CRIME IN SANTIAGO.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1653, 29 October 1887, Page 3

CRIME IN SANTIAGO.

A correspondent of the Panama Star and Herald writing from Santiago under date of July 28, drawn a foabidding picture of affairs in the Chilean capital. The following extract will indicate that matters are in a very bad way, if tbe account is truthful:—

After having undergone and emerged from the perils and pains of a cholera visitation, what appears to be almost a worse thing has befallen Santiago, the capital of Chile, in the shape of an epidemic of crime. As far as progress and civilisation are concerned, Chile may certainly take the first rank amongst the South American republics, but unfortunately, as is too often the case in other parts of the world, the wealth and wellbeing of the country, instead of decreasing the number of dangerous classes, has had a quite an opposite effect. This holds good especially with reference to the capital, where for the past few months footpads, burglars, and assassins seem to have set the civil authorities at defiance, and had everything their own way, A Chilean criminal has always shown himself to be a thoroughgoing man of business, and Chilean crimes may hold their own against the proudest displays of far more ancient and , experienced lands. But on this occasion a regular reign of terror appears to have been established in Santiago. It was more than unsafe to be out after dark even in the most central and densely populated portions of the city, whilst to wander alone and unarmed in any of the slightly outlying streets meant almost certain robbery, and murder in case of row or resistance. Houses have been broken into in the most barefaced manner, the burglars retiring in many cases on finding the door too strong for their efforts to bring assistance in the shape of friends and a battering-ram. Eobbery has been stalking triumphant through the streets, seeking for and never failing to find its prey. The very churches have not been safe from sacrilege. Women who have entered to pray have been preyed upon, and have been despoiled of their al/ombras or their purses, and men who while indulging in brief communion with Heaven have unconsciously deposited their hats by their sides, have had their head gear cruelly removed during their moments of devotion. At home or abroad, asleep or awake, walking or driving, praying or cursing, danger seems to have been always lurking alike for the wary or unwary. Men and women, at early hours of the evening and in central portions of the town, have been waylaid, knocked down, robbed, stripped of their clothing, and in some cases murdered by evidently organised bands of ruffians and no one to say to them nay, or what doest thou! So numerous did the nightly occurrence of such cases become, that the daily journals set apart a column or two for for the express purpose of recording these outrages. According to our most recent exchanges, owing to certain reasons which do not clearly appear, these crimes seem happily to be decreasing in number.