Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-05-02
FROM VALPARAISO.
The Town BOmbarded by Spani-
Hrds-S2O, 900, 900 Worth of Prop
erIy DestrOyed-American and
british Admiral Censured.


New YORK, May 1.-Valparaiso was
bOmbarded by the Spaniards. The town
and $20,000,000 worth of property was de-
strOyed. Great blame Is attached to British
and American admirals for not interfering
with their ships to prevent such wholesale
destruction, instead of leaving the harbor.
The Panama Stars correspondent, after
commenting upon the barbarity of the
bombardment of Valparaiso, which was
defenseless, without gun to reply or a
vessel to stand by 1t, states Erom fifteen
TO twenty millions of property is destroy
ed, nearly all belonging to British, Ameri-
can and other foreign merchants, including
all commercial parts of the town, custom
house, Government buildings, etc.
The correspondent gives the following
particulars of the bombardment: 1t is said
that Mendez Nunez has received orders
from Madrid to destroy, burn and desOlate
to the utmost of his power all Chiian and
Peruvian property on the coast, and that
in pursuance of these orders it was, on the
9th of March, that he sent into the Com
mandant of Valparaiso and notified foreign
representatives that In four days he would
lombard the city. Thefour days he allow
ed for the removal of sick, &c. Against
this every foreign representative protes ed
in the most energetic manner. The British
residents were promised the protection and
interference of Admiral Deuman and the
English squadron. The American Commo-
dore Rogers promptly placed his squadron
for corporation against Spain, should
the threatened bombardment be attempted;
and the representative of France was
equally ready to take the responsibility on
his part of joining with the Americans and
Ehgllsh to prevent the atrocity that was
feared. But at last the English Admiral
drew back. He said he could not interfere
except Dramatically, and that the British
interests must look out for themselves on
shore. Commodore Rodgers shrunk from
undertaking active resistance to the Span
ish fleet, when the British commander had
receded from the position he had tirst
taken up. Earnestly and most urgently
did the American Charge d'Affairs, Gen.
Fitzpatrick and Commodore Rogers, labor
to save the town, but all in vain.
While this was going on no time was lost
by the neutrals, and when the day of the
bOmbardment came on the neut,als had
tilltheir property in the custom house and
their stores.
J0hrthe 3lst the morning ofthe day of
the threatened bombardment, Her Majesty's
frigates Sully and LeandeT, with the De-
vastation and storeship Nerius, left the bay
to take safe, anchorage outside. The,Amer-
lean ships also got out of the way 'dDF
About s A. NJ. the enemys vessels began
tOatake up position over against the town.
The Resolution was placed opposite the
Central railway station, the Villa de Madrid
and Blanca twelve hundred yards from the
custom house, the Vancedora close in shore,
to destroy dwelling houses, and the Admi-
raPs ship Numancia remained outside, sis-
Mailing orders. At 8 A. NJ. the Blanca
opened fire, on the custom house, to the cry
of"ViVa La Reina." 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 inter-
AT los p. NJ. Tie Numaneia Sig
nailed to desisg, and the vessels Of the
squadron drew off. The people of the town
who had crowded the surrounding hills at
once rushed into the town to extinguish
the fire.giuE9 Esr- .I@9IgN TrzE
- Excitement In Peru. e7
The news brought from Chill has excited
the Pernvians to the highest pitch. Not a