78 SPORTING ADVENTURES 



Many of the soldiers having deserted during 

 the night of the 25th, on the following morning 

 Silvestre Gutierrez rode back to Lima for rein- 

 forcements, leaving orders to his men to shoot 

 every man, woman, or child they might see ; 

 and assuring them that he would return in a few 

 hours, and burn the town of Callao. 



He was, however, destined never to return, 

 for whilst at the railway station at Lima he was 

 fired at by the people and killed. 



His brother Marceliano, hearing of this 

 occurrence, determined to wreak his vengeance 

 upon the unfortunate president, and calling the 

 officer of the guard, they proceeded to the prison 

 where Balta was confined. Marceliano accused 

 him of being the cause of his brother's death, and 

 fired his revolver at him as he lay upon his 

 couch ; the officer of the guard followed his 

 example, and the soldiers completed the work 

 with their bayonets. 



Having perpetrated this atrocious murder, 

 Marceliano escorted by a body of soldiers re- 

 turned to Callao, telling his men that they 



