The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1866-05-03
From Valparaiso.

The Town BOmbarded by Span
iards---Twenty Million Dollars
Worth of Property Destroyed
American and British Admirals
Censurcd.
New YORK, May 1.-Valparaiso was
bOmbarded by the Spaniards. The town
and S2O,0O0,00O worth of property was de-
strOyed. Great blame Is attached to British
and American admirals for not interfering
with their ships to prevent such wholesale
destruction, instead of leaving the harbor.
The Panama Stars correspondent, after
commenting upon the barbarity Of the
bombardment of Valparaiso, which was de-
fenseless, without gun to reply or a ves-
sci to stand by it, states: From fifteen to
twenty millions of property is destroyed,
nearly all belonging to British, American
and other foreign merchants including all
commercial parts of the town, custom
house, Government buildings, &c.
The correspondent gives the following
particulars of the bombardment: 1t is said
that MendeZ Nunez has received orders
from Madrid to destroy, burn and desolate
to the utmost of his power all Chilian and
Peruvian property on the coast and tin at
in pursuance of these orders it was, on the
9th of March, that he sent into the Com
mandant of Valparaiso and dnotified foreign
representatives that in four days he would
lombard the city. The four days he al
lowed for the removal of sick, &c. Against
this every foreign representative protested
In the most energetic manner. The British
residents were promised the protection and
interference of Admiral Denman and the
English squadron. The American Conmo-
dore Rogers promptly placed his squadron
for cooperation against Spain, should the
threatened bombardment be attempted ;
and the representative of France was equal
ly ready to take the responsibility on his
part of joining with the Americans and
English. to prevent the atrocity that was
feared. But at last the English Admiral
drew back. He said he could not interfere
except diplOmatically, and that the British
interests must look out for themselves on
shore. Commodore Rogers shrunk from
undertaking active resistance to the Span
ish fleet, when the British commander had
receded from the position he had first taken
up. Earnestly and most urgently did the
American Charge d'Affairs, Gen. Kilpat-
rick and Commodore Rogers, labor to save
the town, but all in vain.
While this was going on no time was lost
by the neutrals, and when the day of the
bombardmeht came on the neutrals had
still their property in the custom house and
their stores. .
On the 3lst, the morning of the day of
the threatened bombardmentH Her Majesty's
frigates Sully and Leander, with the De-
vastation and storeship Nerius, lett the bay
to take safe anchorage outside. The Amer
lean ships also got out of the way.
About A. NJ. the enemy's vessels began
to take up position over against the town.
The Resolution was placed opposite the
Central railway station, the Villa de Mad
rid and Blanca twelve hundred yards from
the custom house, the Vancedora close in
shore, to- destroy dwelling houses, and the
Admirals ship Numancia remained. out
side, signaling orders. At 9 A. NJ. the
Blanca opened fire ON the custom house, to
the cry of viva La Reinam The others
followed, each selecting some point on
which TO pour its share Of destruction. For
nearly three hours the fire was kept up
without intermission. At l :08 P. NJ. the
Numancia signalled to desist and the YES.