The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-07-07
PERU.
Details of the Recent Naval Engagement
with the Ram Huascar-Peru to De-
mand ReparatiOn of England

PANAMA, June lI.-An outbreak has broken
out in Barranquilla, which interrupts the navi-
CATION of the Magdalena river, and 1900
troops will be required to suppress it,
The British frgate Shah arrived here on the
goth and sailed on the 18th for San Francisco.
A Lima letter dated June -, gives the fol-
lowing details OF the combat between Peruvian
iron clads near Plsagua on the 18th of May.
The fight was commenced when the govern
ment squadron consisting of the Independen-
cha, the iron clad frigate Dimon and Altoona
yoa a wooden corvette, was discovered by the
rebel ram Huascar, the latter steaming slowly
off to meet its opponents. The manHuvering
of thelHuascar consisted simply of describing
circle around the enemy. firing but few
shots, and from the strength OF her plating she
received but little injury from the guns of the
squadron. Nevertheless at one stage of the
action which lasted about one hour and half,
the Union, mounting twelve ~ pounders in
battery, ran so close to the ram that an attempt
at boarding was apprehended, and the crew of
the Huascar opened heavy fire with rifles
and revolvers on the attacking vessels such,
however, was not the purpose OF the mon.
She came alongside the Huascar and let drive
a whole broadside at the turret of that ship, so
effectually damaging it that no further use was
made of the two 300 pound guns in IT, from
which already five shots had been discharged.
Only one took effect striking the bulwarks of
the Independence, carrying away the gig and
destroying the funnel The Union received on
ly few scratches The damage done the
Huascar's turret was all that vessel sustained.
The Independence at that range fired ten
shots with her pivot guns of $50 pounds and
thirty with her 70 Founders in battery. The
Pilcomayo, which was we'll ensconced behind
the Independence, fred shells at the ram.
The letter also details an engagement be-
tween the British fleet and the Huascar on the
following day. 1t appears that the British
Admiral sent boat alongside the Huascar and
the officer in charge informed the commander
hot 6rairo IA f1n unoco
minutes to haul down the Peruvian flag and
surrender in the name of the Queen, that in
case of refusal he would do all that was posi-
BILE to sink the ram. Pierola replied that the
Huascar was a national man. of-war and was
carrying the national flag, that the emblem
would not be lowered whilst the Huascar had
a gun to defend it, Pierola instantly beat to
quarters, the English opened fire at about 800
yards, the first shots cutting away the flag of
the Huascar, bat which was Immediately re-
placed. The Huascar replied with heavy 300
pound Blakeley's in the turret and the Anne
thyst lying off and on steadily persisted in an
attempt to rake the ram. A shot was fred
from her broadsides which are discharged by
electricity, aud in a few moments everything
on the Huascar decks except the masts, turret
and smoke-stack had disappeared. Her stand
ing rigging, boat steering gear and capstan
were destroyed in the hot fire from the Eu-
glsh vessels. The Huascar, however, contin-
ued her ire at regular intervals sometimes
from her turret guns. The shell from the
Amethyst entered one of her forward ports, ex-
plodlng inside, killing one man and wounding
several.
After the fight bad lasted about an hour and
half the Amethyst was seen with thick
smoke issuing from amdships and steaming
out of action. She did not return for twenty
minutes, leaving the Huascar and Shah alone.
The former now attempted to run down her
adversary, but the splendid handling of the
Shah prevented any successful maneuvre of
this nature. On approaching. the Huascar' s
officers state that the Shah appeared to move
as if by instinct and her heavy batteries were
brought to bear on her assailant. One 300
pound shot struck the turret of the Huascar,
penetrated the iron two inches and then
robounded on the side. She was hit twice by
the same class of shot with precisely the same
result.
The Peruvians now adopted new mode of
attack. The battle lasted three hours. Then
the Huascar slowly retired, the shell from the
Amethyst having destroyed all her primers for
turret guns.
The President has issued a proclamation, in
which he declares that he will exact from
Great Britain explanations and satisfaction
consequent on such wanton outrage on a
friendly power.
The people of Lima compelled the ministry
to resign because of report that the govern
ment requested the English vessels to capture
the rebel ram, and the President was unable
luz oUIuo udyo W uuu poISuuS WiilluS 10 aCC6pG
the offices. Even revolution was attempted
on the 4th of June. The regiment holding the
castle of Callao and two battalions of National
Guards declared that they no longer owed
allegiance to President Prado, whom they con-
sidered a traitor to the republic, and proclaimed
as chief of the state Gen. Luis La Puerto, the
first Vice President. An effort was made in
Lima to second this movement but the ener-
getic attitude of Prado, who Immediately put
himself at the head of his forces, rendered the
attempt abortve. Troops were sent to Callao
to overthrow the rebels, and they surrendered
without firing shot. The leaders were all
made prisoners.
On the 9th President Prado succeeded in
organizing his Cabinet.
Mr.. Gibbs, U. S. Minister, has received orders
from Washington to insist upon the imme diate
release of steamer Georgia, detained in Callao
at the request of the government of Chill for
alleged offences committed in Chillian waters,
and has succeeded in having the vessel placed
at liberty. A small number of vessels are again
loading guano at Cabellon De Plea aud Huai-
melos,