366 A HISTORY OF CHILE sition ladies in balconies shouted, "Tell me whose house that is from!" A broken statue of Balmaceda was kicked through the streets, opprobrium heaped upon it at every bound. Beggars possessed themselves of works of art, dirty women wheeled away chairs and sofas, wagonloads of stolen goods were driven to hiding- places, shouts rent the air, and red ribbons, the badge of the oppositionists, fluttered everywhere. On the 1 8th of Sept., while the nation was cele- brating an Independence day, Balmaceda's legal term as president expired ; that night he shot himself while in bed, leaving a letter to the Argentine minister, Uri- buru, in whose house he had taken refuge, explaining that he deemed his presence there a danger to all the inmates, and hoping that his death might, secure bet- ter terms for his late followers.* He was secretly buried to prevent outrages by the mob upon his re- mains. Thus passed from earth this man whom his enemies called a "tyrant" and his friends "a good-na- tured gentleman." He is described as being about fifty years of age, six feet- in height, of spare build, a broad, sloping forehqad, a good-humored eye, and wear- ing usually in his face a half-playful, half -cynical smile. The oppositionists met with no farther opposition from the outlying government garrisons. The "Con- dell" and "Imperial" surrendered at Callao and were taken back to Valparaiso by the transport "Gurmao. " A week had not elapsed before affairs in Chile were as quiet as in ante helium days. The junta which had carried on the revolutionary cause so long, at once
- Though knowing of his defeat, Balmaceda on the 28tli of Aug. gave a dinner-
party in honor of his wife's Saint's day. It shows well the man's courage. At about ten o'clock he sought and obtained an asylum at the Argentine legation, handing over Santiago to the care of General Baquedano. Here he remained, protected by Seiior Uriburu, the Argentine minister, until the i8th of September, He was supposed to have made his escape, and one story was circulated and given general credence that he had been shot by his muleteer while crossing the Andes.
