The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-05-04
the BoMsAaDMEMT OF VALPARAISO.


Another Account by an Eye Witness
lntxresting Details OF the ARair-lnei-
dents of the lombard mac Fore IL N
Less Very Hcavy-That OF the Csbeans
nnsignincant, &c.
Al seven O'Clock NJ. on the AZ, of March the Eng
ash frgates sue and Leander left their anchorage and
disappeared in southery direction but after reap
pesred at the entrance of tho bay ard took position
among The numerous prize ships and transports os the
enemy opposite Vina del Mar, where the supiyfship
Nereus aud the Devastation anchored The French
suppl ship Fgere anchored at the same place. The
shpa of the American squadron were the last which left
thelI anchorage in The bay I've obvious ssowness Of
tber movements showed clearly the unwilling
ncss tie disgust of the American naval officers Only
q, the last moment and when the hour the consu-
NATION Of he dlsgraceful deed had arrived the American
men cfvar began for the northwestern part OF
sbe bay where they took position in che rear Of the
Spanish line.
The ships OF the Spaniards undisplled mas
ses of the anchorage; only the two floating docks and
the p oats which had been sunk remained besides few
sowtOats. Slowly the Spanish ships began TO
ihei- paces-the Numancia, Resoucon villa de Madrid,
Blanca Vencedora, Paquee de Maue and the despatch
eoA, Of the Numanca had their steam up The Beren-
Euela and the other smaller craft remained at anchor
among the groups of prize vessels little before eight
O'Clock the Nunanca steamed slowly and maestically
ncross the harbor; she stopped at distance of mile
from the shore and at ten minutes before eight fred
the two guns which to serve as last warning,
since the bombardment of the city was begin hour
later At the moment the flag of Chile on the
Fort San Antonio raised TO the summit of the flag
sta on the hills thousands of spectators stood breath.
jessly expecting the solemn and terrible moment
At eight minutes past nine A. NJ the Blanca opened
Gre the Custom House with the shout Long live the
oueenlN followed Immediately after by the Villa de
Madrid II seems that this honor had been shown TO
the heroes Of the fight OF Abao reward for taking
target the warehouses of Valparaiso only four
ired metres distant, the spanards fired much better
than they did at Abtao Almost every second dense
siond of dust appeared above the roofs and walls show
ing the effect Of well-amed missiles The solid shot
from The rfed of the Villa de Madrid penetrated
the air with terrible whstling sound. Occasionally
could white smoke and after flames, caused
by the explosion of shells; however, many Of these
isses burst IN the air in the water or on tho sides of
the hills.
About This time the Blanca began to open FIRE the
Bolsa Exchange and the Intendenca on the govern.
mcnt and other neighborng buildings. Here, however
the firing was not kept up with the fury
noticeable in the bombarding OF The government ware.
houses, the art llery barracks and the flagstaff pas
sionae fury against the national emblem OF Chile seemed
40 III the breasts Of the Spanards follow, conca and
solid shot literally hailed down on it, but all in vain.
Meanwhile the Resolution opened ire on the railroad
station, rather, so imperfect the aim, on the
Fanbourg Baron Inhabited densely by thousands Bar
ealeei tbs commander Of The Resoucon fired broadside
after bfoadsde i'll this direction covering the poorhonse
~ well as many public and private dwellings, with
storm Of iron Although protected by white tag, the
hospital still bears the traces of Barcaleels brutality
N0t less glorious the undertaken by
she sioop Vencedora Taking her position quite
she Gale del Caho, she fred lesuTely at the elegant
private villas situated along the shore, especially at
Mr. Edwards house. After this she began firing at
the Moo, the government BUILDINGS and the houses in
&he streets Cochrane and Panchada. Every five min
ues white column OF smoke appeared the Vencedo
and towards the end the firing from her forty-eight
and thirtytwo Founders hed) rather accurate and
effective. AT such short distance it indeed quite
Impossible not 10 hit the mark at every shot The ba
whstcd through the air and through The Exchange
The houses of senior Aguar and the neighboring build
1ngs II the solid walls had been much thin paper
But this not all Smoke began to appear in dens
masses at the north Of the third division Of Gus
tom House buildings. The flames burst out shortly be
fore noon columns Of black smoke hid the building
completely. Still the Villa dc Madrid and the Resolu
rion continued TO fire the warehouses and the
with undminished energy. shell from the Venccdori
cot fire to the bathing establishment the Hotel dc Il
Vnion and the flames quickly seized this hotel and
communicated 10 the streets Cocrane and Planchada
Up 70 the last moment of the bombardmcnt the shot
the Veneedora hailed down upon the devoted city will
che most terrible and fatal regularity
The flag front OF the artillery barracks still waved tr
umphanty. All efforts 10 bring down failed soil,
mot fell quite near TO the flagstaff and shell burs
ever II, but that all that the Spanards able 4
Al eight minutes after twelve O'Clock the Numanc
gave the signal to cease firing, and in the
cDt the ships silent and took their by the
flagship. The thousands OF spectators fastened dowI
nom the hills into tho city 10 extinguish the fires
seo the extent Of the damage.
Por every thousand dollars worth of Chilean property
destroyed there has been lost million dollars belongings
W foreigners IN most the accumulation Of Ions
years Of hard labor and unremitting exertions