Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-03-28
CHILIS CIVIL War.
The Bombardment and Burning Of
the City of Iquique.
Two Hundred Killed In the Battle
Eight Hundred Killed During the
Fights on TaIapaca PampaS

Two Hundred Killed In the Battle
Eight Hundred Killed During the
Fights ON TaIapaca Psmpas.
The English ironelad Warspite arrived at
Callso on march,. Those on board furnished
information, of which the following is a
summary: We left Iquique on February 26
subsequent to the different events which led
to the capture Of that port by the rebe's, and
the hrst FIRE, which caused the destruction of
property valued at 100000. It appears
that, when the rebels captured the port, the
government troops took up positions at some
distance from it, and held themselves in
readiness to attack the city. The rebels re.
turned on board, leaving only some fifty men
in charge. The troops soon heard of this, and
marched on the place some two hundred
strong, under Colonel Soto. They reached
the vicinity at about six O'Clock i'll the morn
ing, and there fell in with guard of sailors
Firing commenced, and the shore fusiliade
led the ships to promptly open IRE. The
Blanca, Eaealda, Esneralda and Iiuascar
used their heavy guns, while the transports
kebt their mltrailleuses busily employed.
Tremendous destruction followed, anu at 10
a. NJ, hre Broke oat IN nitrate warehouse,
which WAS extinguished by the IRE brigade.
Later another tre broke out and TINS tinfe
the e&orts OF the bremen proved useless. and
the hdInes spread until the whole central part
OF Iqulque, where the best stores and bulld-
ings were situated, was in ruins.
Up to the 10Th. when the Warspite len
lqulque, the ruins were yet burning. The
hight, which resulted in the FIRE, was a stern
aud bloody tragedy, and ii would have been
more prolonged had II not been for an arrange
Inent having been reached by the chiefs Of the
two parties and a. der which the opposition
leaders engaged to pay Colonel Soto $1,000 10
distribute sMong his ateny who were then 10
JOIN the rebels. Under tins arrangement the
government troops abandoned their arms and
soon dispersed. Subsequently Colonel Soto
was arrested aud sea, on ard the Anazonas.
accused Of having distributed only $1,000
among his men aud having retained the re-
naming 5000, Those on board the Marspite
bad also been informed that Colonel Robes
had 2,pOuoi Balmacesia troops on the pampas,
sud that II WAC possible they would attack
lquique, in which port aud its vicinity the
Ievoiutionists stated they had 5000 men.
They were, however, short Of ammunition,
bat were expecting soms by steamer by way
Of Mageilen Straits
laaiquc is in completely abnormal sit0a-
ton, aud all the inhabitants have taken ref.
uge on the island, where they had previously
been stationed
lace. The intendentoi fquique sought refuge
on the Wsrspte, and subsequently left in the
cable steamer Silveftown for valparaiso.
The report is confirmed Of the fight at San
francisco in which Gen. fidagran was killed
and Where the febels were defeated. In the
fight Mt lquiqne, on the nineteenth, sbort
200 persons were KILLED Some of the number
lost their lives through their own impru.
denee. The office OF tie daily newspaper
Voz de Chill, which supported the govern
ment, was sacked and burned. The Warspite
give passage 70 Callno to tl5 persons Of diff
iefent nationaiitea.
The French steamship Vile de Belfast.
which arrived at Iquique, reports that 500
killed and wounded were the outcome of the
tights on Tarapaca Pampas.
Captain Louis e.. Goai, who commands the
rebel steamer BlancO Encalada, issued pro-
elaunation to the inhabitants Of Iquique, in
which the following words occur
TING generous hood wasted on these Tara.
paca lelds %il lead to tie death Of the tyrant
and to our rights being regained."
The Lima Diario said on February %: THE
present revolution in Chill threatens 10 result
in serious international conflicts Peruvian
territory had already been violated BY Chiiian
government troops, and now we learn thut
the government troops with provisions and
munitions have occupied positions inside the
Argentine limits ana On tie road TO Men.
dozs."
A report reached Panama on March that
thsn the forces of Valparaiso fired on the
Blanco Encalada; kilipg several of her crew,
the commanding officer solicited betmissicn
from the shore authorities to bury them, and
that the answer he received was that he
might bury them in the sea-" The command
or Of the Blsnco Encalada thereupon referred
to the captain filler Majesty s ship Champion
and the latter significantly replied. Request
me to bury them and shall do So" The re-
fqest was accordingly formally made, where.
ptoh the Ifritish commander had the Chilian
dead seamen taken ssh0se Rndet the protce.
ton OF the British 1ag and buried with due
military honors in the graves he had ordered
prepared for them.