The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-11-15
THE HUAsCAR.
Full Details of It's Capture by the
Gillian Fleet.
A Terrific Naval Combat.

New YORK. Nov. IA letter from Lima,
Oct. ODD. to the Panama Herald gives details
of the great fight between the iron clad Huas-
car and the CHILEAN fleet. About nine O'Clock
on the morning of the Sth the Cocnrane ap-
preached within 5000 metres OF the Peruvian
Ship then we'll in shore very short distance
north of the point of the Mexillone. The
Blaneo was still a few miles distant put COM
inc under full steam. Grau opened fire on
the enemy with his turret guns, ana Cochrane
and almost all passed over the OBJECT aimed at.
Admiral Grau desired to improve the short
time remaining to COMBAT Is1 Oochfahe
alone and with the full force OF her engines
the Huascar sped against her nIge an,agohist,
hoping to ram the Cochrane; Inc iatter' Win
her twin screws easily evaded the shock, and
turning in her own length let the Huascar
sweep swiftly by. AS the latter, however,
passed under tho stern of the Chlllan she let
drive her turret guns at point blank range,
and then returned to her 70 rmer position in
shore, with her PROV toward the enemy and
her stern, the weak and most Vulnerable por-
ton of the ram, guarded from the Cnlllan
fire. The cannonade proceeded Wlthout inter-
mission From the decks and tops OF the two
vessels the fire of musketry and Gatling guns
was incessant, and on the Huascar their effect
was becoming painfully apparent. one hour
and eight minutes after the commencement OF
the fight the Huascar had discharged her tur-
ret pieces twenty-five times against the COch-
rane, the latter replying with thirty shots. AT
this moment the other CHILEAN iron clad ar
rived and Immediately opened hre, hrst direct
ing her attention to the Huascar S lighting tur-
ret, and the little tower near the smokestack
which is the battle station of the commander.
The eff ect was terrible. The tower of the
Huascar was carried away and Admiral Grau
taken down below for the care OF surgeons
with one leg torn off
Whilst in the cabin solid three hundred
pound shot from the Blanco struck the ram in
the stern, destroying the steering gear and
passing directly through the ship left gaping
aperture large enough for a boat to enter. This
slot killed the brave Admiral, his aide, Lieut..
Ferre, and several others. Tbe Huascar was
now unmanageable and from the proximity
of the enemy-about 800 metres-it was i'm
possible to even put up temporary apparatus
as the musketry and mitrailleuses literally
swept the deck Captain Aguirre assumed
command of the ship on the death OF the
Admiral and the CHILEAN concentrated their
| fire. The turret was his by heavy Shell
| which, passing through the port, exploded in
| sde disabling one OF the two guns and killing
| Aguirre and all who were serving the piece;
| The Huascar was now practically at the
| mercy of the enemy, ungovernable and with
! half of her offensive power destroyed and her
officers and crew decimated, but the national
| flag was still flying in defiance, and no one
| even whispered of surrender. Capt. Mllton
| Carvaial took command after Aguirre's death,
| but was almost instantly carried below danger
ously wounded. First Lieutenant Rodrique
| succeeded him, and moment afterward shared
the fate of the admiral and Aguirre. Lieut.
| Palacos followed Rodriguez, and although
severely wounded continued in charge until
the end of the bloody drama The enemy
never slackened their fire. Approaching some
! times within a biscuits throw from the ram
| they poured in deadly hail from the heavy
guns, and at such close quarters that the thin
plating of the Huascar, only four and hall
! inches of iron amdships and tapering to two
1 md baI at the how and stern. ODSta-
Gle whatever to the 300-pound proiectiles
| launched against it.
At half-past seven she was in a pitiable con-
| dition. The turret, struck seven times by the
| enemy's shot, was knocked out of shape and
| long since had lost its revolving power. The
| ship was without a rudder and was at the
| pleasure of the Chillians, who of course i'm
proved the advantage by assuming the strong
est position for attack and injury. The fore
| castle was completelysshot away the mast cut
in two and the mitrailleuse in the tops neutral
lied. The smoke stack and chimney were rid.
| died with balls, the propeller struck and
fouled, one gun disabled, and out of ZIG who
went into action only Sc were alive, and the ma
| iority of these hors dU combat; five commanders
| had succeeded each other in their perilous post
Three were dead, one seriously wounded, ano
the fourth barely able to maintain his trumpet
The Chilians sent boarding party to complete
their victory, but the brave fellows on the
| Huascar rallied and drove them back with
|
blood could do no more. The Chilians agai1
boarded and the Huascar was theirs. The en-
envy lowered the flag, the survivors of the
frigate were taken on board the Cochrane and
Blanco. They were treated with all kindness
and considered by the captors, who accorded
the funeral honors due to his rank to Admira
| Grau i'll Mexillones.
Samuel MacMahon, chief engineer of the
Huascar, native of the United States, is un
hurt. Five officers were killed and nine
wounded, more or less seriously.
Capt. Rivero of the Cochrane sent the follow
ing official report to the Chilian authorities a
Antefogosta: The Cochrane encountered the
Huascar this morning at 9 o'clock. The
Blanco entered action at 10. The Huascar,
battered to pieces, surrendered. Grau with
his first and second officers, were killed. Tit
narnvians made stubborn and heroic resist
ance. From the condition of the ram / do ~
think she can be made available for further
service. We had no casualties.
The Peruvian Congress has provided liber.
ally for the widow and family of Admiral
Grau, also for the families Of the other officer
and men killed on the Huascar. A commission
has been sent to Europe to purchase new iron
| clad