The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-04-28

lMrosIS0 SpEcTAcLs. Tho Havana correspondent Of
the New Orleans Picayune thus describes imposing
mock bombadment In that harbor the recent occasion
OF the royal fctcs The bombardment Of the town
at once bold grand and exciting No other simple rep
rcsentation ever given, not those Of the Roman
empire be compared 10 1t In manicence of conccp-
ton or happiness Of execution All the forrcsscs ,s,
ally closed against the world were thrown wide open to
those who wished to enter to their innost
And right well did the people take advantage of the oc
cason The bonlbardment fixed for half past seven
OF the evenings but long before that time almost every
available place the western arnpart and Puntu Cas-
tic was occupied Nearly the entire population Of the
city seemed to be the ground and presume run lit
tic risk Of cxaggelaton when put down the number of
those who witnessed the engagement from various points
at not less than 100 0O0 The vessels detailed tn repre-
sent the hostile fleet the war steamers Isabel H.
Francisco dc Assis, and Basco de Garay the first two
mounting 10, and the last 6 guns They sailed down
the harbor in splendid style. At length the signal was
givena brilliant red rocket from the quarters Of the
captain general and the squadron advanced, opening
fire at the time upon the Moro and Punta castles
which answered back in splendid style The heaviest
mortars Of the forts, better adapted TO throwing ilurn
mated proetcs, were brought into use and the brilliant
flash, and loud reports falling upon unaccnstomcd ears
produced Understandable confession among the crowd Had
the attack been real one the noise and confusion for the
moment could not have been greater could the sight
itself have been more splendid Large and small
pieces alike, both from the steamers and the forts threw
illuminated balls which, with the innumcrabIe rockets
sent up in every direction made the scene ono of the
BunucsI pyrocCnnlc ulsptnyS. AT length the
the advanced FORTS the Pnta and Moro seemed to he 81
fenced, the hostile fleet slowly steamed up the channel
the soldiers rushed to the nparts, fire opened all
along the line of the fortifcaon most brilliant one
from the Cbamas castle and the battery of the twelve
Apostles, all which WAS brilliantly returned. For a
long time the victory ''hung doubtful " The steamers
poured broa'sdc after broase upon the massive forti
cations, and batteries from every point replied. 1t was
In the programme however that the engagement should
have end, and that favorable fotresses which
it the Spanish boast be taken All ut once
the steamers guns cigncd to be sienccd, their lights
which, up to tlis moment had burned most brilliantly
suddenly went out and in the darkness the three vessels
which, few moments before approached the haror 80
boldly and 30 confidently seemed to sink, cngufed be-
meath the waves. The guns of the neghboring fore-
tons soon after ceased to be heard the victory was won
the enemy repulsed The assembled multitude sent up
long and repeated shouts of joy dozen bands struck up
national airs, in the midst of which suddenly shone out
above tho victorious fortress, the Cabanas, the Saar
pride in letters Of electric light the words Fra Reao
Long live the Queen, to which the people enthusiast
cay responded by repeated The representation
was finished The troops received orders to retire. and
the people dispersed quietly to their homes