The Bombardment of Pisagua

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 130, 25 April 1891, Page 2

The Bombardment of Pisagua

TERRIBLE SLAUGHTER. (Per San Francisco Mail at Auckland.) (PiSll PKBsS ASSOCIATION.) Acckland. April 24. Mail letters from Pisagna, Chili, tell of the bombardment of that city by the revolutionary fleet, which has also bombarded the ports of Oabefca, Buena and Junil. The bombardment of Pisagua was begun at 10 a.m. byj the Esmeralda and Bianco. The two cruisers kept up an almost ceaseless fire for six hours. The Blanco's fire was mostly grape, and did terrible harm, An officer was sent on shore and 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 bombarded the town. The commander of the port refused to surrender, and dared the commander of the revolting fleet to do his worst. When the half hour was up, the Esmeralda and Blanco came across to the town. In ten minutes the first shell was fired. , On every side could be seen men and women miming around as though wild, the men trampling over the women and children in their endeavour to gain the upper part i)i the town, where they would be safe. No oue who saw the terrible spectacle will eyer forget it. In three hours the lower part of the town was all in. ruins. The land battries, towards which the fire of the Blanco had been mainly directed, were completely dismantled, and not a gun could be fired. The batteries on the hills kept up a constant, but not very effective fire. About 2 p.m. the two cruisers moved in more toward the town, and be^an shelling the heights. Then there were a rush for the mountains. Women struggled with men sud fought like tigers, children and babes were smothered to death in the mad rush, and all the time the pitiless guvs were sending iv their Bhower of grape fire. When the oauuonading from the cruisers had ceased, about 4 p.m., two- thirds of the town and buildings were knocked down. The number of dead is believed to be about 2000. Surgeons and medicine from the two cruisers were landed as soon as the bombardment was over. Nearly every person in town has some scar to show, or has lost a relative.