The morning call., 1891-09-15
BALMACEDA ESCAPES
Struggled on Board the Cruiser
San Francisco.
he EVadeS the Efforts Of The Junta 10
Capture Him.
Discussed as a Drunken Sailor He Is Taken
on Board the United States
Vessel.
special to THE MORNING CALL.

New YORK, Sept. 14.-The Herald special
cablegram from Valparaiso. September 14th,
says: Balmaceda has escaped from the
clutches of his enemies. and Is now safe on
the high seas under the protection of the
United States flag. All the time the
soldiers of the Junta were guarding
the passes of the Andes to prevent
his getting into the Argentine Republic, and
the police of the new Provisional Govern
ment were searching the monastries in and
around Santiago for the fugitive ex-Presi-
dent he was in hiding in this city. Here
he was more apt to escape detection than
anywhere else, for his opponents never
dreamed he would dare to return to Valpa-
raiso, they being assured that he had fled
from 1t.
Balmaceda chose his refugs wisely. for
he was enabled to throw himself upon the
mercy Of Admiral Brown of the United
States flagship San Francisco and beg to
be saved from the revenge he feared from
his foes. Admiral Brown did what other
foreign Admirals would have done under
similar circumstances. He stepped in
to save possibly human life. In the
name of humanity he consented to
afford Balmaceda shelter on his ship and
the protection of the stars and stripes. TO
effect the ex-President's escape it was de-
cided to have Balmaceda disguise himself as
a drunken United States sailor. Clothing
was sent ashore in the market boat last night
by order of Admiral Brown. 1t was smuggled
by one of Balmaeeda's faithful adherents
into the house where the ex-President was
In hiding He carefully donned it, and after
a close inspection of his new ana strange
attire, to see that there was nothing about
the get-up which would arouse suspicion,
he stole out by the rear entrance into the
street.
Nightfall favored his disguise and he had
studied lis part so well that he feigned
drunken tar to perfection. In his way
toward the water front ne rolled by many
men who would have been delighted to have
had chance to seize and turn him over to
the police authorities.
In time he reached the spot In the harbor
arranged upon. There he found boat
awaiting him. 1t was manned by sturdy
ceda, still maintaining his disguise, made
final drunken stumble and fell into the
boat. 1t pushed off at once and in
a short time the eX-President, all signs of
inebriety at an end, climbed swiftly up the
ropes and was saved. He went at once to
one Of the cabins of the San Francisco and
did not again show himself above deck.
This part of the vessel was re-
served solely for its prominent guest.
Nobody was allowed to visit this cabin.
The officers of the San Francisco we're
questioned about the matter, but resolutely
refused to discuss it. The San Francisco
left Valparaiso this evening for Callao.
Thence it will sail for California. Bal
maceda may elect to land at Callao,
where many of his leading partisans
have already been taken by foreign
ships on board of which they
sought refuge after the fall of Valparaiso.
Admiral Browns action will undoubtedly,
for the time at least, increase the bitter feel
ing here toward the United States Govern
ment, although the Admirals of other foreign
vessels have taken prominent BalmacediStS
aboard.
CALLAo, Sept 1.-THE Chilean Junta's
war-ship Trumao, which arrived here few
days ago to take back to Valparaiso the
tOrpedO-boat COndel and the transport I'M
periale, late of Balmaceda's feet, has sailed
for that port with them.
Several prominent members of the Bal
macedan Government, who took refuge on
the foreign war-shipS in the harbor of Val
paraiSO after that city was captured by the
Junta's troops. have arrived here. Among
them was Vicuna, who during the as
tendency Of Balmaceda was elected as his
successor to the Presidency of Chile; Senior
Domingo Godoy, ex-Mtnister of State and
Foreign Affairs; and Balmaceda's brother.
ROME, Sept. 14.-It is stated that the
Chileans have purchased the Italian steam
ship Aquila and transformed her into a
cruiser.