Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1891-05-16 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

SANGUINARY BATTLE.  Letters received from the British squadron at Valparaiso give particulars of the sanguinary battle which was fought between the Chilian Government and the revolutionary forces on a plain behind the hills of Iquique on March 7th. The Government forces were in three divisions, under Colonels Robles, Gana, and Arratia, while Colonel Canto was at the head of the Parliamentary troops, the total number of men engaged being about 4,000. The battle, which commenced early in the morning, lasted for about five hours, and resulted in the complete defeat of the Government troops. Their leader, Colonel Robles, was waunded in the foot and in the side, but he continued to direct operations until exhausted from the loss of blood, when he was removed to an ambulance and attended to by Dr. Middleton. an English medical practitioner. While Colonel Robles's wounds were being dressed some naval troops, headed by an army major surrounded the car, and, driving Dr. Middleton off, fired at the wounded colonel no fewer than 11 times, besides stabbing him repeatedly. This act of cruelty was attributed to the fact that on a former occasion Colonel Robles ordered some opposition officers who had been taken at Ilospicio to be shot. During the battle the machine-guns worked by the fleet did immense execution, and a whole company of infantry, who were caught in an ambuscade by a party of sailors, were annihilated by these weapons in about one minute. The losses sustained by the Government were estimated at 350 killed and 600 wounded, while the navy lost 250 killed 350 wounded. The remnants of the Government army disappeared into the country. At Iquique itself confidence was being gradually restored. Vessels that had been lying in harbour there for months were being allowed to clear their cargoes. Mails were no longer interrupted, and the work of repairing the damage caused by the bombardment of Iquique was rapidly progressing. On March 14th the Maipo, one of the few steamships that had remained staunch to the l'resident, suddenly left Valparaiso for Iquique. She was full of war material, provisions, horses, and mules, and subsequently it was found that an officer of the coast artillery named Garcia, with about 60 men, had deserted in her to the navy, accompanied by a number of young seamen with their officers from the training schools.  The coastguaras at heacny newt, Eastbourne, have effected another remarkable rescue. A man named James Wilson became helpless amid the rocks at a dizzy height on the Channel side of the promontory. While cryingfor assistance he feltportions of the ledge of the cliff on which he rested giving way through his weight, and he had only just time to clutch a rope lowered to him from the top of the Head by the coastguards. When pulled up to the top the man was in a very eyhausted state.  Lord Zetland, continuing his tour through the distressed districts of Ireland, arrived on Sunday at Vatentia Island, where he had an enthusiastic reception. Before leaving Kentnare, his Excellency responded to an address from the townspeople, describing what he had seen on his journey of the Government relief works' which he anticipated would prove of permanent benefit indeveloping the resources of districts which had hitherto been without means of communication with good markets.  It is believed that the mystery attending the death of Dr. Henri, of Madron, Penzance, has been solved. Sixteen or 17 years ago a retired army surgeon, Dr. Neatli, dwelt in the Isle of Wight. On one occasion he went to London and was absent from home a short time. Fifteen years since he went to town and drew his pension, and then suddenly and mysteriously disappeared. A wife, two sons, and two daughters were left to make futile efforts to discover Dr. Neath. It now appears that he went to Marazion, now Madron, where he spent the rest of his life.  The inquest on the bodies of the two Parsee girls, who were killed by falling from the University clock tower in Bombay, is not yet completed. The medical evidence given on Saturday seems to point to foul play, or at least to their having been assaulted. Great excitement prevails among the Parsee community. They appear to be convinced that it was a case of murder, and they have subscribed a large sum of money to be devoted to the detection of the culprit. The small size of the tower windows tells against the theory that the fall was an accident, but suicide is still a possible explanation.  On a recent Sunday some Chinamen were burying one of their people at Pittsburg when they were attacked by a mob, who snatched the burning jossticks, perfumed paper, and printed prayers placed beside the grave. The act has been condemned by the citizens of Pittsburg, but it may be difficult for the Chinamen to get any redress. We (the Anglo-American Times) presume that they cannot now so readily ship their dead to their own country, especially those who die in the East. The Chinese have made many sacrifices to have their bones laid at home, and if they are thus interrupted and insulted when performing the last rites of their religion it will make them more eager than before to shin their dead to China for burial