IMPORTANT FROM CHILE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 395, 19 July 1866, Page 4

IMPORTANT FROM CHILE.

We (New Zealand Herald) have to relate to the civilized world one of those catastrophes as unnecessary as they are terrible, which disgrace human nature and the age in which we live—a catastrophe wrought by the unbridled passions of a nation which proclaims itself a member of the community of European States. Ever since the middle of March rumors circulated alternately among the public of a pacific settlement of the dispute with Spain, through the mediation of the United States* and of an approaching bombardment of Valparaiso by the blockading squadron.

The former very soon ceased, the latter lecame very speedily realized. It became known with perfect certainty that the Spanish admiral had expressed to General Kilpatrick, the United States Minister, his firm resolution to bombard Valparaiso, in obedience to instructions received from his Government, in case the Government of Chile should persist in refusing to give the satisfaction demanded by Spain. Submission, or the loss of the most nourishing of its sea ports —such was the alternative presented to the Republic. The Republic did not hesitate, she preferred the loss of her city to the loss of honor. The Spanish propositions, transmitted through the American Minister, in conjunction with the other members of the Diplomatic Corps, were rejected, and from that moment the mediating parties were fain to regard their well-meant endeavors as exhausted and barren of results hereafter.

Accordingly, on the morning of Tuesday March 27th, the military Commandant-, General of Valparaiso, the diplomatic Corps residing in Santiago, and the Consular Corps in Valparaiso respectively, received communications from the Commander-in - Chief of 'the Spanish forces in the Pacific, notifying them of the approaching bombardment, and allowing a period of four days for the escape of the aged, of women, children, and non-combatants. The note addressed to the Foreign Representatives was accompanied by a manifesto setting forth the reasons which compelled Spain to such a proceeding against the first port of Chile. This document is no less remarkable for its execrable grammar than for the poverty of its arguments and the absurdity of its ideas.

All the communications were couched in ambiguous and contradictory terms. Thus, for example, in the notes received by the Diplomatic and Consular Corps, he spoke of the bombardment of the public edifices, while in the note received by the Military Commandant-General, he announced the bombardment of the whole city. This was not calculated to inspire the people of Valparaiso with confidence and security. The Military Commandant, in his reply to the Spanish Admiral, acknowledged the receipt of Ids communication, protested against the unjustifiable deed which was in preparation, and flatly rejected the distinction between combatants and non-com-batants applied by the enemy to a town, open, unarmed, and without any defence other than the sacred laws of civilization and humanity.

The foreign residents who own the greater part of the moveable property in Valparaiso, were profoundly stirred. In the Customs warehouses, an immense building, which the Spanish gunners were certain to choose for a mark, there lay from twentyfive to thirty millions of goods, the property of English, French, German, and American residents. Throughout the rest of the city there was also a considerable amount of neutral property. In reality, the proposed bombardment, although indirectly affecting the general course of our national prosperity, was a blow aimed chiefly and directly at the property of the European and American merchants in the city engaged in honest and peaceful business operations. As soon as the rumours of a bombardment assumed a consistent form, the Consuls of the different States of Germany, as well as the residents of that nation and the citizens of the United States, applied to Commodore Eogers, commanding the American squadron lying in our bay, invoking the protection of his forces against the blow which was about to be dealt upon the property of neutrals. The British residents applied in due time to Admiral Denman, commanding the English forces on this station, who formally promised them bis protection. But this naval officer having subsequently revoked his solemn promise, his countrymen endeavored to interest in their behalf the Honorable William Taylour Thomson, the British Minister llesident, who had been in Valparaiso ever since the commencement of this new and very grave complication. The French and English Ministers both declared that they recognised the belligerent right of Spain to bombard the city. And thus the well-meant designs of the American Minister failed utterly, and the intervention of the European Powers in behalf of their countryment went no further than diplomatic and consular protests. Mokning. To-day at dawn every one was at his post; behind the Customs Warehouses, ravines, and in various other sheltered positions, were stationed detachments of ininfantry, artillery, and cavalry, ready to fly

instantly to any point where the enemy might attempt a landing, and to hasten, wherever they might be needed, to preserve order. Last night, the different companies of Valparaiso and Santiago firemen were assigned their stations; and this morning these noble saviours of property were at their posts. The soldiers of police, in full uniform, and musket in hand, were posted throughout the city at a distance of half a square mile from each other.

