No. 433.
Mr. Hancock to Mr. Davis.
Malaga, August 2, 1873. (Received August 26.)
Sir: On Friday, the 25th ultimo, a conflict occurred in the streets of this city, between the followers of Francisco Solier and Edward Carvajal, two contestants for local popularity and honors, in which eleven were killed and twenty-three wounded. Some eight or nine of the wounded have since died.
On Monday, the 28th ultimo, two insurgent iron-clad vessels, the Victoria and Almanza, left Carthagena under command of General Contreras, to depredate on the towns along the coast between that place and Malaga. Together they carried something near two thousand people, made up of the very worst class of the population. Rumor says that the prison-doors were opened and nearly a thousand criminals of every class composed a part of this motley crew. The first place they stopped was at Almeria, one of the dependencies of this consulate, about eighty miles east of this. Under the threat of bombardment they demanded from the people $100,000 to be paid within an hour. Instead of raising the money (in fact it would have been impossible) the entire populace deserted the town, leaving a garrison of from eight hundred to a thousand volunteers, to prevent a landing of the followers of Contreras, if possible. At the end of the hour given some twenty shots were fired. Then, after a short respite, about twenty more were fired and the bombardment ceased. One or two houses were slightly damaged but no lives lost.
At eight o’clock on Tuesday evening they weighed anchor and put to sea without having received a farthing.
Their next anchoring was at Motril, some forty miles east of this, in this province; and there they demanded $16,000, which was given in bills of exchange on Malaga.
Yesterday, Friday morning, the Almanza made her appearance in the distance off this harbor, when the English iron-clad Swiftsure, Captain Ward, and the German iron-clad Prince Frederick Charles, under the command of Commodore Werner, put to sea to prevent her coming in. The German iron-clad fired a shell across the bow of the Almanza, when her guns were loaded and run out and the deck cleaned for action. Seeing the same preparations on the two other iron-clads, the insurgents changed their minds and lowered their flag and surrendered. General Contreras was ordered on board the German vessel and there made a prisoner. The three vessels then started for Carthagena, and about two hours afterward they overhauled the Victoria and took her also.
They go back to Carthagena with them, and it is reported that the German iron-clad will blockade the port to prevent their coming out again.
Immediately after the occurrence there was general rejoicing here that Malaga had been saved from the fury of these people; but a reaction is now taking place, and notwithstanding the action of the Madrid government in declaring these vessels pirates, a feeling of hostility is manifested at the interference of foreign nations. It is commonly said, as this is a contest between Spaniards, that foreign governments, so long as their subjects are allowed time to make their escape, have no business to take sides with either party in the absence of a recognition of the Madrid government.
[Page 1065]Considering the interest of our commerce and the Americans who reside here, I am inclined to regard it a matter of congratulation that these vessels were taken by the vessels of other nations than our own. Communism must have its run here, and it will be the better, I think, that we have not interfered between the contending factions.
We are quiet for the present, but will not long remain so.
At Granada, the capital of this kingdom, the red republicans have absolute control, and have adopted rules and regulations for the government of the city, very like those of the Paris commune.
I have, &c.,