THE TROUBLES IN SAN SALVADOR.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2106, 2 October 1890, Page 1

THE TROUBLES IN SAN SALVADOR.

HOW PRESIDENT . MENENDEZ DIED. A dramatic account of the death of President .Menendezi in , the city of Ban been published’in the Courrikr dbs Etats-Unis, from a letter by one of its subscribers in Central Ampriqa, an eye-witness of the.terrible, scene which took place on the 22nd iof June; . He'describes as follows ■ • General Menendez, in; order to the fifth’ anniversary of his triumphal entrance into SanrSalvadpr, had invited thd thd city find its enrironsT Vo d ball, 1 which was followed . by a banquet in the Presidential palace. At ,11 (ip’cjock,. when the dancing was atits height* there arrived in front > ofi the palace. the musical band 1 of: Santa ; Anndj invited* for the purpose of assisting "in , the jubilatiok the occasion,. its members* 'shouting .jhjtenehdez ! ; ” and playjng |he. §pi)]kngek<)Marcji.” The company forming the. guard of hoDQnr.alipwed the; band and the escort accompanjdbg itto penetrate intd the inner square of the building, in the belief -that ( it came ‘to serenade the President. "‘ V ° j< 5 A SUDDEN - CHANGE.

, Suddenly the musicians threw down their instruments, which they replaced with'guns add waapdns 'cafned - by the escort. Thon, led 'Genbral Blasio Marcial, they tlte steps, reached the daubing halls, 1 and summoned the President and Ministers to surrender. Oeheral Menendez was at theindmhnt and reclining on a sofa in his ' apartments on the second floor. 'On hearing the shoots of r - the , insurgents, -who had changed' l their “hurrahs 1 of ~" Yiva Menendez!" to those of ‘‘.Mbera Mendfedez 1” Viva‘Ezeta v !" the President appeared at &'■ window, talked excitedly to' the rebels, fired (:: bis revolver at them,; and-.appealed; to the guard of honour to do its duty, A lively fusillade was.tfaen opened just on the level of the dancing hall, whence the guests could see the flashes from the guns. , A SCENE OT CONFUSION. ■ Tremendous confusion ensued—mothers calling for their sons and ! daughters, husbands looking after their i families, the air filled with-the shouts of the soldiers and the cries ( 'of 1 wounded, and, above all, the stentorian voice of President IVlenendez, in a paroxysm of rage, calling for General Bzeta and defying him to personal combat. Suddenly the fusillade stopped, and strange silence prevailed. ! Only two voices were heard—that of the president standing at the window and continuing his imprecations, and that of Blasio Marcial, standing on the i j steps covered with blood and with Only a horse-whip in his hand,-encouraging hia soldiers and forbidding them to lire, whileM he , bogged the ladies- and : IstrangerS' target oat of the palace, [assuring them that there was no ; 'danger and' offering to protect them with hia own body;

THE PEESIDENt’s DEATH. Among the ladies on the steps were the wifeiand daughters of the Minister of- War, ' “ General,” exclaimed the ‘Minister, “ my wife and daughters are dying with fright Let me lead them away and I return immediate give you my word of honor.” “I accept it,” said Marcial; 1 “ but don ? t fait to return.” : -The Minister odid mot come back. "At this moment Colonel Martinez, commandant of th'o guard of honor. who had not understood the meaning of it fora salute to the President, arrived on the portico and jaw, tlje soldiers of Marcial, (Surrfpder I” said the latter, “let, us not shed ftll, : .the barracks; aro»in our power ;” and in |bhe hope of better persuading Martinez he took him in his But meanwbile the President hi“ CODie down from and. seeing Martine* ia ; arms •'.Marcial,. tclaimed, “ What! even my bodyguard abandons me?”! “No,” an: swered Martinez. “lam come to die by your side!” A struggle took place between the two;chiefs, 1 who rolled on the ground; Marcml 1 * wd's' killed. Then Menehdez,' a sword in one hand and a revolver in the other, surrounded alspl)y and ordering his guard to follow him, madly ran into the street in pursuits of the rebels. But he suddenly - turned J himself around, his arms . beaiting the air, and fell undcr a stroke 6f apoplexy. He was carried into" the palace, and Colonel Martinez., sloyvly retreated towards the barracks : of the guard, where he was soon subdued by the greater number of the insurgents. ■