Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-01-05

EXPLANATION-The city is laid off in regular
squares. The artillery barracks was tightly en-
closed in the rear by solid wall. The barricades
at the corners of the Plaza Lavalle formed a COM
plete fort.
Rumors of revolution against the ex-
isting government of the Argentine Re-
public had been for long time current,
and although the struggle was almost
daily expected it fell with precipitous
suddenness upon the early morning of
the 26th of July, 1890. Before the city
was astir several regiments of artillery
and infantry under the lead of rebelling
officials, and having the sympathy of
large political organization and of many
private citizens who thought that any
change in the administration might be
for the better and could hardly be for
the worse-tOOk up their position on the
old artillery barracks, the eastern front
of which rests upon that one of the
city's public squares which is known as
Plaza Lavalle, formerly called the Artil-
lery Park. The Plaza Lavalle is an open
space of $50 yards square, beautifully laid
out, filed with shrubbery and tasteful
ly maintained as one of the pleasure
grounds for which this city is noted. In
the center and facing toward the heart
of the city, stands the imposing statue
of the old general Lavalle. On the west
side of the square stands the artillery
barracks occupying space of equal
size. At the time of the revolution the |
barracks was store-house for the |
Krupp guns, field pieces, and large |
quantity of ammunition, both for these
and for the Remington rifles with which |
the insurgents were armed Barricades |
of paving stones, street cars, and what !
ever else was available. were hastily |
thrown up at the corners of the streets |
leading to what was to be the scene of |
stubborn and hOtly contested battle,
lasting over period of four days. Act
ing upon private advices the Chief of Po- /
lice of Buenos Ayres, Sr Capdevila,
armed the policemen and firemen under
his command with Remingtons, and |
with these he expressed himself to the
President as being able to hold the city
against any attack. At about $50 on
the morning of the 26th, Capdevila
brought up his forces of fremen and po-
icemen to dislodge the rebel forces from
the plaza. This course was condemned
Dy the best generals, who were still faith
ful to the government, who said that by
holding the rebels in the hole where they
had withdrawn themselves, and by cut
ing off supplies, they would be sooner
and without bloodshed. When
he line of police and firemen exposed
themselves in crossing a street two
squares from the stronghold of the in
the first volley of the worst
revolution in the history of the Argen- |
ine Republic Missed down Cordova
street into the closely ranked files of po-
icemen. The effect upon them, being as
hey were unused to warfare, was imme-
late panic which broke their movement, '
md order was only restored by their own {
generals who drew their swords, and s
airly drove the frightened men ahead
Up to this time no orders to fire had q
,een given the government forces. After
passing the corner of Cordova and Artes c
treets the policemen and firemen were
marched along Artes street one square to /;
he south. crossing Viamonte street. /,
Here they met with the same CALLING fire /,
which they had been called upon to face +,
It the other corner, and for the first time !
eceived orders to return the fire. AL ,
hough taken at great disadvantage, /,
hey soon rallied and made a stubborn
ight with great bravery rushiI & to the
Tery mouths of the Krupp guns, all of
which were rapidly moved to that corner
If the square, and continuously poured '
folley after volley upon the unframed I
nen. These men could have been made
20 do service as soldiers under no other
eader than Capdevila, but influenced by
lim they attempted to maintain the or
Ter and peace of the city, even against
he regular troops of the government.
such fight from different sides of the |
two squares, where the enemy was en- {