The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-01-29
CHILE AS SHE IS.
SOURCES FROM WHIUH HER MEN
DERIVE rRnWESS.


The CHILEAN war cloud, which now
Overhangs the country, naturally calls
the attention of our readers to the re.
sources. natural and financial. of the
South American country which may have
to be forced into submission to our de-
mands.
Unlike the other Latin-American races,
the Chilians are descended from the
Gothic Span ards rather than the Anda-
lusians. They have, therefore, the large
muscular bodies, fine physique and hardy
constitution combined with the Ger
manic temperament, for which the in
habitants of the North Of Spain were
noted.
The Indians now living in Chile are of
the Araucanian stock, and are by far the
strongest and most energetic of the ab-
Origincs of America. They are not only
good fighters, but are more than semi
civilized. They weave their own cloths
and have considerable mechanical talent.
They even manufacture gunpowder to
some extent.
They number now about $4,000, and
have Il reservation in the southern part
of the country, still to a large degree in.
dependent of the Gillian government.
They maintain a force of some 5000 men,
mostly as cavalry, as they are all natural
horsemen.
The cross between these aboriginal in
habitants and the white population took
place almost entirely between the years
1910 and 1860, during the period of Span
ish conquest. This intermiXture was
only to u very limited extent, as the
terms of the treaty of peace subscribed
to in 1860 settled the war by declaring
the Bio Bio River the boundary between
the whites aud the Indians, and whoever
on either side dared venture across this
boundary could be killed without haz-
arding the peace. There was, therefore,
no intermingling of the races for the sub
.sequent 800 years.
The race of half-b breeds of which this
was the origin, is the most perfect ex-
ample of an amalgamation between
whites and aboriginal Americans ol
which we have any knowledge.
They nave the dash and energy of the
Gothic-Spaniard, the conservatism of the
German, and that stolidity and patient
endurance of fatigue and hardship for
which all aboriginal races are noted
The population of Chile at present con-
sists of per cent. Indians, 10 per cent.
half-breeds and 81 per cent. Caucassians
1.-THE United States has only 81 per cent.
Caucassians).
1t is stoted that MeXicans and Cfilans
are vastly different. Chile, with a popu-
lation OF 3,OOO,O 600, has more than twice
as many Caucasians as Mexico with H.
600, 200 Inhabitants, and very nearly as
many as the whole empire of Brazil.
Owing to the climate, the Chilans are
much more energetic than any other of
the Latin American races, except, per.
haps the Argetineans.
During the war with Peru, Chile kept
in the field 10000 men under voluntary
enlistment. The average height of these
men was D feet s inches to 5 feet 10
inches, and their average weight was $50
pounds, which is II pounds more than
the average weight of the United States
army in the late war The men are eX
ceedlngly robust, with broad, deep Guests,
and in the Peruvian war repeatedly made
day marches of over 30 miles, arriving in
good condition for immediate action
On one occasion a march of l20 miles
across desc t was made, 60 miles of the
distance being between watering sta
lions. The forces on this march includ-
ed infantry, cavalry and artillery.
General Sherman, the hero of the ia
nous march to the sea-" at the close of
the War of the Rebellion, was in CONVEX
Sation one day with Chiian Consul and
was told of this extraordinary march. 81
don't see how in the deuce they ever did
it," said the veteran General.
CHILEAN soldiers are said to be. by those
who know, most stubborn fighters, and
are uuexccled in the valiant courage
they display even under repeated re-
pulses. In one of the most important en-
gagements Of the Peruvian war victory
came to tine CHILEAN forces only after
In adj nnn RI n
a most disastrous manner, and two
thirds OF the officers and men lay dead
before the Notifications.
The old wooden, 4O-gun warship Es-
meralda, was sunk only after four and u
half hours fighting with the Peruvian
irOnclad Uuascar, and then went down
with her flag flying. Only 80 men of Il
crew of 21S survived The present Es-
meralda was built by public subscription
to replace the old ship OF tine same name
The new Chilian warship, the Captain
Pratt, was named for the captain of the
old Esmeralda.
The equipment and supplies of the
Chilian army were called well nigh per-
feet" by officers of the British fleet in
the harbors during the last war. The
Crook and Armstrong repeating guns,
and the Mauulicher smokeless rifle in
uoG ny IiiC N'Cl man aAlO III
this equipment.
Chile, on account Of her geographical
situation, would be comparatively easy
of defence. A range of coast mountains
about 5000 feet in height intervenes be-
tween the coast line and the settled pOr-
ton of the country, and the only means
of getting over these mountains is by
rock Businesses along the river
The interior of Chile is vast plain
about 1900 feet above sea level and some
40 miles wide by 600 miles In length. In
the centre of this plain, parallel with the
coast range and coast line and about 80
miles from the sea, is the great CHILEAN
railroad, owned by the Government This
road is being extended and reaches fro
the region OF the Archipelago to some
distance north of Valparaiso. There are
lateral branches passing through the
mountain gOrges to the principal sea-
ports on the coast, thus making it easy
to move armies or supplies to or from
any of the principal seaports in old
Chile.
On the east the Andes form an effect
ual barrier to invasion, the only passa-
BILE point being the "Uspailata," $500
feet above sea level, over which the
Trans-Andean railroad is now being
built.
The desert of Atacama, on the north,
could hardly be crossed by an army, so
that-at least the Chilians think-the
oaapoastic the only nrapnahla nnint