The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-05-02
ssssY e ssssYtl1EH,EGRAPHI. Y
TO THE DAILY PRESS.
Wednesday Morning, May 2, 1866.
FROM SOUTH AMERICA.
VALPARAISO B0MBaRDED. BY
THE SPANIARDS!

4 rs
$50, 900, 900 .Woa'th of Prop
i es'ty Destroyed.
4 &Es . sGSE-T -.
Disgraceful Conduct of the British
| Admiral! fE4s
+ NEW YORK May /. ?
! The steamer Costa Rica from Aspinwall 23d
ut., brings $l,S7S. 900 in treasure, and $50 Cal
| ifOrnia passengers.
| The Golden City brought news of a FIGHT at
Jamiltepec, in the State of 'Oaxaca, in the lat
| ter part OF February, between the Imperiaists
and Liberals, under Ponfirse Daiz, by which
the latter were successful, driving the mperi-
alists before them, capturing 700 muskets and
and large amount of money.
| Valparaiso has been bombarded by the Span
! lards. The town and $20,O00,000 worth of
| property were destroyed. AAtA -
| Great blame is attached to the British and
American Admiras for not interfering with
| their ships to prevent such wholesale destruc-
tion Of property instead of leaving the harbor.
The Panama Stars correspondence after
| comments Of the barbarity of the lombard
ment OF Valparaiso, which was defenceless,
without gun to reply or avessel to stand by
it, states that from fifteen to twenty million
uollars worth OF property was destroyed, near
~ all belonging to British, American and for
elgn merchants, including the commercial
parts F0f the town, Custom House,, Govern
ment buildings, &C. u / lid LID. 3Il.
The correspondent gives the following par
ticulars Of the bombardment: IVA
L 1T is said that Mendez Nurez has received
orders from Madrid to destroy, burn and desc
late to the utmost of his power, all the Gillian
and Peruvian towns and property on the coast,
and that in pursuance of these orders, it was
on the 9th of March that he sent to the COM
mandant OF Valparaiso, and notified foreign
representatives that in four days he would
lombard the city. The four days he allowed
for the removal Of the sick, &c. Against this
every foreign representative protested in the
most energetic manner. ffhe British residents
were promised protection, and the interference
OF Admiral Denman and the English squad
ron. > 4 4yA&S = 4S2&&f2A
The American Commodore, RODGERS, prompt
ly 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 on
his part OF joining with the American and
English, to prevent the atrocity feared, but at
last the English Admiral drew back. He said
he could not interfere automatically, and Brit
ish interests must look out for Itself on shore.
Commodore Rodgers shrapk from undertaking
active resistance to the Spanish fleet when the
British Commander had receded from the DO
stion he had first taken up. Earnestly and
most urgently did the American Charge d'Af
fairs, Gen. Fitzpatrick, and Commodore Rodg-
ers labor to save the town, bat all in vain.-
While this was going ON time was lost to the
neutrals, and the day of bombardment came
on, and the neutrals had still their property in
the Custom House and stores. -. -.
On the 31st, Her Majesty's frigates Sutez and
Leander with Ada--.se.seio1i n1III' We
rels, left the bay to take anchorage outside.
The American ship also had to get out of the
way, and about A. NJ. the enemys vessels be-
gan to take up position against the town. The
Resolution was placed opposite the Central
railway station, the Villa de Madrid and Blan-
ca 1900 yards from the Custom House, the
Vercedora close in shore to destroy the dwell
ling houses and the Admiraps ship, Numan-
cia, was retained outside signaling 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 posi-
ton from which to pour its share of destruc-
ton. For nearly three hours the fire was kept
up without intermission. At 1910 A. M. a
shell from the Vercedona set fire to the booths
adjoining the hotel De Ia Union, and the flames
rapidly spread in three sheets, but the Verce-
dora did not desist her shot, and continued
to rain upon that part of the town up to the
last moment of the bombardment with terri
BILE and fatal regularity. The Custom House
took fire at 11.45 A. NJ, but there was no ces-
sation of firing from the ships; indeed, the
Spaniards knew only one consideration, viz:
THAT Valparaiso had been given up to them
to wreck their vengeance upon it, At LOS P.
NJ. the Numancia signalled to desist and YES
sells of the squadron drew off.
The people of the town who were crowding
the surrounding hills at once rushed into the
town to extinguish the fire. Such is the re-
cord of this event, which leaves us all paral-
yzed, many ruined, and commerce crippled for
long time. We appeal to the sympathy of
England and America. We fear this work so
begun has only begun the destruction of Cal
dera, Coquimbo and Porto of Peru. hn of
them except Callao, are defenceless places, and
which will fare worse than we have DONE"
From Peru it is stated there is not whis-
per of yielding to Spain. All movable proper
ty is being conveyed to places of safety, and
foreign commercial houses have taken meas
ures to secure their property from the Custom
| House at Callao.
Advices from Ecuador states that Guayaquil
was being fortified with heavy cannon sent
| from Peru. a.i'-vfr3saT. s,.o.s
A treaty has been signed at Quito, in which
Chilli and Peru engage to give subsidies to
| Ecuador during the war; n Is8gT 2
| The authorities at Panama have attempted
| to collect $12OO00 from Hermann & Co., as a
| fine for sending the steamer Uncle Sam, with
cargo of provisions, to the Spaniards. There
is little likelihood that the money will be paid.
The news from the Barakvas mines is en-
couraging, though several disheartened miners
| have returned. 1aoa-Des @A~AeA
| -Aspinwall was reported to be again rising
| from its ruins. .g0Y ps-sll sf9}a f "a
The Australian steam line from Panama
( commences June I'd. ''D ~
| Don Jose Marcia Cestro has been elected
| President of Costa Rica.
| The British residents OF Valparaiso held a
meeting on the 2Sth of March, and appointed
committee, who drafted series OF resOlu-
tions which were adopted at another meeting,
rejecting severely upon the vascillating con-
| duct of Admiral Denman, and condemning his
plea of want OF sufficient force to oppose the
Spanish, as humiliating to his countrymen and
inexcusable, considering that the cooperation
of the powerful U. S. squadron was pressed
upon him by its commander. They also con-
denim the passive submission of the British
Charge d'Affairs, and appointed deputatiou
to express to Gen. Fitzpatrick and Commodore
Rodgers their high appreciation of their efforts
to prevent, by cooperation with the British
forces, the bOmbardment of the city.
Destructive Fire.
TORONTO. c. w.. April 80.
Sunday afternoon fire broke out in thu
tailor shop of James Miller, and ragged unit
SO shops and houses, and large number O
| Ill