POLITICAL TROUBLES. 497 



General Balnea, if not born "insensible to fear," has that written on his rough countenance 

 which mi jht easily be so intnpn t< .1. Of course he would be glad of any excuse for delay in 

 tii in- on his coiititi vim n, ami thus orders were issued to the cavalry to neither draw sword nor 

 fire a shot under any circumstances. Conformably with this command, it is said that the 

 squadron composing the body-guard of his excellency, their swords in scabbard and carbines 

 pendent, traversed various parts of the city without once returning the shots occasionally directed 

 at them, or exhibiting anger when assailed by the mob with volleys of stones. It was also 

 known that the President gave an example of confidence by riding unarmed through some of 

 the streets attended by only three of his usual escort. 



When the conversation with Seuor Montt took place, there was also present Don Anjel 

 Prieto, a son-in-law of Urriola, who was entreated to use his influence that things should go no 

 farther. At the same time, the first named gentleman promised the weight of himself and 

 friends to obtain the utmost possible mitigation of the severities of the law, if the insurgents 

 would disperse. "It must be evident to you," added Senor Montt, "that the revolt will be 

 quelled, because the populace prove their disposition in the presence of the National Guard." 

 A greatly over-wrought cause of gratulation, by-the-by ; for, as has been said, there was not one 

 in six of them present. However, after expressing great doubt as to whether he possessed suffi- 

 cient influence to change the purposes of his father-in-law, Senor Prieto finally acceded to the 

 wishes of two of the ex-ministers,* and left the palace in tfceir company. Half way to the plaza 

 his doubts returned, and he dissuaded them from proceeding, assuring them that the deter- 

 mination of his relative was probably unchangeable ; and if he could not effect it alone, the 

 presence of conservatives like themselves would perhaps do more harm than good. Persisting 

 in this, the mission was completed alone ; but instead of listening to the benevolent sugges- 

 tions of friends, and dispersing his force, it was soon apparent that Urriola was about to take 

 a further step. 



Nothing was to be gained by remaining longer in the plaza. The Chief Magistrate had not 

 come to them and surrendered ; and at best, under inactivity, the populace around were luke- 

 warm. Therefore there was no alternative but to take him, and dictate terms, or sneak back 

 to the cuartel, to be afterwards dragged out and shot seriatim. Yet, how accomplish this? The 

 palace was some squares distant, and strong; and they possessed neither cavalry for a charge, 

 nor artillery for battering. Moreover, if they remained at their present position the plaza 

 being hemmed in by four high walls they could be mowed down like reeds, from the streets 

 that open at each of the corners. True, there were the buildings surrounding the plaza, within 

 which they could take refuge, and, with ammunition, defy all the force that might be brought 

 to dislodge them ; but they had too little powder and ball to risk this ; and without provisions, 

 they must soon have been starved into terms. Therefore, towards 7 A. M. Urriola moved his 

 force through the Calle de Estado to the Canada ; and on arriving in front of the convent of 

 San Francisco, soon got up quite an excitement, the troops hurrahing for " el pueblo y libertad," 

 and the Egualistas and rotos reciprocating the compliment with cheers for "la linea" (the regu- 

 lars). A few moments served to show that a favorable effect was produced for the cause of revolt, 

 an under-current working for it that was probably set in motion by other and more tangible 

 causes than vivas. As its ranks began to swell, such arms as could be obtained were distributed 

 among them, though not a few had only clubs or paving-stones. About the same time Col. 

 Videla, with two pieces of artillery under charge of nearly a hundred men of his own battalion, 

 the Chacabucos, crossed the lower part of the Canada, on his way to protect the palace. There 

 he found the President at the head of about 700 men, consisting of his escort (200 cavalry per- 

 sonally attached to him), quite 400 of the National Guards, and perhaps 100 from other corps, 

 who were disposed to strike a blow for the preservation of order and existing law, rather than 

 risk confusion and anarchy. 



Two or three hours more were frittered away by each party, Urriola making the most delib- 



The two opposed to the nomination of Mr. Montt; referred to on page 315. 

 63 



