Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-07-09
THE CHILEAN WAR.
AN IYLWIFNESS DESCRIPTION OF TEE
BONBARDMENr OF IQUIQUA
7hs Previous Accounts Of the Forced Evacuation Of
That City Grsatly Exaggsratsd-How the RsNsl
Forces Managed to Get Possession Of the
TcWn-SsVsral Sharp Encounters

VICTORIA, il. o, July Sine steamer
Danube arrived here last evening with
a collection of the seal catches Of the
Victoria fleet. These amount to $4,000
skins. Several American schoOners
were also spoken with good catches.
The Penelope's crew caught a dead
whale and 500 pounds Of whalebone dur
ing the cruise. The Danube goes to the
Bering Sea with the British Commits
sioners on the 18th inst. Her MajeSty's
shin Warspite arrived Sunday from Co
ouimbo, and her officers have many
stories 20 tell Of the scenes In cOnnec-
ton with the Chilean rebellion witnessed
during their stay there. The following
account OF the commandment OF lqulQue
is furnished, it being stated that all
other accounts hitherto furnished nave
been very much exaggerated.
On Sunday, February Is, the Govern
ment troops, 800 In number, evacuated
IQulQue. On the following day the
rebels landed their men and took pos
session of the town, and issued a proc
lamatiOn 90 the effect that as the town
was In their hands the blockade was at
an end, and that trade would go on. Ac-
cordingly the poorer classes, who had
been camping out on Lighthouse Island,
and also the English and other Euro
pean resident who had taken refuge on
the merchant vessels, returned TO town,
but unfortunately on the morning OF
Thursday, the 10th, continual rlne
firing, accompanied by the whirr OF the
machine guns, announced that during
the night the Government troops, under
Colonel Soto, had slid down the steep
incline 40 the back OF the hospital and
had remained there, concealed until
daylight, when they revealed their pres
ence 10 the astOnished sailors.
All available men from the ships were
at once landed, bct after several sharp
encounters with the soldiers they were
driven back TO the Custom House,
stone building, which point Of vantage
they held throughout the day; but as
soon as 10 was discovered on board the
ships that the whole town was IN the
hands Of the army the ESmeralda and
Euco ada began bombarding.
The ironclad Huascar also opened ire
on the town from the same bay In which
more than twelve years ago she fought
the British m&u-Of-war Shah, but as Is
usual when firing shell, especially on
wooden houses, the town was set on
fire. The fire spread with great actiyi-
ty. The Offices of Colonel North, jew
ellis and those OF the Rosario Nitrate
Company had a narrow escape. by
mutual understanding the cOntendlng
parties ceased firing to allow the fire
brigade 10 extinguish the fire. The
flames were soon extinguished, but the
fire was started afreSh by shell from the
Esmeralda. This time the fire broke
out to the right OF the Custom House.
Colonel Soto decided to make use OF
the fire 20 smoke the sailors out OF the
Custom House. Accordingly he had
quantity of petroleum poured on the
fire and gave orders to shoot anybody
who attempted to extinguiSh It.
The flames mounted higher and high
er, accompanied by a frightful eXplo-
sion and In few minutes the English
Club aud several important buildings
were burned TO the ground. The fire
was not subdued until tina next day.
but the Custom House escaped Unin-
iured. at six p. m. Captain Lamlon,
r. n, landed under a flag of truce and
obtained an armistice until noon the
next day. This was for the purpose OF
allowing the Europeans TO leave the
town.
The following day Admiral HOtham
invited the contending parties TO con-
ference on board Of II. Nj. s., which
Colonel Soto and Admiral Moute attend
ed. and at which 10 was agreed that the
government troops in IquiQue should
Law down their arms and be paid OIL by
the rebels. 10 was subsequently learned
that 1i2 were killed and $50 wounded
during the b0mbardment.
OF the wounded the hospitals accom-
modated 100 The soldiers lost the
greatest number, being exposed.
The hope of the Chileans Is for q
speedy ending of the revolution.