The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-03-04
IS BALMACEDA STILL ALIVE
A Rumor That His Alleged Suicide Was
Ruse
he Is Said To Be Alive and Living Somewhere
In CaIifornia--What Fenton
= lhi''p r1ccreery Says

us Balmaceda dead or was his reported
suicide ruse to allow him to escape to
some other country?.is question that has
been asked thousand times day in
Chile for nearly three years, said Fen
ton r. McCreery, ex-secretary OF the
United States legation in Chile. Mr.. Nc
Creery went to Chile in 1891, after the
revolution in that country, which was
closed in August of that year by the
overthrow of the Balmaceda government
and the alleged suicide of the deposed
president. According to the stories pub
lshed at the time Balmaceda took refuge
i'll the Argentine Republic when the revo-
lutionists entered Valparaiso, and the
next day after publishing his political
testament shot himself. The reason
alleged for his suicide at the time was
that given in his political testament,
namely, desire to save from punish
ment his followers by sacrificing himself.
A few months ago Chile granted am
nesty to all revolutionists, and then it was
that the death of Balmaceda began to be
questioned anew. The people of Chile who
loved Balmaceda claim and hope that his
reported suicide was merely ruse to get
him out Of the country, and from some
source the story has gone forth that in
stead of killing himself as alleged Bal
maceda fled to California and has been
living here incognito for more than three
years patiently awaiting proclamation
of amnesty which has now been issued.
1t was to get the views of q man who had
been in position to know all about Bal
maceda's alleged death that Mr.. McCreery
was interviewed, and his answer to the
first question opens this article:
81 know of no man who saw Balmaceda
shoot himself. nor do know of man in
Chile who saw his body after his DEATH
The Minister of the Argentine Republic
was the dean of the diplomatic corps,
and it was to him that Balmaceda fled
for refuge. His suicide was reported from
the legation and his body was buried
from there. Now, frankly, many doubted
the death of Balmaceda.
1.-The wish may have been father OF the
hope that Balmaceda was yet alive. AS
to that l cannot say. But | do say that,
SO far as know, no one connected with
the legations in Chile ever saw Balmaceda
dead
~ have heard it said many times,
continued Mr.. McCreery, that Balma-
ceda was alive, and he has been reported
to be in this country 1t would not be
strange, if he is alive, that he should come
here to reside, as the climate of Chile and
Southern California are very similar. Ii
he is in the United States, he certainly
did not come empty handed, and hence
could live, if he SO desired, the life of a
retired gentleman of fortune. 1t would
not surprise me in the least if Balmaceda
would resurrect himself any of these fine
days and go back to his people,
How about the rumored war between
Chile and the Argentine Republic?''
"They won't fight" said McCreary.
THE question at issue is one of bound
airy. the same as between Mexico and
Guatemala, but neither country can
afford to fight and you can rest assured
there will be no war. While / never met
Balmaceda personally said Mr.. Nc
Creepy as he rose to go, 81 sincerely hope
he is alive, but if he is and has been
living in California for three years. he
will be 10th to leave this country