The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-05-16
IN QUEEREsT IQUIQUE.
THE SCENE OF A SAVAGE AND
BLOODY BATTLE.
Fen Points from the Most Interesting
Region Of Chiic--s.Nitrste Kings"
and the Boandiess source
OF Their wealth.

nOunceu E-kec-kee1s nttle more thhn
half "a year Ego. IL was one of the most
peaceful ard prosperous cities of Chile
IA seaport second only 10 Valparaiso
In population and commercial import
ance. In wide contrast 10 the burned
and battered ruia the rebels made OF
IL on their recent raid. says Fannie Is.
Ward N the Philadelphia Record. As
long been the great shipping point OF
nj .te OF Soda vast business. prac-
ally controlled by English capital:
I'd therefore In the eyes OF English
on Iquique Is OF more consequence
han all the rest os Chile put together.
In the battle here between the gov
'rnment troops and the rebels on the
10Th and 20th ult. every building In the
TX principal squares was completely
lestroyed The insurgents seized the
ustom house pillaged private resi-
ences and finally set fire 10 the bust
less quarter and reduced II TO ashes.
The terrified women and children. who
we're hidden In the inner rooms OF their
houses 10 escape bombs and flying bull
cts. had the walls burned or pulled
down over their heads during the sack
ing process. and I'm this way several
hundred defenseless creatures persisted
like rats in hole.
Low-class Chileans are proverbially
cruel. and the soldiers, having once
had a taste OF blood. are worse than so
many savages This was many times
proved In the war with Peru. After
one or two disastrous battles the PERU
VANS. knowing what TO expect II they
fell into the hands OF the merciless en-
envy. when defeat was certain. leaped
into the sea or killed themselves with
their own bayonets.
The term "cut- throat applies well
to the Chilean soldier, for every one
OF them carries short, curved knife
--sharpened on the inner side OF the
curve-that just fits n human neck,
and Is terribly expert I'm its use Not
long ago we were entertained in the
house of wealthy citizen OF Santiago,
when he showed me with great pride
and satisfaction glass case containing
upward OF 200 gold and silver medals,
such MS these Southern governments
delight 20 bestow upon their soldiers
for distinguished bravery. and related
how they were all torn from the breasts
OF dead or wounded officers on the
battle-delds OF Peru.
For more than year past the
nitrate people have been doing little
profitable business. principally on
account OF the government troubles
and consequent strikes among the la
borers. and also because the English
market Is overstocked with the com
modify. and therefore its price is cor
respondingly low. From this nitrate
industry alone the Chilean government
has been collecting revenue OF about
$20. 600, 600 per annum in export
duties. Some eight months ago, when
workmen were striking all over the
country, on account OF hard times
occasioned by the persistent refusal OF
congress TO pass the appropriation
bills, these lquiqui lnborers made a
great deal OF trouble.
The workmen had been receiving
from 81 10 $40 a day In Chilean paper
currency (worth about one-third the
amount in United States or English
gold). and when exchange drosped
lower and lower they demanded 10 be
paid In silver instead OF In paper. as
formerly. which would, In reality,
about double their wages. This the
nitrate companies refused TO do. be-
cause they were making no money
themselves. and the established rate
OF payment was exceptionally good
for Chile. Then the laborcrs struck"
en- masse. and threatened 10 burn down
the works and warehouses unless their
demands were acceded 10. The man
ayers importuncd the president 10 send
troops 10 their assistance. But the
government was so distracted with It's
own troubles and the revolts that were
springing up all over the country that
aid was not dispatched 10 Iquiqui In
time To do much good. The conse-
quence was that several OF the largest
nitrate companies were compelled 10
suspend work entirely. 10 their own
ruin and the suffering OF hundreds OF
poor families and the loss 20 Chile's
treasury at a critical time when she
can Ill afford IL.
Perhaps the greatest natural curios-
ity ON the Southern Continent Is this
inexhaustible deposit Of nitrate Of soda.
Beds OF IL are strewn along the west
ern coast for five hundred miles; and
throughout all that distance the
physical aspect OF the country Is the
same-evcrywhere an arid range OF
hills from four 90 six thousand feet
high. rising abruptly out OF the
Pacific. backed by a desert pampa
(piain) from fifty 30 one hundred miles
wide. which gradually nscends TO tho
foot OF the snowy Cordillera. Mo-
where else In the world except in this
..n.,,tA. .rn taiirnl..l fnltnl ~,