STEAMER PRINCE, OFF MONTEVIDEO, _Feb. 5, 1852_.
My last was written the day before the final blow was struck by Gen.
Urquizas, at the head of his forces, upon the camp at Santos Lugares.
The battle commenced at six in the morning and terminated at ten;
the first shock was received by the cavalry of Rosas, who were put
to flight and completely routed. At twelve o’clock the lancers had
fled around in the city, announcing that all the cavalry had been
destroyed, and it is supposed that four thousand infantry and horsemen
have been slain or wounded. The ministers and consuls of the different
nations, as well as the commodores and captains of the vessels of war,
English, Spanish, Swedish, Sardinian, and American, conferred together
and resolved to bring their marines ashore to protect the lives and
property of their countrymen, and applied to Gen. Mansilla, he being
in command of the city, who replied that at six P.M. he would
give an answer, but within half-an-hour he sent word by an officer that
they could land and take such measures as they wished, at the same time
requesting the assistance of a deputation of ministers to carry a flag
of truce, and sue for terms, and cessation of hostilities. The city was
filled with troops, and the greatest possible excitement and confusion
reigned; but the policy of Urquizas is pacific, and we may now hope
that all will be harmonious soon.
The steamer Locust has just come down and informs us that Rosas and his
daughter escaped under cover of night in a small row-boat disguised as
sailors, and bare-footed, their shoes having been drawn off by the mud.
They were passed by the Locust on board the British steamer Certain,
and it is supposed that he will go to England, where it is said he
has large investments in the funds. This news of the downfall of the
tyrant is received with great demonstrations of joy in Montevideo,
and succeeded by the merry peals of all the church bells, and an
illumination. Mr. Schenck, our minister from Rio, is with us on his
return, having gone down with the frigate Congress, Commodore McKeever,
whom we left at Buenos Ayres.
I could have wished to have remained a few days longer to know the
final result of the affair, but as there is only a monthly steamer of
the mail line, I must avail myself of this occasion, to be able to meet
an anticipated opportunity by steamer to Valparaiso. While at Buenos
Ayres I visited the Salideros, which is one of the most remarkable
sights. It is well known that the slaughter of cattle is unprecedented
here, and the execution is remarkable; some of these establishments
dispose of from five hundred to eight hundred per day. They are driven
in from the estancias in herds, in inclosures made of sharpened
stakes placed upright, and sufficiently high to prevent escape; this
inclosure is gradually contracted and separated by means of hoisting
gates, until the animals are closed compactly near the slaughtering
sheds, where they are lashed by the horns and drawn to a ring in a
cross piece of timber, over a truck cart upon a railway, where they
are quickly despatched by a single blow of the knife in the neck, back
of the horns; they are drawn up by horse power acting over pulleys;
fifteen in eleven minutes were disposed of in my presence. The hides
are removed, and dried or salted for exportation; the meat is jerked
or cut in slices for drying, and sent to the West Indies; the horn
is peeled, and the pithy particles within are used for making fences
or bridging places or roads; the offal is put in immense reservoirs,
containing two hundred barrels each, of which I counted ten in the
establishment. Large pipes from an immense boiler convey the steam into
these repositories, and the tallow runs out of tubes at the bottom
like molten lead, and is put up in tierces while in a liquid state for
shipping. The refuse of the vats is used for making steam, and in fact
every particle of the animal is consumed, except the blood; the ashes
from the bones answer the purpose of guano, and are contracted for
in quantities. In consequence of the war and the uncertain tenure of
this kind of property, which is liable to be taken by the army, cattle
have been sold at two dollars each, our currency. It is a horrible
and disgusting sight, but it forms the chief branch of commerce of
this country. We will now carry the war news to Rio, which will be
gratifying and relieve the treasury.