SACKING A PERUVIAN TOWN.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1262, 31 July 1880, Page 3

SACKING A PERUVIAN TOWN.

A letter received in Liverpool from a firm at Arequiqa, gives the following particulars of the capture and sacking 1 of Mollendo by the Chilians : — " At midday on Monday, Bth March, news was received in Mollendo by telegraph that one of the Chilian ironclads had left Yerba Buena with two transports for the north and at 5 pm. the Blanco Encalada came in sight, and, passing Mollendo, went into Islay Bay where the two blockading vessels followed her. The same night the Chilians landed from their transports a strong force of 2,000 men, more or le&a, in Islay and the inlets of Chiquas and Matarini. They marched the following day on to Mollendo, under the protection of the gmw of the Blaaico Encalada, O'Higgins, and Covadonga, and without encountering any opposition from the Peruvians entered Mollendo, as the small force stationed there — some fifty men of the Guardia National- I—bad1 — bad retired on Tambo. The Chilian commanders, on taking possession of Mollendo, stated to the consular corps that private property as alao that of neutrals would be protected. This promise was not kept in its entirety, as about a third of the town has been burnt, and notably the house of Mr Woriche, a Spaniard, to which they set fire three times before effecting their object, as the owner assisted by the foreigners, was able to save it twice. The Chilians have done great damage to the railway stock, having burnt 84 cars, and destroyed the offices, workshops and machine house. Happily there were no engines in Molendo, otherwise they would have had facility for destroying other parts of the railway. As it is, they have sent troops as far as Enseuada, where, however, but little harm has been clone. In Mejia they have burnt several houses. The Custom House stores in Molendo were not burnt but the doors were burst open and the troops stole what they chose. All houses the owners of which were absent were sacked, even t e officers takingpart; and in many instances occupied houses were not respected. The church was burnt, and a diamond cross of great value, forming part of the cus'todia, has been stolen, Women have also been outraged. Most of the women took refuge in the several consulates, where they were safe, though at one time fears were entertained that they also would he burnt. What aggravates the behavior of the Chilians is that they entered Mollendo without a shot having been fired, and, after restraining their troops for over 24 hours, they let them loose to sack and burn a defenceless town. The Chilians embarked on Saturday, the 13th instant. Before embarking they set fire to the quay, and destroyed all the lighters and boats ; the quay has not been damaged to any extent.

The Victoria Cross.— Perhaps few stories of battle so thoroughly illustrate the true British spirit as the little incident at a reconnaissance before the battle of Ulundi, of which Lord William Beresford was the hero. The British were almost led into a terrible trap, and discovered their danger only just in time. They turned to retreat, and the Zulus poured in a volley, which brought down the gallant grey horse of a mounted infantryman; his rider falling head foremost. The correspondent of the Standard was where there was most to be seen. "I thought both man and horse," he says, " were killed, but the former soon struggled to his feet, with his face covered with blood, and dazed with his fall. Lord William Beresford seeing what had happened, pulled up, and in the face of advancing hosts and yelling savages within easy range, quietly trotted back and told the man to mount behind him. With a cool courage, scarcely second to Lord William's the noble fellow that he was, refused, preferring (jjfc certain sacrifice of his own me to the probability of destroying his preserver's. The reply was admittedly terse and telling. The savages swarmed closer and closer ; bullets rattled around them ; the two who lingered were almost within reach of the assegais, and Lord William returned with "get up, or I'll punch your head.' ' The man obeyed, and preserver and preserved escaped. It was this act that gained Lord Beresford the Victoria Cross. The oldest lawyer in Scotland has just passed away in the person of Charles Winchester, advocate, Aberdeen, who had reached the age of 100. He attended the Grammar School in Aberdeen along with Lord Byron,