Page:Letters from the Battle-fields of Paraguay (1870).djvu/144



114 THE MURDER OE GENERAL FLORES.

must be steeped to her lips in blood_, D. Fortunato slapped the paternal face, and running to the barracks called out the corps of which he was colonel. Having made all safe with the officers, he seized Colonel Batlle (pronounce Bailie), then Minister of War, and by threatening to shoot him obtained an order upon the officer on guard to sur- render the Fort of S. Jose. D. Fortunato then tried a ruse de guerre^ hoping to get possession of his father's person, but the brave " General-in-Chief of the Vanguard " had disappeared from La Union, where he had been com- pelled to fly. The " Pronunciamento^" was presently crushed, and a decree of February 8 banished D. Fortunato and fourteen officers of his corps, with four other partisans* It also dismissed for revolting against his father, but did not banish, the cadet D. Eduardo Flores â€” a man who can thoroughly well lose his money at billiards, but who is not equally fond of paying his losses. Both these officers em- barked on the same day (February 8) under promise to quit the country, and landed again after a few hours.

Meanwhile, another complication declared itself. The Blancos who had lost power after the invasion of the Banda Oriental by General Flores in 1863, and who were hope- lessly reduced by the storming of Paysandu in 1864, rose in arms against the Colorados. The former were headed by ex-President D. Bernardo P. Berro, a favourite with foreigners and highly respected by all classes. The tragical affair had its comic side. Berro, a fine tall figure with flowing white hair, is described as rushing about in a black hammer-claw coat and starched evening tie, spear and re- volver in hand, shouting " Liberty.^'

At this conjuncture General Flores was foully assassi- nated.

Meanwhile ex-President Berro, accompanied by Sr Bar- bot and some forty-five friends, seized the Government