TWO THOUSAND DEAD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 94, 24 April 1891, Page 3

TWO THOUSAND DEAD.

PISAGUA BOMBARDED BY THE REBELS.

New York, March 14. Letteks received from Pisagua, Chili, to" day tell of the bombardment of that city by the ravoluntionary fleet, which has also bombarded the ports of Caleba, Buena and Junil. The bombardment of Pisagua was begun at 10 a.m. by the Eemeralda and Blanco.

The two cruisers kept up an almosb ceaseless fire for six hours. The Blanco's fire was mostly grape, and did terriblo harm. The firat announcement of the bombardment was the firing of a gun from the Eemeralda and the displaying of a white flag. ■ 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 bombard 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 waß up, the Esmeralda and Blanco came close to the town. In ten minutes the first shell was fired. On every side could be seen men and women running,,around as though wild. Men trampling over women and children in their endeavour to gain the upper part of the town, where they would be safe, No one who saw the terrible spectacle will ever forget it. In three hours the lower part of the town was all in ruins. The land batteries, toward 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. At about 2 p.m. the two cruiser 3 moved in more toward the town and began shelling the heights. Then there was a rush for the mountains. Women struggled with men and foughb like tigers. Children and babes were smothered to death in the mad rush, and all the time the pitiless guns were sending in their shower of grape. Fire added to the destruction of the bombardment, and when the cannonading from the cruisers ceased at about 4 p.m. two-thirds of the town was in ruins. From the ruins of one building seventy-two bodies were taken out. The number of dead is believed to be about 2,000. Surgeons and medicine from two cruisers were landed as soon as the bombardment was over, and at once set to work to relieve the suffering. About 2,000 persons who took refuge on board the English steamer Ramies esoaped unhurt, bub nearly every other person in the town has a scar to show, or has lost a relative. •'. . ■ - ,■>,, -± , The Government has announced tnao tne cruisers Pilcomayo and Almiranre Lynch have deserted the rebels and are now at Montevideo. The Minister of Foreign Relations has left for Montevideo escorted by two regiments .of cavalry. His mission is to see the commanders of the cruisers Pilcomayo, Almirante Lynch and Condell,

who hesitate to fight against the in surgents.

The Government from financial standpoints is in difficult straits, having neither credib nor money. Congress adjourned without having passed the Appropriation Bill, and therefore money for the payment of Government contracts is not at hand.

In spite of this the President has issued 812,000,000 worth of fiscal notes to take the place of Government currency, and this amount as soon as issued will be used for buying ammunition, provisions, etc.

There is some doubt whether merchants in England, Franco and Germany, irorn whom Chili purchases most of her gooda, will accept these unauthorised bills as legal money. Such refusal will leave Balmaccda in as diflicult position as before. Ho had previously endeavoured to raise a loan ot §20,000,000, and although thero are many times $20,000,000 in Chili, and although on several other occasions the capitalists and rich men of Chili have helped out the Government by caking all the loans in the country itself, whon IJSalmaceda called a conference of bankers and capitalists of the country to arrango for this issue thoy one and all refused to take a dollar's worth of the loan.