The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1891-09-26 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

THE SITUATION IN CHILI.  SUICIDE OF BALILLOIDA.  Intelligence from Valparaiso states that Ex-President Balm/cede has put an end to his life. He shot himself in the temple in his room at the Argentine Legation, in Santiago, on Satuidaymornin& The news was received- at Valparaiso in the afternoon, and created the t excitement. The whole city was illuminatecirienite evening, and sound of rejoicing was heard everywhere. It seems that Balmaceda left Santiago on August 29 in the. hope of escaping from Chili, but finding every retreat cut off, he returned there on the 2nd inst., and west direct to the Argentine Legation. His intention had been to board the Almirante Condon, which he expected to find at San Antonio Bay, and he was much chagrined to find that she had sailed. After his return to the Legation he was extremely nervous, and none but Senor Uriburu, tli. Argentine Minister, and another man, who was devoted to Balmaoeda, were permitted to see him. On the evening preoedieg the tragedy Senor Uriburu had a long talk with Balmaceda on the subject of the latter's ideas, which had previonly been broached, about the advisability of surrender to the Junta. Both retired at midnight. Some time after eight o'clock next morning Senora Urlburu heard a pistol shot in Balmaceda's bedroom, and immediately informed her husband, who thereupon ran to the house of Senor Carlos Walker Martmes, and brought him to the Legation. When the door of Balmaceda's room had been forced open they entered and found the ex President's body still warm, with a gaping wound in the temple. The body was undressed, and lay on the bed, the right hand holding • revolver. The excitement in Santiago was indescribable. Great crowds gathered in front of the Legation, cheering and hooting continuelly, apparently go' fren..ieif over the death of the ex-President. Baliamseda left a tester for his mother, and a statement in which he says: "I have acted during the past eight months under the conviction that I was right. I had no one in the army that I. could trust, the Generals being false to me. Had, my orders been obeyed, I believe that the battle a 4, Conoon would have resulted in a victory for ue. My heart throughout was with Chili. I sought to, rescue the country from foreign domination, and strove to make it the first Republic in Amerioa. My enemies say that I was cruel, but circumstances compelled me to sanction certain acts. Many bad deede attributed to my orders were never known of by me until they had been committed. Until the battle of Placilla I bad strong hopes of triumphing. I now know that those who pretended friendship for me did so because money could be got from me. All the money in my possession now is 2,500 dole., which my wife gave me on August 28. Mr. Egan, the United States Minister, often urged me to make peace with my. opponents and leave Chili, but I did not heed hi, advice because I thought '..hat he was under the influence of the Junta's agents, who were then refugees in the American Legation. My closest advisers were always opposed to overtures for peace." In • letter to Se or Uriburu, Balmaceda says "When I saw that persecution was directed against me by _persons who once supported my administration, I concluded that the only way to end the persecution was to take my life, as I was ale responsible one. Good-bye, true friend. Give my farewell to my wife and children." Some members of the family and friends aocompanied Senor Torro, Bahnaceda, • brother-in-law, to inform the widow of her husband's death. A further telegram states that the feeling in Chili in oonnection with Balmaceda's suicide is one of rejoicing at his death, and of regret that he did not fall into the clutches of the infuriated citizens. The holidays that were in progress when the announcement of his death was made have been prolonged in consequence.  uiteq  also I  . , . . , ,