CHAPTER XI. 



POLITICAL TROUBLES. 



NEWS OF THE OUTBREAK AT SAN FELIPE. GOVERNMENT MEASURES. OPPOSITION ACCOUNT OF THE DIFFICULTY. ITS 

 FRUITLESS RESULT. NEWS OF THE INSURRECTION AT SANTIAGO, APRIL 20, 1851 .COLONEL URRIOLA IN THE PLAZA. 

 DELIBERATIONS AT THE PALACE. THE INSURGENT LEADER TAKES UP A NEW POSITION. THE LOCALITY OF THE CONFLICT. 

 PREPARATIONS FOR ACTION. THE STRUGGLE. FALL OF URRIOLA. CAPTURE OF CANNON BY THE INSURGENTS. CESSATION 

 OF THE CONTEST. THE KILLED AND WOUNDED. FORCE ENGAGED ON EACH SIDE. THOSE INTERESTED. THE VICTORS 

 VANQUISHED. FATE OF THE INSURGENTS. CAUSES OF REVOLUTIONARY TURMOILS. 



November 6. At early daylight an express came in to the government, and the city was soon 

 filled with rumors of a revolutionary outbreak at San Felipe. It appeared that a Socialist club, 

 similar to the one at the capital, had been some time in existence, its leaders preaching doc- 

 trines subversive of morality and good order, but taking care, like their fellows in Santiago, to 

 commit no direct infraction which would subject them to the penalties of the law. At last two of 

 them were arrested and thrown into prison for some real or nominal offence. One of them was 

 the gentleman who a few months before had charged the Intendente with treason, and both 

 were connected with the highest blood in Chile. A meeting of the club was called as soon as the 

 incarceration was known, and a banner was hung from the windows of the club-room inscribed 

 "Death to tyrants." This having been ordered to be taken down, and the assembling of the 

 members forbidden, as both commands were resisted, the governor proceeded to the spot to 

 enforce obedience in person. Promptly resisting him, the mob overpowered the few troops that 

 remained faithful, seized the provincial acting chief magistrate, and in a body proceeded to set 

 their leaders at liberty. Not contented with this, the legally constituted public authorities were 

 thrown into prison manacled, felons were turned loose with arms in their hands, and new 

 rulers were chosen. According to the several versions, the revolutionists numbered from 500 

 to 800 men, who had appointed one of the leaders of the Egualistas as their chief. 



On the arrival of the express, the cabinet and Council of State were summoned forthwith ; and 

 before sunrise Gen. Aldunate had marched at the head of a body of troops destined to put down 

 the insurgents. As a body of these last were reported to have started for Valparaiso, the Inten- 

 dente of that province, temporarily on a visit to the capital, was instructed to leave without 

 delay, and after placing himself at the head of the Valdivia regiment, which he would meet on 

 the way, either turn off to intercept the rebels, or continue on to the relief of San Felipe. Not a 

 moment was lost in placing the troops at the different barracks under arms, and making such 

 other dispositions as would prevent surprise, should the Egualistas and opposition party be 

 inclined to play a similar game at Santiago. However, no such intention manifested itself, 

 unless small groups of rotos talking earnestly in the thoroughfares, and the excited counte- 

 nances of those who were known to be authoritative, might have been so regarded, and the day 

 passed quietly off. 



November 7. The "Araucano" announced that "The bloody revolution, provoked by a 

 number of disorganizers in San Felipe, has spread consternation among all good Chilenos. 

 Blood has been shed by the hand of an assassin armed to overthrow the authority of the repub- 

 lic by one Eamon Lara. This is the individual who,, in September, brought charges against 

 Senor Novoa,* and shortly afterwards established and presided over the society of Egualistas 

 at San Felipe, a branch of that existing amongst us, with the same name and like tendencies 



* The Intendente whose trial and acquittal is referred to on a preceding page. 