The remainder of the population, especially such as were to have no part in the system of defence or in the maintenance of order, made the best of their way to the hills (cerros), particularly Cerro Alegre and Cerro de la Concepcion. On the former of these streamed the Hag of the United States Minister, Senor Kilpatrick, who lodged in one of the houses of the esplanade. THE BAY. Before seven a.m. H.B.M.’s frigates Sutlej and Leander left their anchorage and disappeared in a southerly direction, but soon reappeared at the entrance of the bay and stationed themselves among the cluster of prizes and enemy’s transports opposite Vina del Mar, where the storeship Kerens and the Devastation have been at anchor since yesterday. The French storeship Egerie was also anchored at the same place. The ships of the American squadron were the last to leave their berth in the bay. The slowness of their movements revealed the reluctance of their officers. It was only when the hour for the felon deed was about to strike that they began to move towards the north-western part of the bay, where they stationed themselves at the rear of the Spanish line. Being now absolute masters of the anchorage ground, where alone remained the two floating docks and the boats, which had been sunk, and the lighters which had mostly been removed towards the Almenural, the enemy’s vessels began slowly to manoeuvre. The Numanica, Resolution, Ville de Madrid, Blanea, Vencedora, Paquete de Maule, and the tender of the Numanica were under steam. The Berenguela and the other smaller vessels remained at anchor among the group of prizes. A little before 8 a.m. the Numanica passed slowly in front of the mole, stopping in the middle of the harbor, about a mile from the shore, and there, at ten minntes after 8 a.m., she fired the two guns which were to serve as a last warning, for in an hoar more fire was to open on the town. Instantly, the flag of Chile, which had been raised at St. Antonio, was hoisted to the top of the staff. The thousands of spectators who thronged the heights stood breathless with emotion, awaiting the solemn and dreadful moment of the bombardment. THE FIRE OPENS. Meanwhile the Spanish frigates took up their positions for action. At eight minutes after 9 a.m. the Biauca opened fire upon the Custom Warehouses to the cry of viva le reinaf and was immediately followed by the Ville de Madrid. It would seem that this honor had been reserved as a satisfaction to the heroes of the combat of Abato. Topete must have felt himself in his element. A more brilliant exploit than he might now attempt no naval hero had had the opportunity to achieve since the day that Farragut captured the iron-clad ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay. With such a mark before them as the Warehouses at a distance of 400 metres, the frigates fired better than they did at Abtao. Every second there arose from the esplanade, the roof and the walls of the buildings, a cloud of dust announcing that a solid ball had taken effect. The rifle projectiles of the Ville de Madrid traversed the air with a dull whizzing sound. Occasionally there was seen the white smoke and flame produced by the explosion of shell; nevertheless, many of these projectiles burst in the air, in the water, or in the hill sides. In no, long time the Bianca commenced firing upon the Bolsa, the Intendencia, and the adjoining buildings. But here the fire was not at first kept up with such fury as against the Government warehouse, the artillery barracks, and the flagstaff. The Spaniards (godos) seemed infuriated against our noble national ensign. They showered upon it hollow conical and solid shot, but all in vain. Although the staff was struck, and the stays cut, our tricolor continued to wave, gloriously symbolizing the invincible energy of our resistance. In the meantime, the Resolucion opened fire on the r; *'road station, or rather, such was the unskilfulness of her gunners, upon the populous suburb of the Baron. This vessel did scarcely any mischief; the consummation of the crime

ucsteadied the hand of Commandante Barcalcel. Wrought up to fury, perhaps, by this failure, the monster fired whole broad, sides ‘in that direction, covering the suburb of the Almendral with an iron tempest. The hospital, the asylum for the poor, and many public and private buildings, the former displaying a white flag, still bear the marks of Balcarcel’s brutality. Not lass glorious was the task undertaken soon after by the corvette Yencedora. Taking up her position close to calle del Cabo, she fired upon the elegant private dwellings situated along the shore, especially that of Mr Edwards. Then, from the same position, she commenced firing upon the mole, the Intendeacia, and the neighbouring buildings in calles Cochrane and Planchada. Every five minutes a white puff of smoke was seen to issue from the Yencedora side ; thus, the fire of her 68 pound pivot guns and of her rifled 32-pounder, finally became tolerably accurate. It was, however, almost impossible to miss at so short a distance. The projectiles burst through the Bolsa, the buildings of Senor Aguiar, those adjoining, and the Cafe Guinodie, as if they were paper, or stuck fast in the wall of the Intendente’s mansion. The mole also received several severe injuries. Tee Fire. At last the fury of the Spaniards partly accomplished its object. At 40 minutes after 10 a.m. a shell from the Yencedora set fire to a bathing establishment adjoining the Hotel de la Union; a dense column of smoke rose toward the sky, and the flames, favored by the bombardment, spread rapidly, enveloping the Hotel de la Union, and crossing over to the other side of Calles Cochrane and Planchada. The black column of smoke darkened the sun, and shed a sinister glare over that part of the city. But this did not cause the Yenccnora to desist firing upon that part of the town. Her shot continued to raiu upon the burning buildings and those contiguous to them with a terrible and fatal regularity up to the very last moment of the bombardment. Nor was this all. The northern corner of the third section of the Customs warehouses began throwing out smoke iu abundances At 11'45 the flames burst out; a dense whirlwind of smoke hid the buildings from our view. Nevertheless, tbs Yillo de Madrid and the Resolucion continued firing upon the warehouses and Cerro de la Artilleria with unabated fury. Close of the Bombardment.

At 18 minutes after 12 p.m., the Nuraancia hoisted her flag at the foremast, intimating thereby that the bombardment was at an end. Instantly the vessels stopped firing, and bore down towards the flagship. The thousands of spectators who stood on the hills rushed into the city, eager to check the fire, and ascertain the extent of the mischief wrought by the enemy.

Shots Fired at the Flag. The. Spaniards vented their ire upon the flag which floats in front of the artillery barracks; but their efforts to bring it down were unavailing. At 95 5 a ball fell near the staff, and at 12’20 a shell also burst near by, the fragments of which cut one of the stays, causing the upper part of the staff to bend slightly. This is uli that the frigates Ville de Madrid and Biauca accomplished, after three hours of furious fighting against a Chilean flag. What shots ! but what artillerists too !