Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-08-29
BALMACEDA BEATEN.
First News Of Battle Received by
State Department
FROM CONSUL At VALPARAISO
Tho Government Forces Defeated and Valparaiso
in the Hands Of the Foreign Fleets to Pre-
serve Order-Chilian Minister at Wash
ngtOn Does Not Bavs Much to
Say About II.

WASHINGTON, August 2o.-At ldIe
hour this afternoon new aspect was
given to the situation in Chilli, when
Mr.. Julio M. Foster, who is assisting
the Congressional ENJOYS In this city,
received the following dispatch dated
to-day at New York:
"Balmaceda is defeated. Valparaiso in
our power Viva Chilli.
TSignedl "TRUMBULL."
The sender is Richard Trumbull, one
of the Congressional agents, who is now
under Indictment for violation Of the
neutrality laws in connection with the
equipment of the Itata.
The absence of official information at
the departments has puzzled the OIL
cials. Certainly, if decisive engage
ment has taken place, it was to be eX-
pected that Minister Egan or Admiral
Brown would promptly report the fact
if communications were open.
An hour after the dispatch from
Trnmbull came to hand, the following
from Mr.. Viel, the confidential agent Of
the insurgent party at Lima, Peru,
dated to-day and addressed to Mr..
Pedro Montt, the principal Congression-
al envoy in this city, was received at
the headquarters of the party here:
Triumph complete. Valparaiso sur
rendered"
Acting Secretary of State Wharton
received the following cablegram to-
night:
"VALPARAIso, August %.
s'Battle fought near this city this
morning. Government forces badly
beaten. Heavy loss on both sides. City
surrendered to opposition, but in hands
of admirals of American, German,
French and English fleets for good or
der. No communication with Santiago.
Opposition forces now entering the city.
(Signed.) "MCCREART,
"Consul at Valparaiso"
This is the first information received
by the State Department from It's repre-
sentatives in Chilli relative to the state
of affairs there for some time, excepting
q meagre cipher dispatch received this
morning from Minister Egan, dated yes.
| tarAo- - SantIa0o- stating that n small
! light had taken place -noar that-Pl@s4
yesterday morning, and the decisive
battle would probably be fought this
morning.
MIR. Wharton declined to say what ac-
tion would be taken by this Government
or what instructions would be sent TO
Minister Egan, but he said that nothing
would be done until further news had
been received by the Department.
/ mi kn
found tonight, bnt it is generally sup
posed he must have received the news
of the defeat of his government and for
this reason declines to receive anyone.
Mr.. Lascano, the Chilian Minister,
said later that news had been received
ey him from Chilli since yesterday stat
ing that a battle had been fought on the
25th in which the Government forces
were victorious. While the Minister de-
clined TO say whether he placed
credence in the reports of Balmaceda's
fall, 1t was apparent by his demeanor
that he was not very hopeful OF receiv-
ing good news, and seemed not over
Sanguine that the government had not
been defeated.
"All is possible in war" he said, "and
l can't understand how the situation
could have so suddenly changed since
my dispatch yesterday announcing vic
tory, though it may be So"
Further than this the Minister de-
clined TO speak.
The Chilian Minister is without any
information relative TO the surrender
other than that contained In the de-
spatches received by him yesterday.
Friends of the Balmaceda government
in this city, commenting on the denials
from IQuique OF the reported surrender
Of the insurgent army, say that the in
surgents at that place cannot get any
telegraphic information from Valpar-
also, as both the cable along the coast
and the telegraph line from Valparaiso
to Huasco, were in possession OF the
government. This fact, they Insist,
shows that the denials from Iquique are
without foundation.