The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-11-04
NAVAL HEROES.
TRAFALeAR OF THE PACIFIC.
The Chilians and Peruvians Covered
with Glory-Heavier Batteries
but no Braver Tars-vIc-
tory for Chilli

Panama, Oct. 25.-The Star and
Herald has the story of a naval battle
between the Peruvian irun-clad Huas-
car and a division of the Chilian fleet.
SteamiDg rapidly along the coast, the
Huascar at about $3.50 p. m. on the 9th
of October, signalled her consort, the
Union. The enemy was in sight and
Immediately proceeded at full speed to
the northward, hoping to elude their
vigilance in the darkness and trusting
to the superior rapidity of the Union to
mislead the opposing squadron. The
Union rather invited the enemy's atten-
tion in hopes that the Huascar might
get far enough ahead before daybreak
to escape. The Chilian vessels were
one iron n-clad and three wooden steam
ers. AT q. m. on the 9th the Chilians
were still in pursuit about 5000 metres
from the Union, and the Huascar
ahead; but when the fog lifted there
appeared directly in front the remain
ing division Of the enemy's fleet, an
iron-armored frigate and the corvettes
and transports. The Peruvians wished
to avoid a conflict with the Chilian
feet. and endeavored to escape, but to
no purpose. The Huascar at $50 a. m.
fund herself in front of the Moro of
Mejillones, and a second iron. clad
within cannon shot, whilst the first
was coming rapidly up. Running in
tiwards the shore in the very bay of
Mejillones De Bolivia, the Huascar
awaited the advance of her nearest
antagonist and let drive her two turret
guns, following up the discharge by an
attempt at ramming, which proved un-
successful owing to the power possessed
by the Chilians to turn in their own
length with their twin screws. The
fire was instantly returned and the
mittrailleuses in the tops of the Huas-
car and her enemy's, commenced their
dreadful rattle. The Union, to save
herself from capture or destruction,
continued her flight, and the Huascar,
unaided, continued the fight. She
placed herself between the enemy's
vessels, but the Chilians took every
opportunity Of getting in shots at the
stern Of the ram, her vulnerable point,
and the Huascar was taken frequently
at disadvantage. She several times
repeated Ler attempt to ram, but un-
successfully. After two hours combat
the Huascar, with its hull riddled, en-
gines damaged and turret so jammed
that it would not revolve, with only
four officers unwounded, hauled down
the Peruvian flag and surrendered.
The Gillian iron-clad first into action,
fired her broadsides very rapidly, as
with her twin screws she was able to
present to her adversary in a few min
utes any battery she wished to use.
The Huascar's guns were we'll served,
and in an hour discharged % shots.
Her gunners were foreigners, princi-
pally English and Scotch, among whom
the mortality must have been consid-
cradle. Her engineers were all for
eigners, twenty FIVE of the crew in all
being Europeans. The damage done
the Gillian iron-clads is considerable.
The admiral ship Cochrane, which sus-
tained the brunt of the battle, was
somewhat damaged by the Blanco. The
Encalde escaped almost entirely with
out injury. The unequal character of
the fight may be understood when it is
known that the Huuscar had but two
300-pounders to oppos twelve, and her
armor was but ~ inches against 9
inches.
Spite of the feeling of sadness at the
loss of Admiral Grau and his ship, the
Huascar, there is no thought of submits
sion. A commission composed of Dr.
Rosas, president of the Peruvian SEN
ate, and Senior Camacho, editor of the
Opinion Nocional, of Lima, have sailed
for Europe from Aspinwall. on the 22d
inst, to ende.vor to purchase another
ironclad to replace the lost Huascar.
1t is limited that the Spanish govern
ment may assist them.
The ministry, to give the president
an opportunity to choose new advisers,
resigned en- masse, but their resigna-
tions were not accepted.