The New York herald., 1874-12-11
| r y N
Bombardmenl Of the Spanish From
tier Town by the Carlists.
THE PRETENDER IN COMMAND.
His March to the Field and Chats with
a Herald Special Correspondent.
SCENES ON THE LINE OF the BIDASS0A.
Mutinous Murmurs Among the
Carist Soldiery.
GENERAL LOMA'S MARCH.
Tho Republican Assault-A Bloody
Revenge Taken.
TERRIBLE SCENES OF DESTRUCTION
Mutinous Murmurs Among the
Carlist Soldiery.
GENERAL LOMA'S MARCH.
Tho Republican Assault-A Bloody
Revenge Taken
TERRIBLE SCENES OF DESTRUCTION
Fire After Slaughter-Pe0ple Per.
ishing by the Wayside.
HYNDAYE, Nov, S. 1874.

HENDAYE, Nov. s. 1874
Sight seekers are always prepared TO mock
together upon the smallest pretext. but the event
which has caused such an unusual commotion
during the last few days in this hitherto quiet and
uninteresting French village was OF no ordinary
character. True the gambling tables established
by N. Dupresson at F1enrerrabia brought a
certain number Of visitors to the railway station.
but very few came into the village, and when
n. Dupresson. warned by the rumors OF war
closed his casino, Hendaye again assumed dull
ness and monoiony alone experienced in french
village. Yet the hubbub caused here by the an.
nouncemcnt that the siege OF Irun was about to
commence was enormous.
typographical IMPORTANCE OF THE PLACE
II must be understood that Hendaye is q frontier
town and Is divided from Spain by very narrow
river called the Bldassoa. lrun is on the Spanish
border OF this r1ver and less than half mile from
Hendaye; consequently, II anything olimportan ce
were to take place In Irun 1t could be most con :
vrn1cntly observed from the French side.
rnK ATTRACTIONS OF GRIA-vIsAGED wAE-
On the ath inst. the midday train that usually
arrived with but very few passengers came groan-
ing In the station under mighty load and
numbers or people soon crowded the platform. A
special train came up soon after, likewise crowded
with passengers. The hungry visitors besleged the
hotels, clamoring loudly for food. The consequence
was that we eaten out; and when
the peaceful Inhabitants returned In the
evening to their dinner they discovered 1t was
possible TO obtain but very meagre fare. This am
happy to say only lasted for two days, as arrange
ments were made to bring provisions from Bar
ritz and Bayonne. But what had all these people
come to seer II was evidently some thing in the
shape Of war, but no innocent sham nght. no
harmless artillery practice, but q real battle be-
tween deadly enemies. VINO were seeking one
anothers annihilat!on, or at any rate to vew the
destruction oil very picturesque town; and
there were the crowds assembled in the neIds ad
jacent to the BIdasSoa, most OF them, IurK-llke,
squatting on the ground, watching the
BoABARDMENT OF IRUN.
But now let us inquire into the state OF Affairs.
Irun IS situate at the edge OF the river Bidassoa,
the Pyrenees, sterile and majestic, entirely sur
rounding the background. The hills and country
round run IS entirely In possession OF the Car
lists. For some days they had been busy con-
structing roads and conveying artillery from Vera,
IN when place they mustered very strongly. 1t
was evidently their intention to place their guns
on the hill OF San Marcial, IRON which position
they coud with ease lombard the town. But
coming rom Vera II Is necessary TO cross the
Bldassoa at a point called Enderiassa, Formerly
the means OF crossing was a strong iron bridge,
but now that lies hopeless wreck, one-haf vainly
stretching TO reach the other side. While the re-
naming portion lies aihwart the stream, ant
but impedes Tor moment the ripping water IN
Its onward course. sad spectacle, bearing wit
ness to the devastation committed by Santa Cruz
about eighteen months ago. The Carllsts now
hastily manufactured bridge OF boats strong
and pretty work, and over this they succeeded IN
bringing their artillery, men, provisions, &c.
But tney had another arduous duty to reform. A
road had TO be made TO take these things to the
top OF the hl THIS, indeed, was a great work,
but they were determined TO carry out their plans
and on the 80 inst. sixteen guns and two mortars
were at the top OF the hill. They had three bat
teries, one rather to the lett ana behind st.
Marcial, called SANTIAGO: another one about 200
yards lower down, and the third on little hill
called Ibseta. This was most praise worthy con.
struction, as IL was very near the towD, and had
the republican soldiers gone to its extreme limits
they might have fired at the carlists when work
ing.
GENERAL ALLAMESY
was experimenting operations on the hills, while
Colonel Arana was commandant OF the town. In
order 70 eive enet1uragenens 70 OH bis men ne de-,
family during the commandment
TIE FIRST GUNS.
on the morning OF the 4th, at seven O'Clock, the
first cannon was fred, announcing the commence
meut oil the siege. Then in unceasing succession
the cannon rom the mountains roared. The
town for It's protection. The firing was very brisk
The republicans had Two forts, one called Mendi-
vile and the other Parque. The Carist cannon.
ade principally directed toward these. In
the beginning OF the day the shells fell wide or
was more accurate and the iorts suffered
severely-so mucn SO tnat 1t was necessary
TO change the position Of the guns Toward dusk
the guns almost entirely ceased hring but from
several houses IN the town the smoke could be
seen rising during the still night the houses
visible.
Early on the following morning the cannonade
was again commenced. shells occasionally burst
ing IN the town and the peculiar whiz OF the can.
non balls was heard with startling effect added
TO which the tones OF lrun church bells might be
recognized as voices OF warning to the Inhabitants
CITIZENS IN FLIGHT
The poor people we're hurrying from the town
10 the river with what furniture they could take
with them in order TO get into France out or
Spectators looked on with interest," even growing
impatient when the firing for moment ceased,
bat TO those engaged II was sad reality.
PIRR IN THE TOWN.
The slowly ascending smoke from Irun's burning
houses, tue hash OF the cannon from the Inherent
iorts sad groups slowly crossing the river-many
having lost nearly all they possessed -hen The rain
clouds. brought together by such unusnat noise,
descended al intervals IN gentle showers while
the glorious RED OF the setting sun oeamed curl
ousiy through lines OF darkened sky. Viewing
this from the French siue were strangers OF differ
some rom curiosity and others witnessing with sad
hearts their houses slowly consuming, Then
again might De seen the light-hcarted ones sitting
aown in peasant groups, scarcely able 70 realize
that what seemed TO them a recreation involved
the deadly struggle OF human oeings-impossiole
10 FEEL that lives were being sacrlnceo and those
sharing IN the strife struck down.
EFFECT OF rHB SHOT.
For three days TINS continued. What eject the
Irun guns had upon the Carist batteries could
not TO De seen, nor s II possible 70 state the ex-
act number OF casualties. The nrst shell that tell
forces VINO was killed BY brick falling on him
from . house 1t struck. l do not think that more
in the forts suffered more severeiy. Eight, | be-
neve we're killed and about twenty five wounded.
Colonel Berdu, OF the Third Cariis; battery, was
wounded in the head, out ! believe not very se-
yerey. About four Carist artnlerymen were
Killed and sixteen WOUNDED.
Carlos, March and Preparation for the
HENpAYE, Nov. 10. 1874.
when the siege OF lrun was undertaken Il