Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-05-09
THE BOMBARDMENT OF
VALPARAISO.
Fun Details of the work.

The correspondent of the New York
Tribune gives an account of the recent
bom6ardmennt of Valparaiso:
On the 9th of March, Admiral Nunez
informed the Gillian Government that
dispatches had been received from Mad
rid, appointing him Minister Plenipoten-
tiary, vice Admiral Pareia, accompanied
by instructions to insist upon the fulfill
ment of the original terms of settlement
prescribed by his predecessor, or in lieu
of which, to lombard the City of Valpar-
also. He also notified the foreign Minis
tiers of the course he was directed to pur-
sue. From the Gillian authorities he
was met with the reply that the Republic
would never humble herself to the re-
quIred degree. She would not be com
PEELED to salute the Spanish flag nor to
apologize for imaginary ~offenses against
the Government of Her Catholic Majesty.
Upon the reception of the reply, Nunez
Immediately notified the authorities of
Valparaiso that he would allow them
four days time in which to remove the
non combatants,~ preparatory to the bona.
bardment of the city. He notified the
foreign residents to save their movable
property to the interim, as nothing be-
yond a compliance with his demands by
the Republican Administration could
change his dissemination as to the time
of the attack.
A meeting of foreign Ministers was ina-
mediately held, and a request sent by
them TO Nunez that be would reconsider
bis determination and allow the city to
still exist" His reply was firm, but
courteous. His orders were explicit and
could not be ~disregarded. The American
Minister, Gen. Fitzpatrick, wal indefati-
gable in his efforts TO bring about a re-
Cancellation between the belligerents, but
his labor was thrown away. Seeing that
sill peaceable efforts TO save Valparaiso
were fruitless, Gen. Fitzpatrick proposed
to the English and French Charge DAT
flares to see what virtue there would be
in shot and shell, from the men of war of
the several Powers, then lying in the har-
Dor. The American Commodore, Rodgers
and our Minister, Jointly proposed to
anchor the different fleets between the
Spanish squadron and the city and, in
case hostilities we're commenced, they also
agreed that if the British feet would fire
the first gun, the American men-ofwar
would assume all further responsibility.
British interest in Valparaiso is much
more extensive than American-in fact
it is four times as great-and our repre-
sentatives were unwilling to assume the
entire responsibility on the part of the
American Government alone. 1t was
also proposed that the American and
English ships fire simultaneously on the
Spaniards, and together compel them to
desist. But to each and every PROPOSE
ton to this effect a negative reply was
given.
All foreign opposition to the Spanish
having vanished. Nunez prepared to at
tact the city. Early on the morning of
March 3lst (the four days grace having
elapsed) he notified the foreign squad
rons to withdraw beyond range of his
guns.
Shortly before s o'clock A. N. the en-
emy's began to me flagship
Numancia took up her position immedi
ately in front of the mole. and about a
mile from shore. At $40, A. NJ, she
fred two blank shots as a warning TO the
non-combatants of the city that the at
tack was about to commence.
At nine O'Clock A. NJ the first shot was
fred upon the city. 1t proceeded from
the Blanca, and was aimed at the custom
warehouse. Accompanied by the cry
of Long live the the Queen" the firing
soon became general.
The destruction of property was i'm
mense. The warehouses. containing mil
lions of dollars worth of foreign merchan-
disc, were almost totally demolished. It
is here that the bombardment effected
{ reigners so generally. All the public
and many private buildings were COM
pletely ruined. The Hotel de Ia Union
was fired by q red-hot shot, and all that
portion of the city in its immediate vi
cinity was consumed by the entire con
hagration. To complete the entire de
struetion of the custom warehouses, a
fire broke out about ll;45 o'clock, A. NJ.
which speedily enVeloped the whole of
them in flames. Nothing was spared by
the enemy within range of their guus
Public property and private, hospitals
and churches, wharVes and their appur-
fences, were each and all made an object
of attack.
After firing between 1000 and 5000
shot and shell point blank into the city.
the flagship Numancia gave the signal to
Withdraw. The last shot was fired at u:
80 O'Clock P. NJ. The frigates immedi
atefy got under way after the firing had
ceased. and proceeded to the anchorage
from whence they came in the morning.
The foreign fleets resumed their old po-
%sitions, and on the water everything soon
bore its usual appearance.
Immediately after the firing ceased the
people on the nights rushed into the city,
and strove to check the co~nf1agration, in
which they partially succeeded. Owing
to the fact that nearly all the inhabitants
had left the place the number of killed
and wounded was comparatively small.
The exact figures have not been given.
The English residents of Chill are
highly indignant at the conduct of their
Minister, and of Commodore Denman.
of the British squadron. Before the bonn
bardment, a meeting was held by the
former, and resolutions, which damn
their representatives and praise ours,
were adopted.
A bitter feeling is said to prevail
throughout Chill against the English
British commercial interests are thought
to have suffered an ~irreparable injury,
while the pleasure with which all classes
and parties commend the action of the
Americans. bodies much good to the lat
ter. The Mercurio of Valparaiso remarks
that it is a loss to see how the English
and French chang 9 daft ires can justify
themselves to their respective Govern
nents, for having calmly and indiffer
entity stood by, while the Spaniards were