The San Francisco call., 1896-11-29
CHILEAN BLOOD
AT BOILING HEAT
Balmacedists Determined to
Overthrow. President
. Errazuriz.
o fcers of the British Cruiser
Wild Swan Say Fighting !.
is Inevitable.
The Nation. is Eager for War,
Whether Internal Strife or
:. Against Foreigners.

SAN DIEGO, CAL, Nov.. 28.-The Brit
ishscruiser Wild Swan, which arrived yes
terday from South America, brings news
of the situation in Chile, which has as
sumed the gravity of threatened revolu-
ation, If not actual resort TO arms. The
Wild Swan was at both Coquimbo and
1quioue during the troublesome times be-
s fore ami after September Is. which is the
Chilean Independence day and also the
, day. of the National elections. There was
great excitement throushour Chile during
F. the cam paign. The followers of Balme-
.ceda, supposed to be a remnant of envious
political macontents, made SUCH pow-
erful showing b fore election that serious
trouble was feared, especially at Iquique,
and the Wild Swan was ordered to that
port from Coqum DO to protect British in
terests in case of an outbreak. 1t was at
Iquique that the officers of the cruiser be-
held scenes bordering on anarchy.
"a couple OF us was in restaurant"
said an officer to-day, when an alteration
occurred between Balmacedist and fol-
lower of ErraZurz The BaImacedist-
Colonel Andres Escandon-slapped the
'Errazurist in the face, and 1t was with
great difficulty that their friends pre-
quently there was duel, and the friends
of each principal discussed the subject
until some inkIing of the truth came out
Then it was learned that the Balmace-
dists, through a pretended coalition with
the opposite party, being in reality fu-
sion of Liberals and Conservatives, were
giving their consent to the election OF
Errazuriz with the intention OF gaining
time for a conspiracy then forming TO
overturn the Government.
Through this fusion the enemies of
ErraZuriz secured The promise of several
places in the Cabinet. These men were
to foment dissension among the support
ers OF ErrazuriZ. and on the overturning
OF the Cabinet TO take advantage of the
crisis to start a revolution. We heard
these rum0rs both ar Coquimbo and
Iquique, but thought there was nothing
specially important in them, as there is
q always lot of that talk fitting about in
Spanish American countries.
.fWelT, Errazuriz was elected on Septem-
ober Is. but the majority was the smallest
ever given to any Chilean President,
Public feeling was az fever heat. When
we returned to Coquimbo we found great
discentent among certain classes and rev.
oiution talk was quite open. People were
dissatisfied with the Cabinet chosen by
the President, and he did not seem to get
along with it himself. The report of the
Finance Minister showed deficit of
about $8 600, 600 for 1896 and this added to
the trouble. Chile has been spending
much money on her. navy. During 1895
she spent. 15 coo, 600 pesos, and the appro-
priations for 1896 were still larger. The
people objected to the heavy drafts upon
them.
Gas early as October 20 we heard an
mors that the new Cabinet would have to
step down. These rumors multiplied.
with hints OF something more serious
coming, and l am not surprised to hear of
a revolution breaking out. 1t comes
month or so sooner than we expected,
however. When we left South America
the President had trouble with his Minis
ter OF the Interior regarding the appoint
. ment of Governors for certain districts.
and the Minister, who was said to be
secretfriend ofathe revoutionists made q
good deal of trouble. One or two other
members of the Cabinet threatened to re-
sign If Errazuriz pressed tho matter.
"But 1T was on the financial question
that the Cabinet and President split. The
Cabinet assumed a dicatorial tone, and
this drove many Liberal members of the
Chamber of Deputies over to the Presi-
dent. The result was the certain down
1all OF tne Ministry when Congress met
on November 2. We were at Guayaouil
then and did not hear of the outcome.
We heard that President Errazuriz had
sept for Barros Lueo, leading Liberal
politician. to form new Cabinet
in case the present one was broken.
Luco accepted the invitation and
L have no doubt the new Cabinet is of his
making, but the Balmacedists. assisted by
those members of the Cabinet who are
aggrieved at the President are at the bot
tom of. the trouble in Chile and there is
every indication that il will be serious.
'The nation has reached point where
its people believe themselves the most
powerful in the New World. not except-
ing the United States. They are spelling
for fight and if they cannot get it from
abroad they are liable to fight among
: themselves