326 EVENTS SUCCEEDING THE ELECTION. 



place an ambush was laid by the besieged, which in such a struggle, though barbarous in its 

 results and subjecting its authors to infamous punishment should they be taken, was rather 

 cleverly conceived. 



In accordance with preliminary stipulations for evacuating the city, in order that the besieged 

 might pass out with less obstruction, the besiegers retired from a part of the ground they had 

 gained. A mine was immediately excavated under it by the former, and, there being no 

 symptom of retreat at the time agreed on, the subterfuge to gain time was apparent, and about 

 200 of the government cavalry unsuspiciously returned to occupy their old lines. The treach- 

 erous fate intended was known only to the minority when the mangled remains of their com- 

 panions came hurtling through the air in all directions within the circuit of half a mile. Such 

 was the story told at Santiago by persons intimately connected with the leaders of the oppo- 

 sition; yet there were so many cuentos defrayle current, that one could only give faith to acts 

 in which he had been a personal participant. 



A large number of families from Serena had taken refuge at the port. On arriving there, 

 Senor Mujica expressed every confidence in a successful result, and left his friends for the head- 

 quarters of the besiegers, promising to come back next morning with tidings that they might 

 return to their houses, the rebels having been exterminated or driven from the vicinity. Learn- 

 ing his arrival, Arteaga sent a well instructed partisan without the trenches, who was to report 

 that the leaders within were quarrelling among themselves, the troops starving and dissatisfied 

 in short, that anarchy reigned to such an extent, that a large number would welcome the govern- 

 ment troops at any instant. Kapid and repeated discharges of fire-arms, and unusual noises in 

 the plaza, distinctly audible at the camp of the besiegers, seemed to confirm the account, and 

 under cover of night two companies, each with a piece of artillery, were placed under guidance of 

 the emissary for safe conduct across the entrenchments. Again treachery awaited them. 

 They were cut down or made prisoners by ambushed parties just within the barricades ; and the 

 ex-minister returned to the port, and thence to Valparaiso next day, his only success the 

 destruction of a few houses belonging to members of his own party. 



Illapel, Combarbala, and Ovalle towns to the southward had been assailed by montoneros, 

 and the government officers kept in constant alarm. Haciendas belonging to ministerialists 

 were laid under contribution to furnish cattle and provisions for the use of the besieged. In 

 fact, the province of Coquimbo was as far as ever from being subdued. Nor was the fire of 

 revolution suffocated in Atacama, Aconcagua, or Valparaiso ; indeed, only the most sleepless 

 vigilance and most dictatorial measures by the Intendentes, and the want of responsible and 

 open leaders among the opposition, prevented new outbreaks. There were incipient difficulties 

 at Copiapo, Chanarcillo, and Valparaiso again ; and the bulletins were filled with letters telling 

 of the attacks of montoneros in almost every town. But experience had been gained ; the 

 populace had few arms, little money, and not a competent man of nerve to direct them ; and, 

 of course, they accomplished nothing towards their proposed end. 



About this time a part of the reserve army mutinied at Talca, and was only put down after 

 three hours of sharp fighting and considerable loss. From the published accounts, those who 

 took a lead in the revolt had permitted aguardiente to be distributed too freely ; so that when 

 their men should have sallied from the cuartel in a body, the intoxicated were so numerous, 

 and so many others were obstinate, that they were penned, like sheep, in its patio, before they 

 understood their danger. Had they been provided, by closing the doors they might have held 

 out here a long time ; but they had no provisions, the supply of ammunition was extremely 

 limited, and most of them, raw recruits, were content to obtain favorable terms, after a do^zen 

 or two of their reeling companions had been shot down about them. 



December 9th was a memorable day at Santiago. By daylight the Serenos were thundering 

 at the doors of the houses in the upper part of the city. A fire had broken out near the plaza, 

 and they wanted admittance to the acequias, for the purpose of turning the streams into the 

 street where it was raging. It had originated in one of the shops of a large house during the 



