The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-11-21


Peruvian iron-clad Huascar by the
Chiian fleet:
From the moment that the CHILEAN
iron clad appeared on the horizon steam
ing rapidly toward the Huascar from
the northward, while the Blanco En-
calada was steadily pursuing the ram
from the south, Admiral Grau perceived
clearly that his ship was doomed, but,
brave man as he was, no thought of sur
render entered his mind, and the whole
ships company assumed their appointed
stations for the struggle, with convic-
ton that no human power could extri-
cate the Huascar from such over
whelming forces as those presented by
the Chilian vessels. From the decks
and tops of the two vessels the fire of
musketry and Calling guns was incess-
ant, and on the Huascar the effect
was becoming painfully apparent. One
hour and eight minutes after the COM
mencement of the fight the Huascar
had discharged her turret pieces twenty
five times against the Cochrane, the
latter replying with thirty shots. At
this moment the other CHILEAN iron-clad
arrived on the scene and Immediately
opened fire, first directing her attention
to the Huascar's fighting turret and
the little tower near the smoke-stack,
which is the battle station of the COM
mander.
The Blanco's guns were excellently
well served and their effect terrible.
The tower was carried away and Ad-
miral Grau taken down below for the
care of the surgeons, with one of his
legs torn of. While in the cabin
solid 300-pound shot from the Blanco
struck the ram in the stern, destroying
steering gear, and, passing directly
through the ship, left gaping aperture
large enough for a boat to enter. This
shot killed the brave Admiral, his aid,
Lieut.. Fere, and several others.
Capt. Elias Aguirre assumed COM
mand of the ship on the death of the
Admiral, and took his station in the
gun-turret. But on this point the two
Chiians had concentrated their fire.
The turret was hit by heavy shell
which, passing through port, exploded
inside, 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 hale of her offensive power
destroyed, her officers and crew
decimated, but the national flag was
still flying in defiance, and no one even
whispered of surrender
Capt. MELTON Carvajal took COM
mand after Aguirre's death, but was in
stantly taken below dangerously wound
ed.
First Lieut.. Rodriguez succeeded
the fate of the Admiral and Aguirre.
Lieut.. Enrique Palacios followed
Rodriguez in command, and, although
severely wounded, continued in charge
until the end of the bloody drama. Still
the Huascar discharged her sole re-
naming cannon at long intervals, as the
very turret itself, only thirty feet in di-
ameter, was choking up with the debris
of the shattered gun and the bodies of
the dead and wounded.
Below in the dark passages and mar
row compartments of the ship the scene
was frightful. The dying and those
who had persisted were heaped indis-
criminately together, and every few mo-
1nents shot from the enemy came
crashing through the sides of the
doomed vessel. The forecastle was
completely shot away, the mast cut in
two, and the mitrailleuse in the tops IN
utilized. The smokestack and chimney
were riddled with balls, the propeller
struck and fouled, one gun disabled,
and out of 1l6 men who went into &C.
ton only eighty-six were alive, and the
majority of these were hors du combat
Five commanders had succeeded each
other in their perilous post Three
were dead, one grievously wounded
and the fifth barely able to maintain his
trumpet. The Chilians thought that
the time had come to close, and sent @
boarding party to complete the victory
But the brave fellows on the Huascal
rallied, and drove them back with loss
This was the expiring effort. Flesh
and blood could stand no more. In
deed human vigor and bravery had
withstood the steady shocks which had
to1ic ship.
The Chilians sent another boarding
party, this time with success, and the
Huascar was theirs.
The enemy lowered the flag which
had waved triumphantly along their
coast and witnessed many gallant ex
plot of their dead Admiral.
The Peruvian Congress provided lib
orally for the widow and family of Ad
mi.al Grau. Liberal provision is also
made for the families of all the officers
and men killed and wounded on the
Huascar.
Brain.WOr and Skuli-GrOwth.