Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-07-02
SHOT DOWN LIKE DOGS.
Details OF the Execution OF the Crew OF
the CHILEAN Rebel Launch GuaIda.

Details OF the Execution OF the crew OF
the CHILEAN Rebel Launch GuaIda.
New YORK. July IA correspond
ent at Santiago, writing on Decoration
day, May 30 SAYS: In the United States
this day is dedicated TO remembrance
of the dead who fell fighting for the
union. In Chilli this is the day upon
which scores of men were shot by their
brethren.
I'm this city the shooting of the three
officers and twelve sailors of the torpe-
do launch Gualda was the special fea-
ture of the wholesale execution. The
men were placed in one # the large
rooms of the Jail last night and those
who desired to confess did so. At
one side on table was
silver crucifx between two candles.
The half-brollen sobs of the prisoners
intermingled with the low tones of the
| priest, who, on his Blended knees, ex-
horted the condemned men. Even the
stern. rough soldiers of Balmaceda who
were on guard could not repress tears.
! All the night the solemn ceremony con-
| tinued.
1T was scarcely daybreal when the
| shrill notes of bugle were heard.
Soon six companies of infantry were in
line in the prison yard. An officer
| quickly assembled the steps leading to
! the capilla. as the room is called, and
| handed the officer on guard docu-
ment Ii was the sentence and order
! of execution, which was read, and then
| the funeral procession was formed.
''As the prisoners stepped out Of the
room each was put between two grim
soldiers. When all had been thus
| placed the procession moved out of the
! prison and was met by two companies
| of mounted men formed in two long
lines, between which the men ON foot
proceeded TO the place of execution.
1 There was not a soul in the streets. On
arriving mt the plaza the troops formed
| in a hollow square and a section
of sharps hooters took position opposite
the condemned men. Not muscle of
their faces moved; by no sign did they
betray the least emotion. They did
not seem to realize that these men
whom they We're the next moment to
send other graves were then brethren.
| After the prisoners had kissed the cruel
/
Then the command:
. 'Preparel Aim Fire.
A close volley, little puffs of smoke
and the execution was accomplished
Fifteen men had been sent to eternity
| because they espouscd the cause of
liberty as they understood II. This
butchery, for that IS what the shoot
| ing is called, has not only caused indig-
nation among the friends of the dead,
but also among Balmacedas ardent
defenders.
The dead sailors and officers were in
charge of the steam torpedo launch
Gualda, in Valparaiso bay. One night
! the commander proposed to his crew to
desert and go over to the constitution
al party. All aequiesced except one,
and before steaming out of the bay
| he was landed. He notified the an
| thorities at once, and the Almirante
Lynch was sent in pursuit. At Papu-
do the Lynch caught up with the
launch and quickly captured it, The
men were put in irons and taken back
to Valparaiso, whence they were
sent TO Santiago There they were
thrown into prison. One by one
they were tortured by the brutal keep
ers. They were literally made to 20
without food and water for two and
three days at time. The cells to
| which the men were assigned
were reeking with filth and vermin.
| On the day on which they
were brought ont to meet their
doom they were SO weak that they had
to be assisted to walk or they would
have fallen Their faces were haggard
and deadly pallor overspread their
features, showing what hunger and
suffering had done
! uiINDpEDC 0vtNf> or LttNcr1