The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1866-05-18
valparaiso april , Corresponds
New York Herald

! alpGfalSO April s. J CORES bOnUHACc OF the
New York Herald.
The repeated outrages Of he Spaniards
on the west coast Of South America have
eliminated III he bgmbarLment OF Falpar-
also and the wanton destruction Of life
and neutral property.
Saturday morning, March 81, seemed
the most beautiful Of the season. a soft
autumnal haze, richly upged BY the sun,
hung over The bay, whose waters lay
smooth as a mirror, rejecting the outlines
Of every vessel. Thousands OF people
covered the hills ike an army, and the
city, IN its stiffness, appeared as if IA plague
lad suddenly swept off lis inhabitants.
PREPARING FOR ACTION.
At I o'clock black columns Of smoke
rising like inverted monuments from the
Spanish frigates indicated their prepara-
ton tor action, and soon after the smoke
stacks of the other steamers added
to the cloud above The haIbor. The Eng
iish f"lgates SutIei and Leander, and steam
sIoop Devastation, started first from the
anchorage, and moving s!owy out, veered
around to the eastward, where the store
ships aud prizes Of the hpaniards lay.
| Next the Powhatan, Tuscarora Mohongo,
and Monadnock, Of car squadron, aban
doned the position they had held close iu
along the front Of tie city; assembled
around the flag ship Vanderbilt, and fol,
lowing her out, dropped into line again
mile and 4 halt from shore.
BY this time the Spaniards had com
nenced moving The Numancia followed
by tie little steamer paquet de Maney
Captured from the ChiIians) as 4 tender,
ana the fIigate Resolution, steamed from
their stations at the right Of the city, look
ing seward, straight across the mouth Of
the bay, and sIowIy veering around came
in near the custom houses, continuing
their course until opposite the centre OF
the town. The Villa de Madrid, Blanca
and Neucedora also changed their posi-
tions, but sill Law eff at some distance, and
the Berenguela remained 10 guard the
prizes Of the Spanish squadron, which
were anchored rear the VIVA de Ia Mar.
Little flags were constantly gliding up and
down the halvards of the Numancia, sig
mailing to the other vessels, and in short
| time small steam launch came in to the
flag ship, and lay alongside to receive and
Spanish flags we're at half mast, The OBJ
servauces OF the Vernes Sonto not con
Guiding until 9 o'clock.
TIE SIGNAL GUNS.
At s the CHILEAN flag went Up on the
staff at The fortress, aud almost at the
same instant two guns flashed The warning
of bou bardmenL from the black sides OF
the Numancia. Another hour remained
before the firing was commenced, and |
again rambled through the business p0r-
lions of the city. Foreign flags were dis
played over the consuIates, and white sig
nails hung out from the towers Of the chur-
ches and hospitals. SentineIs were pos
ted al the angles Of the squares, and few
yenturesome ones fingered about the mole
and esplanade Of the custom houses but
with these exceptions not soul was to
be seen. The dogs were wandering about
in frightened manner, as If conscious OF
impending evil, and occasionally some
lonely cur howled dismally IN the street.
OPENING OF THE FIRE.
A few minutes before s, the Villa de
Madrid, followed by the Blanca and the
Vancedora, started in. The leading irg-
ate steamed slowly towards the mole,
and, at II minutes past 8, opened from
her starboard with a single 32-pounder,
! at n distance Of 900 wards the shot strjk>