Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-05-04
WASHINGTON OF
The Relief of Bilboa.

To-Ssy's trlsgrsms confirm the truth of the
cable dispatch from Madrid published in Sat-
urdays STAR, stating tho the Spanish govern
npent forces had succeeded in raising the seiye
OF Bilbos and had entered that city, and that
the CarlIst besegers were retreating in dis
order. This Is an important event, and will
probably lead to an early termination of the
Csrlist irsurr c;iOn in Spain. BiIboa, or Bill
tao, Il Is written both ways, is the principal
port Of northern Spain, and the capital of the
Basque province Of Biscsy. The town Is stu
ated on the Nervion, about nine miles from its
entrance into the sea a. Portugalete; il is forty.
five miles west Of San Sebastian, and twenty
eight miles north OF Vitoria. and Is in latitude
80 II north and longitude 3 Sc west The
town is beautifully located, being enclosed by
lofty mountains. It is we'll built, and consists
Of an old and a new town, which arc connected
by bridges. There are numerous converts and
mouastIies, q cathedral, a large hospital,
an aIsersI, and several abattoirs, which
are among the best in Spain. The popu-
lstion is about 1900. There are numsr-
Gus manufactures and several shipyards
The CITY is the chief seaport of the north o,
Spain, although only small craft can make
their way mp TO il, the larger class of vessels
being compelled 70 land their cargoes at Ola
yesga, tV % miles below. There is a registered
shipping at the port of from 500 to coo vessels,
ana lts Esheiles are also important. The city
has had, since 1855, direct railway con neetion
with Madrid aud also with France. There has
also been direct steam Communication with
other Spanish ports, and with France England
and the Netherlands. During the stormy period
Of the NapoleOnic wars it was occupied by the
French, and it was the scene of frequent
contests during the Csrlist wars of the first
half of this century, the famous Carlst Gene
raj Zumalacarreguy having assaulted it in
vain, ard received his death wound in its
vicinity on the 10th of June, 1885. During
the progress of the present instruction
the surrounding country has been nearly an the
time oveTTun by the Carlists, and Bilbao has
from the start been one of their principal OBJ
jective points. On the q Of January of the
present year, Senior CASTELAR, was defeated in
the COrtes, whereupon the latter was disperses
by an armed force, and 9 provisional govern
its head. The new regime was soon firmly
entreDched by the capitulation OF the IDtransi-
gentes, who had held the government forces at
bay at Cartsgens 30 long. On the morning OF
the 18th Of January the rebellious city capitu-
lated, and the Madrid government was thence
forth left At liberty to devote all its energies to
the suppression of the Csrlist instruction. By
this time the Csrlists had completely invested
Bilbao and commenced TO lombard the city,
ard q portion of the army which had captured
Cartagena was marched to the relief of the gar
rison. Fighting for possession of the city has
been going on with varying success ever since,
and as the Carlists made il their objective point
their defeat may be said to practically end the
IBsuITection, for the present at least.