Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-05-02
IMPORTANT FROM THE PACIFIC COAST
Arrival of the Steamer Costa Riea-Bo,n.
bartment and Destruction of VaIDarai.
so by the Spanish Fieet-Greaf Desfruc-
tiOn of Property.

| SisrGnlent Rnu Destruction of VaIDarai.
SO by the Spanish Fieet-Greaf Desfruc-
tiOn of Property.
| NEW YORK, May 1.-The steamer Costa Rica, from
| Aspinwall on the 23d uIt, has arrived She b,ings
$l,31S0 in treasure and $50 California passengers
The steamer Gold City had brought to San Fran
cisco news Of the fight in the State of OaxacO Mexi-
in the latter part of February between the Impe-
| rialists and Liberals under General Diaz, in which
the latter were successful, driving the Imperalists
before them, capturing 700 muskets pieces of can
non 45 boxes of ammunition, 200 mules and large
| amount of.money.
The city of Valparaiso has been bombarded by the
Spaniards, and the town and twenty million dollars
| worth of property destroyed. Great blame is at
taehed to the British and American Admirals for not
interfering with their ships to prevent such whole
| sale destruction, instead of leaving the harbor
The Panama Stars correspondent after comment
ing upon the barbarity of the bombardment of VAL
| paraso. which was defenceless-wthout gun to re-
ply vessel to stand by i-states that from fifteen
to twenty millions worth of property is destroyed,
nearly all belonging to British American, and other
foreign merchants. including alf the commercial
parts of the town. the Custom House. Government
buildings. &c.
The correspondent gives the following particulars
of the bombardment:-It is said that the Spanish
commander had received orders from Madrid to de-
stroy burn and desolate to the extent of his power
all Chllan and Peruvian towns and property on the
coast and in pursuance of these ORDERS on the 9th
of March he sent in to the commandant of Valparaiso
and notified tho foreign representatives that in four
days he would lombard the city.
The four days he allowed for tho removal of the
sick Against this every foreign representative pro-
tested in the mot energetic manner. The British
residents promised protection and the inter
ference of Admiral Deamar and the English squad
ron. The American Commodore Rodgers, promptly
placed his squadron for cooperation against SPAIN
should the threatened bombardment be attempted
and the representative of France was equally ready
to take the responsibility, his part of joining with
the American and English commanders tt" prevent
the atrocity, but at last the English Admiral drew
back. He said he could not interfere except diplo-
matically and British interests must look out for
themselves on shore.
Commodore Rodgers shrank from undertaking
active resistance to the Spanish feet when the Brit
ish commander had Ieceded from the position he had
hrst taken up. Earnestly and most urgently did the
American Charge dc Affaires, General Fitzpatrick,
and Commodore Rodgers labor to save the town, but
all in vain. While this was going on time was lost
and the day of the bombardment came on, and the
neutras had still their property in the Custom House
and their stores.
On the 3lst the frigates Sutleg and Leander, with
the Devastation and storeship Nerons left the bay
take safe anchorage outside The American ship
also had to get out of the wav and about A. NJ the
enemy's vessels began to take up positions over
against the town. The Resolution was placed oppo-
site the Central Railway Station; the Vile de Mad
rid and Blanca, twelve hundred yards from the Gus
tom House; the Uncedora close in shore to destroy
the dwelling houses, and the Admral's ship Numan-
cia remained outside signalling orders
AT A. NJ. the Blanca opened fire on the Custom
House to the cry of Viva La Rema" 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 internisson. At O.4O A.
M shell from the Uncedora set fire to the baths ad
joining the hotel De La Union. and the flames rapid
y spread in three Streets but the Uncedora did not
desist The shot continued to rain that of the
town up to the last moment of the bombardment
with terrible and fatal regularity On the other sde
the Custom House took fire at ll45 but there wasno
cessation of firing from the ships.
Indeed, the Spaniards knew only one considera-
ton, viz: that Valparaiso had been given up to them
to wresk their vengeance it." AT lisp. NJ the
Numaneia sgnalled to desist and the vessels of the
squadron drew off. The people of the town who had
crowded the surrounding hills during the lombard
ment at once rushed into town to extinguished the
fires Such the record of this event which leaves US
all paralyzed, many ruined, and commerce crippled
for long time. We appeal to the sympathy of Eng
land and America. We fear that this work so begun
has only been begun. Caldera. Coquimbo and the
ports OF Peru Will also be destroyed. All of them,
except Callao are defenceless places and they will
fare worse than we have here.
The British residents of Valparaiso held meeting
on the 2Sth of March, and appointed committee
who drafted series ofresolutons adopted at another
meeting. rejecting severely upon the vacillating
conduct of Admiral Denman and condsmnng his
plea OF d want or suiieient fn-na tn nnnnse the
Spanish fleet ss humiatng to his countrymen, and
nexcusabe considering that the cooperation of the
powerful United States squadron was pressed upon
him by its commander They also condemn the pas
sive submission of the British Charge de Aaires and
appointed depuation to express to Gen. Fitzpatrick
and Commodore Rodgers their high appreciation of
Ills efforts to prevent by cooperation with the
British forces the bombardment of the CITY,
From Peru it is stated that there is not whisper
OF yielding to Spain. All moveabe property is be-
ing conveyed to places of safety, and foreign COM
mercia houses have taken measures to secure their
property from the Custom House at Callao.
Advces from Ecuador state that Guayaquil is being
fortified with heavy cannons from Peru. A treaty
has been signed at Quito. in which Chill and Peru
engages to give subsidies to Ecuador during the war;
The authorities at Panama are attempting to col
lect $4,000 from Hermann Co., as fine for send
ing the Uncle Sam with cargo of provisions to the
Spaniards, but there is little probability of the money
being paid.
lhe news from the Barbacca mines is encourasins,
though several disheartened miners have returned.
Aspinwall is again rising from its ruins.
The Australian steam line from Panama COM
mences June I'd.
Don Jose Maria Castro has been elected President
of Costa Rca.