The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-08-02

torious there-as is eminently probable,
that place being no better defended than
this--they will undoubtedly sail direct to
Talcahuano, 200 miles south of Valparaiso
giving the last named port a 'wide birth"
by sea- However elated by past successes,
they would hardly be so mad as to tackle
Valparaiso, IL being one of the best fortified
ports in the world Its crescent-shaped
bay is environed by an unbroken line Of
hills, and upon them guns are placed in such
position as TO sweep ii in every part and
command all the landing places. There are
thirty guns-one tel-ipch nuZZle loader
eleven nine-inch breech leaders, five Krupp
guns OF twenty-one centimetres calibre, and
thirteen three-hundred Founders. The
masked batteries show very small targets
for attacking ships to fire at, and destruc-
ton would be certain to a much larger
force than the rebels can muster-unless,
as might easily happen in this land Of
treachery, the gunners were bribed to turn
the forts over to the enemy. after the man
ner OF Captain Velaseo, who was hanged
for the crime few weeks ago. So far as
is known, the rebel fleet have but nineteen
guns, the largest being a ten-inch breech
loader. For a long time past the govern
ment gunners at Valparaiso have been
given daily practice, using for targets float
ing casks with flags attached. They have
q range finder, and know the distances to
al this time of the year (mid- winter below
the equator) the alleged harbor of Valpar-
also is an exceedingly rough place, exposed
to the frequent ''rorthers," which for DAYS
together keep vessels pitching and rolling
too much for action, or send them scudding
helplessly hither and thither.
A woman's opinion may not count for
much, but II is my belief that the
Opposition" ARE HEARTILY TIRED
of this whole business, and would abandon
IL at once did not considerations of personal
safety weigh with the leaders. Should
they voluntarily give in, or be defeated
while Balmaceda is in power, they know
very well what to expect at his hands.
Having ruined his administration and dark
ened his future life and made him appear
like monster in the eyes of the world, they
could not look for much clemercy from his
naturally revengeful disposition. IL will
not be many weeks before a new president
grasps the helm, and it is my opinion that
peace viii speedily be patched up for the
good Of all concerned by concessions on
both sides, which are not possible new be-
tween Balmaceda and his opposers. This
bay of Conception is about six miles long
by about four miles wide, and is by all odds
the best and safest for large ships on the
coast of Chile. The port OF Talcahuano oc-
cupies its southwest angle, with the villages
of Tome, Liriguen and Pence on the east,
the island of Quiriguina three miles long
by mile wide) at the entrance, aud the
important city Of Conception only twenty
miles inland, reached by railway in a few
moments. The name of this port, by the
way, is pronounced as il spelled Thai cab
whon-oh, accented on the third syllable.
Viewed from the deck OF vessel the vessel
presents beautiful appearance-buu, like
other South American coast towns. .'tis
distance lends enchentmenu." Its pictur-
esque church spire forms q conspicuous
mark toward which ships steer to anchor
age, and wooden pier puts out far into the
bay. There is large dock, ar arsenal, a
seaman's hospital, a signal station on a
lookout hill; and at the western end of the
village. close down to the sea. is hand
both north and south, this bringing the
port into
DIRECT COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE INTERIOR.
to the machinery Of vessels can
be effected at the government works in
Conception, aud / am told that the yearly
in the bay averages 600 vessels,
TO 500. 900 tons.
About fifty years ago Talcahuano was
entirely destroyed by an earthquake. AT
ter the first shaking up, the Inhabitants,
to the low hills behind the town; and from
that vantage ground, with the earth trem-
bling SO violently beneath then, that it was
impossible 70 stand upright, they beheld an
awful sight. The ocean receded q long dis
lance and then advanced in three success
sive waves, each an unbroken wall of water
thirty feet In height. dragging ships from
their anchors and dashing some Of them far
then the subsistence Of the pillows