334 EVENTS SUCCEEDING THE ELECTION. 



handful of raw countrymen had, for more than one hundred days, successfully resisted them at 

 Coquimbo, the result of the contest could not he doubtful. Thus the miners, becoming dis- 

 gusted with weapons they found so difficult to manage, flung them away very soon after the 

 action commenced, and rushed into the comhat with only stones and knives an inequality they 

 fought under for more than two hours, against troops entrenched and barricaded with all the 

 skill a regularly educated soldier could devise. Some fifty were killed ; a like number fell 

 wounded or were taken prisoners ; and the remainder, perhaps four hundred and fifty, adopting 

 the belief of Falstaff, that 



" He who fights and runs away, 



May live to fight another day," 



"made tracks" for the city. This was quietly surrendered next day, after exchanging one or 

 two notes, for appearance sake. 



There was no subsequent contest at the north. Owing to evidences of still existing disaffec- 

 tion among the populace at Valparaiso for several weeks after, orderly citizens were under 

 constant excitement. Seconded as was the Intendente, the motions of the mob were kept under 

 control, though nothing but the most untiring vigilance prevented open revolt again. 



One other part of the republic remained to be heard from the " ultima tliule" of the conti- 

 nent, as of its society. Of all its territory, the penal colony at Magellan was the only portion 

 from which the sound of revolutionary voices had not yet been heard. True, except when a 

 new living cargo was to be added to its numbers, few thoughts were given by government to 

 that congregation of felons and political offenders ; and perhaps no one anticipated the contem- 

 poraneous tragedy, enacted there. If the news was somewhat tardy in coming from that iso- 

 lated quarter, its people had been scarcely less prompt in action than their more favored fellow- 

 countrymen ; and thus the distaste to the new incumbent of the Presidential chair was either 

 universally innate, or the opposition had scattered the seeds of discord very widely. A suc- 

 cessful revolt had taken place about the middle of November, though intelligence of it was not 

 received at Valparaiso until about two months later. The news was brought by two or three 

 persons who succeeded in escaping to an English mail-steamer, and informed the commander that 

 the leader was a lieutenant of the military guard sent there to aid the governor. Supported by 

 others of the guard, and a few political captives, the lieutenant had made a prisoner of his 

 captain, and took possession of the arms and ammunition. The governor (captain), with five 

 others who rallied to his support, had been obliged to take refuge with the curate. 



Five days later the American ship Florida, freighted with political prisoners, arrived from Val- 

 paraiso ; and the governor, who seems to have suffered no restraint till then, immediately went 

 off to her. But his movements had been too slow. Intelligence of the condition of affairs on 

 shore had already reached the passengers ; and these deriving confirmation from musket shots at 

 his boat as it pushed off, took possession of the ship, also turning their arms upon him. Assailed 

 from both sides, there was no alternative but flight ; and the mere shallop in which himself and 

 little party had left the shore being wholly unable to contend against the fresh breeze and pow- 

 erful tide sweeping through the passage, he was driven to the southern side of the straits. 



Chilenos report the Fuegians savages tractable only at times ; and, as the latter are known to 

 be hostile to the neighbors which government has imposed on them, it is to be inferred that 

 their humors have not always been acceded to during visits to the northern side of the straits. 

 Inhabited by such a race only, the governor did not perceive his approximation of Tierra del 

 Fuego with any great degree of pleasure, more especially when he found that the natives were 

 awaiting the moment he should be forced on shore. We know that a conflict almost immedi- 

 ately ensued, and that his party eventually put to sea again in the same crazy canoe ; but 

 nothing of the origin. To have remained longer would have exposed themselves to attacks 

 from irresistible numbers as well as to starvation, and it was preferable to risk the possible 

 charity of misguided countrymen rather than hazard such fate in this land of fire, with the 

 prospective finale of being eaten for supper some night. Unfortunate refugees ! their kith and 



