
ceda Joined it, By the time he was 2S
yedIs Olu young IHllldCeuu was Known
throughout Chile as a coming man. He
was elected deputy to the Chilean
congress and took part in all the de-
bates.
When President Santa Maria took up
Balmaceda in 1885 and lSale him the
national minister OF foreign affairs he
greatly strengthened his administration
and gratified the nation. Balmaceda
was very popular. The next year the
popular minister became his party's
candidate for president and was elected
by an overwhelming majority.
For the first three years the leaders
who had applauded Balmaceda's candi-
dacy and helped him to his success We're
in complete harmony with his ideas and
methods. In these three years the pro-
gress OF Chile was greater than in any
like time in her history. All this pleas
ant situation was completely changed
in one year. From the most popular
man in Chile Balmaceda become in
twelve months among very large num-
ber of his fellow citizens the most cor
daily hated. The sole instrument in
this change was Balmaceda himself.