THE BOMBARDMENT OF VALPARAISO.

Southland Times, Volume VII, Issue 523, 20 July 1866, Page 2

THE BOMBARDMENT OF VALPARAISO.

The Inspecto- Pals brings particulars of the bombardment of Valparaiso by the Spanish fleet. Oa the 31st of March the Chilian troops on shore numbered about 3,000 located so as to prevent the S aniarcls from disembarking. On the morning of the 31st, the English frigates Subleji and Leander entered the harbor, and anchored. The Spanish fleet and trans ports anchored opposite the Vena. Delmar. The American fleet to a position on the northeast side of the harbor. Mr Kilpatrick, the American minister, was on board. The Spanish vessels steamed slowly in-shore, in the following order . — La Nuinaneia, La Resolution, Villa de Madrid, La Blanca, La Vencedora, La Maule, and the Numancia's launch. The smaller ships remained at the anchorage. The Numancia reached the middle of the bay about a mile from shore, and at eight' o'clock commenced the bombardment by firing shell into the city. The Chilians hoisted the national flag on San Antonio. The fleet took the the following positions. — Besolueion in front of the Railway Station, Villa de Madrid aud Blanea 200 or 600 metres from the Custom-house, aud tiie Vencedora in front of. Del Capo. The Blanca opened a heavy fire on the Custom-house stores, and was joined by the Villa de Madrid, until the building commenced to smoke, the shots blowing the tops of the houses, and making ruins of the walls. The shots from the rifle guns were particularly noticeable, whistling through the air, and smoke and flame. Many shells burst in the air, a number of the water, and several on the beach. La Blanca next operated against the Bourse and La Intendencia, prominent buildings. Shots were also fired at the flagstaff. The Resolucion fired at the railway station, and the Vencedora connonaded the dwellings along the sea-side. About eleven o'clock, a shell from the Vencedora set fire to the baths adjoining the Union [ Hotel, to which the flames communicated spreading to Planchada and, Cochrane streets, shrouding the left of the city in smoke. At twelve o'clock the Numancia hoisted a signal to cease firing. The fleet obeyed, and moved away. The number of shots fired was about 2,000. Only 113 took effect, sixty one struck the Intendencia, nineteen the Bourse, and twenty-eight the Railway Station. The heaviest loss sustained is the Custom house stores, where a large quantity of merchandise was stored. The value of the property destroyed is estimated at 700,000 dol. The heaviest sufferers among the foreign houses is that of Echicard, which alone loses 100,000dols. The French merchants, through their Consul, have sent in a claim for indemnity. Many deaths took place on board the Spanish fleet. Several were tilled in the Ville de Madrid. The buildings destroyed were the second and third sections of the Custom-house stores, the house of Mr G-allo, Manet and Co's establishment, Templeanan and Co's stores, the buildings of Mr Edwards and Mr Orsa, the Union Hotel, and the building adjoining the Hotel Lafayette, and the premises of Don Voncesti Adverchese. The Spanish Admiral, in an official letter to the American Minister, states that he has no further intention of bombarding the city. — Argus. 27th June.