The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-16
Pisagua, Chile, Destroyed by
the Rebel Cruisers.
MANY BURIED IN THE RUINS.
Women and Children Crushed in the
Mad Rush For Places Of Safety.
Reported Desertion Of Two Of the In
surgents' Vessels to the Government
Csuse-Balmaceda Issues ol2,OOO,-
900 In Fiscal Notes.

NEW YORK, March 15.-fSpecial. Letters re-
received from Pissgua, Chile, tell Of the bom-
bardment OF that city by the revolutionary
fieet which has also bombarded the ports of
calita. Buena and Junil. The bombardment of
Pisagna was begun at l0a m by the Esmeralda
ana Bianco The two cruisers kept up an al
most ceaseless fire for six hours. The Bianco's
fire was mostly grape, and did terrible harm.
The first announcement of the bombardment
was the firing Of gun from the Esmeralda and
the displaying OF q white flag. An officer was
sent on shore, who called upon the commander
OF the port for its surrender, stating that if in
half an hour he did not receive an answer he
would lombard the town. The commander of
the port refused to surrender and dared the COM
mander Of the revolving feet to do his worst
When the half hour was up the Esmeralda and
Bianco came close to town. and in ten minutes
the first shell was fred On every side could be
seen men and women running As though Wild
Men trampled over women and children In their
eldeavor to gain the upper part Of the town,
the terrible spectacle win ever forget it. In
three hours the lower part of the town was all
IN ruins The land batteries toward which the
were completely dismantled and no guns could
be fred The batteries on the hill kept up q con-
stant, but not very effective fire.
more toward the town and began sheIiinc the he
heights. Then there WAS . rush for the mount
aims Women struggled with men and fought
n
cred to death in the mad rush. and all the time
the pitiless guns were sending in their shower of
grape. Fire added TO the destruction of
the bombardment, and when the cannonading
from the cruisers ceased, about p. m.
twothirds of the town was in ruins. From the
ruins OF one building seventy-two bodies were
taken out The number of dead is believed to
be about 2.000 Surgeons and medicine from
the two cruisers were landed a. soon as the bonn
bardment was over, and at once set TO work to
relieve suffering. About 1000 persons, who took
refuge on board the English steamer Ramiers.
escaped unhurt, but nearly every person in
town has q scar to show or has lost some rela-
tive.
The government has announced that the
cruisers Pilcomayo and Almirante Lynch have
deserted the rebels and are now at Montevideo.
Monteyideo, escorted by two % reriments of. Of cav. M
airy. His mission is to see the commanders of
the cruisers Pilcomayo and Almirante Lynch
and condemn all who hesitate to fight against
the insurgents
The government, from financial standpoint,
il in difficult straits, having neither credit nor
S anS
money for payment of government contracts 10
not at hand In spite Of this, the president has
issued 100000 worth OF fiscal notes, to take
the place of government currency, and this
amount, - soon as issued, will be used for buy
ing ammunition, provisions, etc There 10
some E doubt us whether merchants IN Ell, England,
chases most of her goods. will accept these unau-
thorized bills az legal money. Such refusal will
leave b8lmoce06 IN - O00 pO6l000 ~ before.
He had previously endeayored to raise . loan of
$30,0o0O00, and although there are many times
$aO,000,000 in Chile, and although on several
other occasions capitalists and rich men of
Chile have helped out the government By taking
all loans in the country itself. when Balmaceds
called q conference of the bankers and capital
lists OF the country to arrange for this issue,
they one and all refused to take dollars worth
of the loan.
BUENos AYREs, March l5.-Colonel Robies,
commander Of the Chilean government troops,
was killed in the defeat of March g.
PARIS, March l5.-The French government has
acceded to the recent request of the Chilean
reyolutionists, who asked that the Chilean war
ships just completed at Toulon and destined for
the service of President Balmaceda should not
be allowed to depart.
LokDoN, March lathe Times has . dispatch
from Santiago giving the Official version OF the
recent battle in Chile From this it appears
that Colonel Roblee who commanded the gov
eminent troops, on the 9th inst, being short Of
provisions, rashly abandoned the strong position
Of Mount Sebastapol, and with 1900 infantry, 25
cavalry and few guns attacked force OF 5000
rebels at . critical moment. The enemy, by the
decoy OF truce for parley, opened fire at close
quarters, killing or wOunding two-thirds of the
government troops Colonel Robles was
wounded early in the battle, and when cap
tured was murdered. general massacre OF
the wounded officers ensued. The loss of the
insurgents 10 estimated ut thirty with 400
wounded.
President Balmaceda admits the gravity Of
entirely in the hands OF the insurgents The
president says, however, that the government
has 1000 troops at its disposal, and that the
government has also an ample supply of funds.
The future scene OF operations will probably be
nearer Valparaiso.