The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-02
THE COMMANDMENT.

Saturday morning seemed the most beautiful of the
season. soft auumnal haze, richly tInOea by the
mirror rejecting the outlines of every vessel.
Thousands OF people covered the hills ike army,
and the CITY, In its stiffness appeared as If plague
had suddenly swept off Its inhabitants.
PREPARING FOR ACTION.
At seven O'Clock, black columns of smoke rising
Lib Inverted monuments from the Spanish fr1Vates
indicated their preparations for action, and soon
after the smokestacks OF the other steamers added to
the cloud above the harbor he En0llsh irigatss
sutteJ and Lednder, and steam.sloOp DeUTStGtim N,
started first nom the anchorage and moving slowly
out yeered around to the eastward where the store
ships and prizes OF the Spand ards lay. Next the
our squadron abandoned the positions they had held
close IN ong the front of the city, assemb ed around
the faf ship Vanderbilt. and following her out,
shore.
BY this time the Spsnards had commenced moving.
he NumanciG followed b. tue ltG Q steamer Paquet
de Mantep captured from the ChIianosl az a tender
snd the frigate Resoiueicn, steam from their sta
tons at the right of The city, LOOK ng seaward
straight across the mouth of the bav, and slowly
veeiinR around came in near the Custom Houses
continuing their course unt oppos o the centre
the lOwn. he ViLtG de MIdrid. Blanca and Vence
dora also changed their POSITIONS, out still lay off
some distance, ana the BerengetG emained to guard
me Prizes OF the Spanish squadron, which wer
anchored near the VinG de Ia Mlr. Little flag
were constantly gliding up and down the halyard
OF the NuHdncfG siRnall ng to the other vessels
ano in short time small steam launch came IN to
me nag ship, and lay alongside to Tece We and cary
the orders OF the admiral. All the Spanish flag
were at half-mast, the Observances of tne VIern:s
SCnto not concluding until O'Clock.
THE SIGNAL GUNS.
At O'Clock the Chllian flag went I'D on the staff
at the fortress and almost the same instant two
guns flashed tine waTnin0 OF DOmbardment from
the black sldes OF the Numdncia. Another hour
again rambled through the business pOrCIOn of the
CRY. Foreign flags were displayed over the con-
sulates and white signals hung out from the towers
OF the churches and hospitals. SentInels were
POS ed at The angles OF he squares. and few
turescme ones fingered about the mole ard espla-
W fhnQn
tons not soul was be seen The docs were
wandering about IN frightened manner, as il con-
scious OF impending evil, and occasionally some
lonely cur hoWled dlsmaY in the street.
OPENING OF THE FIRE.
Aifew minutes before mne The Vtiia de Madrid fol-
lowed by the Blanca and the Yencedora, started in
lhe leading Iigae steamed slowly wards the MOLE
and at twelve mnuIes past opened from her star
loard with single thiry.two pOunoer az a DIS
tance OF two hundr yards, the shot striking IN the
sides of the precIplce over the Custom house. A
cheer of defiance from the htll above was drowned
in the roar of broadside and the Blanca joining
the fire, both vessels Ihundereu at Custom hOuse
Immense clouds of red dust rolled uD like belches Of
smoke from the walls as tne shot struck them and
the IeverberatonS from the surrounding ufB added
horror to the sound OF the guns and the oevIlrh
arc Of the beach and lost the rangs Of e Tnin 0
House they ceased firing, opening again when Oppo-
site the BOIsa Tor ExchanPe and the palace Of the
Governor. Three broadsldes were poured into these
and the TiPates iurBlng their heads outward moved
into position with their port guns bearing ON the
Custom House, and resumed their fire.
In the meantime the Resolution had dropped
asteTn OF the NUmdncd, ,,and opened the railroad
buildings. The VeHcedOrd coming IN more rapid "
sent tew OF her rifed slXty-eIght pound shells INTO
the ustom House, and passin0 the Blanca ana
PtHG de Madrid turned ana took position from
which she cou d fire through the Bosa and AXE
thai portion OF the city between the Palace and the
Custom Ii ouse.
AT this time, halt-past nine, the frigates com.
menced steady fire, the Vtita de M,,drd and
Blanca dIing rapidly, their sho going 10 and
through the Custom House The Yenoedora fired
deliberately her shots not averaging more than one
every five minutes, and doing much damage TO prI.
vale budings. The Resolution kept uH a most a
constant fire on the depot IN which the Yencedora
occasionally Joined from her starbOard; bu the shots
from the former were very wild most OF them pass
ing up the hills two hundred set hiOh There benz
little or no wind, the smoke settled down heavily
and drilled off towards the eastern part of the city
so slowly that Its movement scarcely percept-.
Continued on the FJh Page.I