The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-23
LATEST FROM SOUTH AMERICA.

-
We have by late advices from Peru,
the particulars of the suicide of the
Spanish Admiral Pareja, and other mat
ters of interest:
The melancholy death of Admiral
Pareia, which was caused bp his own
hand in the port of Callao a short time
previous to the departure of the Limena,
will attract the attention of the civil
Used world. The accounts OF TINS al
fair are contradictory and disjointed,
| but among the many versions OF the
| story, that published by the Star and
Heruld of Panama is probably the most
trustworthy. The following is trans
lated from the Spanish columns OF the
Concrete of Lima:
nOn the 28th the American Consul at
VALPARAISO went on board the Villa de
Madrid for the purpose OF seeing the
Admiral. Both had q long interview
about some matters connected with the
blockade. Pareja showed himself rather
favorable to the Consul's demand, and
told him at the close of the conference
to come back two days afterward. When
the Consul was on the point of leaving,
Pareja asked him for news on shore the
Consul answered there was nothing of
great importance, except the excite
ment caused by the capture of the Cava-
donga and the sending of the prisoners
to Santiago.
sThe Spanish Admiral was entirely
ignorant Of this-for him so disastrous
an event and this first intimatiOn was
a great shock to him. He asked for the
particulars, which were given him by
the Consul, who then took his depart
ure. According to what had been
agreed upon, he returned on the Both to
the flagship, where he found the crew
in the greatest disorder and cOnsterna-
ton. He asked for the Admiral, but
received the answer that the latter was
yery sick and could not see him. There
upon the Consul retired. What had
taken place in the meantime is the fol-
lowing:
"sThe news which Pareja had re-
ceived from the American Consul had
deeply afflicted him. His mind was 50
, occupied with it that he hardly ever
afterward spoke a word. 1t is further
/ stated that some hours afterward his
brain became affected, and he fell down
: on deck muttering curses against those
who so easily surrendered to the Chilian
h arms. 1t is supposed that he became
;. entirely out of his mind, in which state
he probably committed the dreadful
:, deed.t" 5
Publishing the above translation, The
Panama Star and Herald says:
y "This is the substance of the nara.
tive given by the C0mericO. We cannO1
O but think that probably something else,
q beside the loss of n of his vessels
i must have been preyipg upon Pareja's
mind. Some say that the last dispatches
u he had received from his government
contained a rather sharp disapproyal @
# his abrupt proceedings against Chill
;, This, together with the very unsatisfac
tory position he found himself in, mus
have been one of the principal causes
d that led to this terrible resolution
Al About the ann in which this act wa'
. accomplished, we know only what W
have heard from private sources, al
n though on good authority. We under
stand that on the afternoon of the tata
Il day Pareja had come up on deck aftel
dinner with his officers, having a revol
~ YER in his hand, with which he shot twt
10 birds on the wing, he then went down
to to his cabin, where, shortly afterward
a shot was heard. On somebody rushing
in, the Admiral was found dead, and OF
er the table a letter, in which, 1t is stated
es Pareja said that as the commander O
a. the CavadOnga had not had courag
es enough to do his duty, he (Pareja) ha'
not enough to survive the disgrace O
N his flag, and finished with the wish,tha
his body might not be buried in Chilia
* soil or CHILEAN waters. In cOmplianc
n with this his las. request, we furthe
- understand that Pareja's body was pu
ne up i'm guanO on board one of the Spanish
r or, as others say, a French ship, to b
r. sent home"
:, Although lamenting the manner @
his death, the Peruvians look upon tn
decease of Admiral Pareja asa specia
a dispensation of God, in their favor
The Admiral's presence in the harbor G
Callao bodied no good to the government
> at Lima, and it is more than probabl
n that if the mind of the former had no
suddenly became impaired, he woul
ts have declared war against Peru wtthou
unnecessary delay. 1t is now surmise
that P~areja's temporary successor, Con
th modore Caste Mendez Nunez, who ha
al been commanding the iron-clad Nj
mancia. will not feel authorized TO max
war; and that the Spanish Government
I' will take advantage OF P~areja's deaf
y and withdraw from the very unpopula
it and uncomfortable position which tn
bo rashness of the deceased Admiral ha
-. placed her in. The suicide of Parej;
IL when it becomes known in Chill, cal
)t- not fail to create a feeling of intens
We relief in the minds of the citizens
~ that republic. Their terrible hate fC
" the author of their recent troubles mus
~ now be fully satisfied. io ct
III
ne L.A,psr woRns OF HENRY A. WIS.,