POLITICAL HISTORY O F C H I L I. 223 



in case the town was taken, to give it up to plunder, besides shooting 

 every officer found in arms. It is said that Vidaurre offered to save 

 Portales' life if he would write an order for the surrender of the town. 

 This he refused with indignation. The authorities, nevertheless, 

 lemained firm, and allowed the flag to return. The greatest anxiety 

 prevailed in the Port, as a night-attack was apprehended, and it was 

 feared the militia, new to warfare, would give way, or perhaps join 

 the revolters. The measures taken to defend Valparaiso were admi- 

 rable. No confusion was observed, and the greatest alacrity was 

 manifested by every officer of the government, and citizens, to aid the 

 cause of order. The foreign merchants, however, sent their books, 

 papers, and money, on board the English frigate Blonde, the only 

 foreign vessel of war in port. Vidaurre came on, confident of success. 

 He encountered the militia, at the entrance of the Port, about two 

 o'clock in the morning, and met with so warm a reception that he was 

 compelled to fall back. The militia pushed on, directed by Admiral 

 Blanco. The governor, Colonel Vidaurre, a cousin of the revolutionist 

 chief, followed him up so closely that it ended in a complete defeat, 

 Vidaurre's troops scattering themselves in every direction, himself 

 flying with a few officers. When the fate of his troops was decided, 

 his step-son, who was in the rear, where Portales was in a gig, heavily 

 ironed, had him taken out, with his secretary, and shot. Portales not 

 being killed by the first fire, was bayonetted, with savage brutality, in 

 various parts of his body, which they left in the road, covered with 

 thirty-five wounds. The pursuit continued throughout the day; the 

 soldiers were left without officers, and gradually returned to their old 

 quarters, where they were incorporated with other regiments. Some 

 days elapsed before Vidaurre and his- accomplices were taken. 

 Although a feeling of horror pervaded the community at the fate of 

 Portales, yet the most perfect order and confidence continued. Neither 

 on his examination, nor that of his officers, did it appear that the move- 

 ment had been encouraged by any party in the country. In fact, it 

 could only be inferred that he was ambitious to play the part of a 

 second Salaverry. 



Order triumphed most completely. The militia had arrayed itself 

 on its side, and increased confidence was felt in the government, 

 though there were not wanting some who predicted its speedy down- 

 fall, now that it was deprived of its most efficient member. Vidaurre 

 was replaced by a much more respectable person, General Aldunate, 

 a man characterized as the Don Quixote of honour by those less 

 scrupulous than himself. The government gained by this exchange, 

 but the loss sustained in the death of Portales was irreparable. He 



