The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-05-10
SPANS DEFEAT IN 1866
A BROOKLYN MANS STORY OF THE
CALLAO BOaIBARDMENT.

The Outrageous Betrayal of Hospitality In
Peru by the spaniards and Their Attack
on Callao After Having Bombarded De-
fenceless Valparaiso.
On May 2, 1866, Spain's armada suf-
Tered its final and overwhelming de-
feat on the western coast of South
America. Never again was Spain to
have foothold on the continent where
her possessions had been so vast. A
few United States citizens took part in
that last decisive battle and those vet
living refer to the event, with evident
satisfaction, as a triumph of freedom
and pluck against heavy odds.
While making thorough study of
the Inca antiquities in Peru, DR.. Au-
gustus lie Plongeon, now living in
Brooklyn, resided in that country eight
years, and took part in the stirring
events. He gives the following ac-
count of spains crushing defeat:
1854 squadron of three Spanish
frlgates, of sixty guns, suddenly APP
peared at Callao. These ships were
the Villa de Madrid, Commander Con
zalez; Ell Triunfo, whose commanders
name do not recall, and La Blanca,
Commander Topete, an uncle of the
Spanish consul-general recently in
New York The fleet was under COM
mand of Admiral Pinzon, allied to
| Mazaredo, who acted as plenipotenti-
| airy. The officers declared they were
on scientific mission, that their
| cruise in the Pacific would extend to
California, and that their only object
in calling at Callao was to renew
| friendship with the Peruvians. After
1921, when Peru had shaken off the
| Spanish yoke, it had had no diploma
| tic relations with that country, which
| had not acknowledged it's independ-
| ence.
| Those who have lived among the
| Peruvians know how hospitable and
| generous they are. The Spaniards
| were believed; cordially welcomed as
| brothers who had returned after pro-
longed absence; feted by the best soci-
ETY. in Lima, where banquets and balls
were given in their honor; treated by
the government as ENJOYS of a friendly
nation, and every facility for learning
all about the country, its public monu-
ments, institutions, and so forth, was
| given them.
after eight or ten days, during
which nothing that could make their
visit enjoyable was omitted, the Span
iards left their hosts with many a
hand clasp and loudly expressing their
wishes for the prosperity of the repub-
| lie. The officers said they were going
| toward California, and were seen to
start northWard. But no sooner were
the ships out of our sight than they
changed their course and went south
direct to the Chinchoha Islands, whose
guano, exhausted in 1872, then made
them the treasure house of Peru.
There a company of marines landed,
surprised the guard of twenty-five In
dian soldiers, hauled down the Peruvi-
an flag and hoisted the Spanish colors,
proclaiming Spain the owner Of that
land, and declaring war on Peru.
whose warships, as the treacherous
Spaniards had seen, were all disman-
| tied for unfit for service, for the
country was at peace with all nations,
and not anticipating any aggression.
when the action of the Spaniards
| became known in Lima the indigna-
ton of their generous entertainers
| knew no bounds. A state of conster-
nation also prevailed when it was ru-
mored that Callao would be lombard
| al Y,ta ba
dent, was at his wits end to know how
to rescue the islands SO as to fill the
contract for guano. To fail to do this
would have proved exceedingly detri-
mental to the country.
'In the council chambers of the Ca
bildo Getty halD the foreigners residing
in Lima held a meeting, at which the
traveller George f. Squires, then COM
missioner of the United States to Peru,
presided. 1t was resolved that pro-
test should be sent in the name of the
foreign merchants to Mazaredo,
Spain's plenipotentiary, with the fleet
and on the Chincha Islands, against
the treaeherous action of Spain. This
| was done, but did not produce the de-
sired result Spain was there to insist
and the ships did not move off until
one of them was mysteriously de-
stroyed.
"How it was done? Well, after a
few days two or three citizens went to
Pesco, a small port opposite the Chin
cha stands, hired fsherman's canoe
and it's owner, and at early dawn WISH
ted the Spanish squadron to see how it
appeared in the morning mists. Be-
fore the sun was up an outside acct
dent happened to Ell Triunfo, although
afterward offers and crew declared
the calamity occurred inside the ship.
There was fine illumination which
first lit up the riggings, then caught
the hull, and the Spaniards were SO
pleased they jumped overheard to
have better view of the spectacle
The Triunfo was towed a short dis
lance from the other ships; it burned
to it's water line and sank where it can
be seen to this day in calm weather.
"Two or three days later the other
ships sailed south to Chilli but the
news of their doings had reached the
place; therefore it's ports were closed
and war declared against the Span
iards. Guayaquil followed the same
course; and not one country on the
western coast allowed the Spanish