The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-05-03
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VALPARAISO.
OFFICIAL STORY OF the COMMANDMENT.
Commodore Rodgers Explana-
ton Of His Course
His Positive Proposals to the English
Admiral to Prevent the Outrage
Declined by That Worthy.
The Commodore Agrees to Take Care
Of the Numancia.
He Says the Nonadnoek Couid Sink
the Spanish Iron-clad in
Thirty Minutes.
Our Agents Under Orders to Preserve
a Strict Neutrality.
Important Movements OF the
Allied Fleet.
THE PERUVIAN IRON-CLADS AT WORK
~~~~--~~~>~~~~~~~~~o~~~--
Capture Of Two Spanish Vessels or
Rio JaneirO BY the Muescar
and Independence.
These Formidable Vessels Gone to
Meet the Spanish Fleet.
&c. &c. &c.
Movements OF the
Allied Fleet.
THE PERUVIAN IRON CLADS AT WORK
Capture Of Two Spanish Vessels or
Rio JaneirO BY the Muescar
and Independence.
These Formidable Vessels Gone to
Meet the Spanish Fleet.
.umeial Despatch OF Commodore Rodgers.

UmolaI DcspAtch OF commodore ROd8efs'
UNITED STATES STEAMsHP VANDERBuT.
VALPARAISO, March 81 1866.
STR have the honor to announce that upon my
arrival in this port with the squadron under my COM
mand called upon the English Admiral, who had in
formed that he intended prevent any sudden bonn
bardment and would only suffer 1t after ample notice.
To this mado reply; but, having considered the
matter sought the occasion the next day TO say that
would Join him preventing any sudden bombardment,
and that would also go much farther as he chose
assured him Tia. the Monadnock could take care Of ne
Eumoneta: that from target experiments l had wit
nessed absolutely certain that in no, less than thirty
second and not more lha~ thirty nsiaue the Aoaadnock
ArssJ entirely unassiscd ,co'td leare only The mast
head Of the Naancd ADORE ,cae,, and that our wooden
vessels English and American, could look out for the
wooden vessels Of the Spaniards.
In shus Offering go beyond the letter of my insrse
tons 10 observe sria neutrality acted upon the suppo
tion that neutrality among the nations did not preclude
oil wedrected efforts to keep the peace among them;
that = q peaceable citizen is not obliged To stand by
inert while another suffering from the unlawful vo
fence OF third person, but may justly interfere with
force to prevent nfracon of the lawa murder for
exampe--so nation, witnessing the like disturbance
among her sister nations need not rest absolutely i'm
passive with sincere neutrality might interfere with
force necessary keep the operations of beigerens
within the law for the protection OF neutral per-
cons aud neutral property.
considered that Spain had LEFT her colonies under
stringent colonial policy and religious intolerance In
the Of time encouraged by the more liberal laws
of Of freedom, foreigners had been induced TO
settle the country and to embark their capital In com
nerce and other industrial pursuits Towns had sprung
up along tho coast railroads bull, and other
material interests developed. Ideas as well as manu-
features had been introduced the wealth and inteii
eence mean while remaining with the foreigners. AT
last Chile had reached the goal in human progress,
parks by the establishment Of religious liberation and
now SPAIN on point Of etiquette rather than from
great political end as believe proposes TO burn the
property destroy the along the coast far
a. she secs IT. Is right that she should thus exercise
her power Of destruction unesrained along the shores
OF this continents
The mode Of warfare which Spain proposes u terrible,
out II such will provoke private anlmosi-
sy rather than national WILL and therefore, that
Il no, directed It's legitimate end, and consequently,
that such warfare might be resisted.
that action in the premises our part in
wolves great rssponsibiies but had reached the con
clusion that wth England ally was my duty now
to show them.
I told the English Admiral what I have written an
frankly added that his commerce more extensive
chan ours and convenient 10 the coast OF Spain but
rs no had to suffer in consequences Of rupture
with SPAIN he had also preserve by Interference
ths his interests In Chile to thousands while ours
were only hundreds
The English Admiral saa Of first an \. ,cpurd % vah
e: Cor plainly declared that would take a step
without him. said that had inin.ioa y teosia0
ca,,paw Il drow European ehataus ov, Of the ir, and
then have the Power ed laughing at my angcd
paws while they enjoyed the fruits Of my tomorsy
The English Admiral finally determined to throw the
responsibility upon the English Minister, who did not
choose to act in the premises English cooperation
hsying failed separate action part was taken,
Nod been proPoed have used such measures as
I csuld to bring about accommodation, but without
success
TIKI morning at nine O'Clock the Spanish Admiral
opened upon tho town with shot and she'll directing his
are principally sgainss public buildings and store
houses After continuous bombardmeni Of two hours
aud ny minutes the nring ceased and the spanish Ad
mlral Withdrew his vsssels
-Four of the buildings conncc cd with the Custom
House were entirely destroyed with Their contents
Other adjoining buildings used for the same purpose
wsfe very much injured The value merchandise de.
s,syed in these was vaguely estimated twenty.
two millions Of doars The Inendencia, government
house the Bolsa Exchange and the railroad buildings
,sers damaged 10 considerable extent Naturally and
inevitably parts OF the city which the Spanish Admiral
declared he did not intend to njure received many q
|'s'
4esroycd by Gre and churches and converts aad hos
.pi,sls we're not exempt from injury
Few rves were lost, not more than eight or ton
Ienclose herewith copies OF the letters sddr acd 70
me BY the foreign residents Of Valparaiso representing
the interests Of nearly AL the nailons1cs OF Chrsen-
dom bearing an Official character with cory q ny
answer also copies Of the manifesto and letter Of TIC
Spanish Admiral
when was assured that the English Admiral was de-
tcrnln "A not 70 resist bombaTdmeni, called upoT
bin, a. said that a. did no. chos % drf into ca
lisipn vA.rs mad no pp5N % eofl,de, should move
my vessels 10 get on, Of the Spanish way This n'en
tlon communicated verbally 70 the spanish Admiral
Thrus, by circumstance into q position in which
became necessary take part feel natural anH
tsy 70 know whether he took meets with the ap
probation % tho government
In my whole course have conferred freely with on
Minister General fitzpatrick, and desired the benefit
MS advise and assistance In ell have done OF onere
70 DO lie has consulted aud he has fully coucurred
n hts name has no, been mentioned before u was b