The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-01-01

From South Asneriea a Cailian Successes
Capture OF q Spanish Ga,,sIoat, Launch,
and Oiae Hundred and Twenty Prisoners.
New YORK, Dec. 81.
The steamer Atlantic, from Aspinwall I'd
inst, brings the California mails CT December
9th, and $4,000 in treasure.
The news from the South Pacific is impor-
tant. On the 18th of November the Chiian
man-of-war Esmeralda captured the Spanish
gunboat Covadonga off Popudo, having on
beard the Spanish Admirals correspondence.
The engagement lasted about half an hour
Fourteen Spaniards were wounded and two
killed. The Esmeralda was unchanged. The
prisoners taken were commandant six Off
GERS and one hundred and ten men. who are
kindly treated by the authorities and people.
The commander of the Esmeralda has been
promoted to Post Captain, and subscriptions
commenced to present him sword of honor.
Though the Spanish Admiral was only forty
miles oil, he was ignorant of the capture until
informed by the Gillian papers three days af-
forwards. ~--.
The Spanish flag ship Villa dc Madrid left
Valparaiso on the evening OF December list, it
was supposed for Callao.
The Chilians had also captured launch OF
the Spanish gunboat Resolution, blockading
between Tome and Talcahuano. The launch
contained one gun and forty men, and was
used for watching the movements of vessels
near the shore.
The ChiIians had armed small towboat
called the Independence with two or three
guns, and one night she fell in with the launch
which fired at and ordered her to stop. This
done and the lights put out, the SpaniardS
jumped on board and found themselves pris-
oners.
They were delivered to the authorities at
Maule.
The news from other parts of South Am eri-
ca is unimportant
The new government of Peru promises well.
Several reforms III it are to be made. The
Spanish Admiral Pareja was expected to as
certain If the government win confirm the
Spanish treaty, which is most unlikely.
Capt. Jones, formerly of the steamers North
Star and Ariel, has taken command of the
Pacific steamer Golden City.
An American named William G. Foster had
been arrested at Panama, charged with being
concerned in the robbery of Paymaster RitteH-
houses safe in October, but was subsequently
released, there being no evidence against him.
The real culprit, Mark Bradley, who keeps a
bar-room in Panama, has been secured through
the evidence of q sailor boy named Fritz JOKE,
from the United States ship Cyane, who was
employed in Rittenhouse's office at the time,
and who took an impression of the key of the
safe. The money was distracted by the boy,
who was to receive $4,000 as his share, and
carried eff by Bradley's barkeeper named Ned
w. Mclaughlin, in the presence of both the
Others The boy only received dozen dol
lars, and was threatened with death if he
bowed. Five hundred and sizty-six dollars
in gold, supposed to be part of the plumber,
was hid on Bradley's premises. The bar
keeper went to California, whence he escaped
on some weeks since.
Two United States engineers, delegated by
our government, at the request of President
Muriill, had arrived out to take charge Of the
survey OF the Magdalena River, with a view to
contemplated inproyents in its navigation.
The news from Central America is uninter-
esting.
The coffee crop Of Salvador is estimated at
$500 quintals. The cotton crop is not 1.-THE
OF that Of last year, owing to the rayages of the
army worm.
Nicaragua was preparing for the elections.
Costa Rica had taken precautions against
the cholera, by establishing quarantine.
Further particulars Of the Gillian and Span
{sh naval engagement represent that the
Gillian corvette was armed with 20 and 81
Founders and q crew of 123 men. The Spanish
gunboat had 6 guns and 1877 men. The bat
tie lasted twenty minutes, when the Spaniard
struck her flag. The Emeralda fired but fif-
teen shots, nine Of which took effect. The
Coyadongo fired only four. The latter re-
ceived one shot in her hull and had her bow
spirit and topmast carried away and rigging
much cut up. The Esmeralda received only
one shot through her bulwarks. The prison.
ers numbered 12l, besides the wounded. AZ
ter landing the prisoners, the Esmeralda and
Covadango proceeded to sea for ports unknown.
The Esmeraldo was commanded by Capt. Ro-
bollero. p
The Spanish frigate Resolution and gun
boat Vevadora were biocsading Valparaiso
and the port of Talcuhuano.