[Inclosure.—Translation.]
Mr. A. Lluch to Mr.
A. M. Hancock.
United
States Consular Agency,
Almeria, July 31,
1873.
[Account of the attack of the insurgent frigates Almansa
and Vitoria on the town of Almeria, Andalusia.]
Sir: On the 29th instant, early in the morning,
the frigates Almanza and Vitoria made their appearance, under the
command of the so-styled general in chief Contreras. The remaining
population of this town fled precipitately, leaving only about a
thousand of the civil guard and carbineers, and some hundred or so of
the well-affected volunteers, and a few intransigentes, who, however, were unarmed. The brigadier in
general command of these forces disposed his troops at all the points in
the neighborhood where a landing could be effected. The civil governor,
a consular delegation, and a commission of intransigentes, respectively, visited the frigate to inform
the commanding officer that the intransigente
strength in this city was small, that the military authority possessed
ample forces, and was resolved to prevent a landing, and that a majority
of the population had declared their unwillingness to proclaim an
independent canton; and therefore, in view of the comparative
unimportance of the town, and in order to avoid a conflict and
bloodshed, they begged him to exhibit sufficient abnegation to desist
from an attack, and continue his course to other points whither it was
known he had been summoned with all urgency. In view of these
representations, the going and coming in the communication of which had
consumed nearly the whole of the day, General Contreras answered that he
would accede in part to the request made him, but that, on the same
evening, the sum of one hundred thousand dollars must be paid to him as
a war contribution, together with all the books and funds in the town
treasury; and that, if this were not done, he would destroy the city at
daybreak on the following day, the 30th.
He was roundly answered that his demands would not be acceded to, and
that, if he wished, he might add to his hoja
(register of military services) the glory of having destroyed an open
town without any means of defense; but that he would not be allowed to
disembark.
A most painful night passed; day dawned on the 30th, and time wore on
till half-past eight o’clock, when one of the aids of General Contreras
came ashore for the purpose of handing each consul a note informing him
that, within one hour, he would open fire and attack the city; but it
appears that that officer, on reaching the house of the English
vice-consul, Mr. Barron, became alarmed at the
hostile demeanor of several of the volunteers, and turned over the notes
for the remaining consuls to Mr. Barron, who did
not then deliver them, and in fact has only just done so to-day at 12
[Page 1035]
o’clock, since at the
time lie received them it is believed his only thought was to take
refuge with his family on board an English merchant-vessel then in port.
Anyhow, their delivery was evidently incumbent on General Contreras’s
aid in person.
At 10 o’clock four launches, mounting guns, approached the shore and
attempted a disembarkation under cover of discharges of grenades from
the Almansa, but on coming within Remington-rifle range the launches
were received with a shower of balls which forced their precipitate
retreat, with a loss, it is said, of 8 killed and 16 wounded.
This first episode being terminated, and the insurgents now comprehending
that it did not agree with them to continue that mode of attack, they
began to fire conical shells of 100 pounds weight, similar to those used
in attacking iron-clad vessels. They fired about a dozen, and then,
seeing the tranquillity and passive silence of those on shore, they
ceased firing and hoisted a white flag, doubtless in the hope that those
on shore would avail themselves of the offered truce, and that an
arrangement of some sort might be effected; but the shore forces, having
assembled and deliberated, replied by hoisting a black flag on the most
elevated site in town. On seeing this, the cannon again opened fire,
throwing projectiles of the same sort as before, but of 200 pounds
weight, and to the number of about 20. I was interrupted in my
contemplation of this spectacle by your telegram, begging me to inform
you how matters were going on here. I answered you, and then returned to
my post of observation on the terrace, alongside of the flag-staff. I
then sent a message to the houses of the other consuls to inquire if
they had received any telegrams announcing the coming of any foreign
war-vessel, but there was not a single consul, besides myself, in the
whole city; all had been terrified by the breath of these fire-spouting
iron-mouthed monsters. The cannonade continued until 4½ o’clock, with a
few intervals of rest. At that hour I went down to dinner, and I fancy
the same idea must have occurred to those on board the frigates, for
they fired no more. At 6½ or 7 o’clock they hoisted anchor and set sail
westward. I then received your last telegram, informing me that the
English gunboat Lynx had started for this point, and I answered you that
the frigates had already left, bound westward. Subsequently I learned
that they went to Motril and seized $12,000 there, and that from thence
they sailed for Malaga. I hope they will not treat you as they have
treated us.
In this encounter we have had the good fortune to have not even a single
man wounded. There were not the slightest symptoms of robbery or
violence, and the damage caused to the houses is insignificant, not
amounting to the value of the projectiles fired at us. The public forces
and authorities were all determined and at their posts, and even when
exposed to the enemy’s fire, they exhibited the utmost serenity and
energy.
A. LLUCH,
United
States Consular Agent.
A. M. Hancock,
United States Consul, Malaga.
