Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1866-05-10
South American News.

Inc naval fleet OF the Spanlarus
have bombarded the important CHILEAN
seaport of Valparaiso, destroying from
$l2, 100000 to $2O,0O0,OOO worth of
buildings and other property, much OF
which belonged to British, American
and other foreign residents. The city
had no means of defence, not a gun or
vessel. The Spanish war ships pour
ed their missiles into the very heart OF
the defenceless city for over three hours.
1t was wanton and barbarous assault
upon defenceless town. There were
British, United States and French war
vessels there, but they refused to inter
fere, though those OF the United States
and France wond have done so If the
British Admiral had joined them, which
he declined to do.
The city of VALPARAISO is the CONNER
cial metropolis of South America on
the Pacific, and her progress during
the last ten years has been such as to
raise hope among the Chilians that
she would soon be able to rival the
large world-cities of the Old and New
World. The largest portion of the COM
MERGE and of the property in the bust
ness part of the city is in the hands of
the foreign residents. Of course, ex.
traordinary efforts were made by all
the foreigners and by the diplomatic
corps to avert the threatened disaster
from the city. The foreign residents
requested the Ministers, and, in par.
ticular, those of the United States,
England and France, to prevent the
bombardment by force. The reprcsen-
tatives of the two latter countries re-
fused to comply with this request
but Gen. Fitzpatrick declared himself
willing to resist the Spaniards, if the
English Rear-Admiral would share the
responsibility. This being refused, he
declined to act alone in q matter so
grave. The bombardmcnt took place,
and resulted in the destruction of more
than twenty millions dollars worth Of
property.
A dispatch received from Commodore
Rodgers, commanding the United
States squadron at Valparaiso gives an
account of the efforts made by him to
prevent the bombardment of that city
by the Spaniards. These efforts failed
simply because of the refusal of tn
British officials to take any action in
the matter. The action of the Span
iards in bombarding and burning Val,
paraiso is very generally denounced by
the South American press The action
of General Fitzpatrick and Commodore
Rodgers is applauded. The British resi-
dents have united in resolutions con-
demning in the severest terms the ac-
ton of the British Admiral, Denman,
whom they charge with prevarication,
and detaching one of his ships to guard
Spanish commissaries. There can be
but little doubt that our Minister, Mr..
Nelson, prevented the bombardment
six months ago, by assuring Pareja
that the St Mary would resist him.
The damage to CHILEAN Government
property is about $4,000, 900: to
French and other citizens, ST., 100000;
to United States interests, small. The
fire was put out in eighteen hours.
Two thousand balls and shells were
fired in four hours. One man and one
woman were killed, and four soldiers
wounded, on the Chill side. 1t is under
stood that Caldera, Callao, and all ac-
cessible points, are to have their share
of bombardment, and that the Spanish
commander is to do all the damage he
can with the force at his disposal.
The civilized world has, from the be-
ginning of the war, been with rare
unanimity against Spain. The news
of the bombardment of Valparaiso
will raise an cutlery of indignation
such as rarely an act of modern war
fare has raised before. Throughout
the American continent it will power
fully strengthen the wish for bringing
about a closer connection between the |
American States for the defence of
common American interests. 1t will
add immense strength to the popular
feeling against European monarchies. |
We learn that in Peru and Ecuador
the people threatened to massacre all
the resident Spanish, and that in order
to save them the Governments found it
necessary to arrest them.
Further advices from Rio Janeiro
say that the allied army of the Bra.
zilians, Uruguayans and Argentines,
supported by the feet, had crossed the
Parana, and were preparing to attack
Fort Humaita. The condition of the
Paraguayan army was reported to be
very bad, sustaining daily loss of
from lao to 100 men. They had to
subsist wholly Oh bran, which was
dealt out in very insufficient quaint
ties.