Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-07-10

10 defend il. With this reply the boat returned to
the Amethyst. Pieroa instantly beat to quarters,
and in q few words assured his men that his own
personal preiensions now disappeared in the face
of this new emergency which threatened the hon.
or of their common country. He was loudly
cheered, and the ships company to man, even
including some prisoners taken on shore at Pisag-
ua, evinced the most determined spirit of resist
ance. The English opened fire at about 600 yards,
the first shots cutting away the flag of the Huascar
but which was Immediately replaced The Huas-
car replied with her heavy 400 pound Blakeleys in
the turret, and the Amethyst, lying of and on,
steadily persisted in her attempts to rake the ram
The Shah fred her broadsldes, which are dis
charged by electricity, and in a few moments
everything on the Husscars decks, except her
masts, turret, and smoke stack had disappeared.
Her standing rigging, boats, steering gear, and
cspsan were destroyed in the hot fire from the
English vessels. The lluascsr, however, contin-
ued her fire at regular intervals, sometimes from
her turret guns. shell from the Amethyst en-
tered one of her forward ports, exploding inside,
killing one man and wounding several. For mo-
ment fire was appiebeDded, but fortunately was
prevented. After the fight had lasted about an
hour and q half the Amethyst was seen with thick
smoke issuing from amidships, and steamed away
out of action, not returning Tor ~ minutes. lesv-
ing the Huascar and the Shah alone. The former
attempted to ram her adversary, but the SPLEEN
did handling of the Shah prevented any success
full maDPuver of this nature. On approaching,
as the Husscar's officers state, the Shah appeared
to move as If by instinct, and her heavy batteries
were brought to bear on the .assailant. A small
Calling gun stationed in her tops very seriously
incommoded the combatants on board the ram,
and her smoke-stsko is riddled with musket bull
lets. One 30O-pound shot struck the turret OF
the lIuascar, penetrated the iron for two inches,
and then rebounded. On the side she was hit
twice by the class of shot, and 18th prec se-
ly the same result. The Peruvians now adopted
a new mode of attack, frat advancing on the Shah
aud then oh the Amethyst, but the superior speed
and superb management of these vessels prevent
ed her ramming them. The battle lasted for
three hours. Then the Huascsr slowly retired,
the shell from the Amethyst having destroyed all
the primers Tor the turret guns, and she headed
toward the land, for which she had been man9u-
verDg for some little time previously. The enc
my did not attempt TO pursue; contented them
selves with receiving the last shots from the HUI
ascar, and remaining about two miles from shore,
evidently keeping watch over their brave antag
onist. The Huascar, although attacked at this
time by musketry firing from the Government
troops on shore, who imagined that landing was
to be attempted, sent messenger with white
flag to the Captain of the port, begging for ammu-
milton, and asking permission to land the few
wounded on board Only one man killed.
THIS WAS refused, and an answer returned calling
for the surrender of the ship.
"Bu, the Huascar being short of ammunition
and apprehendng repetition Of the English al
tack, thought it better to take advantage Of the
heavy fog then rising, and quietly slip down to
lquique where the Government fleet was lying
and where Plerola hoped to make some arrange
ment for combined action against the British
forces. The movement was cautiously executed
and none too soon, fol at about 10 o'clock steam
launch from the Snah came stealing through the
darkness with q torpedo, and by mere chance
avoided aihxing that implement of destruction to
the side Of coasting steamer in port, mistaking
her for the Huascar. When the departure of the
ram was made known, the English vessels dlsap-
peared from the offng.