The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-11-05
a Terrible Naval Combat Between Peruvian
and Chilian Iron Clads.

PANAMA. Oct. .-0.--Ine soLdT anu htrs,iQ uGs
a story OF a naval battle between the Peruvian
iron clad Huascar and division of the
Cniiian fleet. steaming rapidly along the
Srh of October, signalled 10 her consort, The
Union, that the enemy was in sight, and i'm
mediaIeiy proceeded at full speed 10 the north
ward. hoping TO elude their vigilance in the
darkness, and trusting TO the superiorraPid-
ity OF The Union TO mislead the opposing
emy's attention, IN hopes that the Hnascsr
might get far enough ahead before daybreak
to escape. The Chilian vessels were one iron
clad and three wooden steamers At a. m.
on the Sth, the Chilians were still In pursuit,
about 6,O0o meters from the Union: ana s tae
appeared directly in front of the remaining
division of the enemys fleet an iron-armored
frigate and three corvettes or transports. The
Peruvians wished to avoid a conflict with the
Chilian fleet, but TO no purpose The Huascer
MORO Of Meiillones. and second iron clad
within cannon shot, while the nrst was
coming rapidly up, running in toward the
shore, In the very bay of Meiillones de Balina,
the Huascar awaited the advance of her near
est antagonist and let drive her two turret
guns, following up the discharge by an st.
tempt at ramming, which proved unsuccass
ful, owing to the power possessed by the Chi
lians turning IN their own length with their
twin screws. The fire was instantly returned,
ard the mittrailleuses in the tops oil the Ruas
car and the enemys commenced their dread
full rattle. The Union, to save herself from
capture or destruction, continued her flight,
and the Huascar, unaided, continued to fight.
She placed herself between the enemy's YES
sells, but the Chilians took every opportunity
of getting in shots at the stern of the ram her
vulnerable point, and the Husscar was taken
times repeated her attempt to ram, but unsuc-
cessfully. After two hours combat, the
Huascar, with her hui! rlddled, engines dam
aged, turret SO jaInmed it would not revolve,
with only four ofic is unwounded, hauled
down the Peruvian flag and surrendered: The
Chilian iron clad first into action fired her
broadsides very rapidly. as, with her
| twin screws, she was able to present
5sttery M she % Wished to on uss. Tne Huscar's guns @
were well served, and in an hour discharged
| 25 shots: Her gunners were foreigners prin-
| cipally Euclish and Scotch, among whom the
mortality must have been considerable. Hel
| engineers were foreigners, IS of the crew in
| Chilian 7ronclads is considerable The Almi-
| rante Cochrane, which sustained the brunt o
| the battle, was somewhat damaged. but the
| BancO Encalada escaped almost.enttre. The
unequal character of the fight may be under
/ stood when 1t is known that the Huascar hat
but two 800 FOUNDERS to oppose IL, and he
nine inches.
| Subscriptions have been opened in Lima fo
/ the purchase of an ironclad to be called '.Th,
i Almirante Grau." Men give their money
their houses, their esta es, their watches ant
i thrown into the fund their diamonds and sill
yer plate. One lady sent her diamond jewelr.
| been equally liberal The archbishop OF Lin,
| heads the subscription with 2,0U soils. AL
| ready nearly 100000 soils have been collected.
The ministry, to give the president op
| porturfty to choose new advisors, resignes
en- masse, but their designations were not &C
| sspfed.
IN spite of the feeling of sadness at the los
| OF Admiral Grau and mis- ship, the Hauscar
| there is no thought of submission. A com
| mission, composed of Dr. Rosas, president O
| the Peruvian senate. and Senior CamachO
editor of the Opinion Nacional, OF Lima, sale,
for Europe from Asplnwall, on the 22d inst
to endeavor to purchase another tronclad. 4
| replace the lost Huascar; IL is limited tn
| Spanish Government may assist them. Tn
| battle il called "The Trafalgar of the Pacific.
i The Huascar carried 210 men-of1icert
| sailors, marines and engineers. Her platin
| amtcships was four and half inches, taper
ing of 10 two and half inches in the Boy
end stern, an her measurement about 2
Ions, with two Armstrong fies $40 pounds
in the turret, and two 20 pof;nders on he
deck, which probably could not be used fron
the height OF the Chilian vessels, and the e1
tremely short range, which was sometime
800 meters, and sometimes a stones throw
| Commander Grau, of the Huascar, and both {
his lieutenanfs, We're killed in the engage
ment with the Chilian fleet, ard also many
the crew were killed aud wounded. AT tn
close OF the action the Huascar nearly sunl
and 1t was thought doubtful whether sn
could reach port.
A Gillian army, numbering 1900, is n
| ported marchi upon Iquique, Peru.
Mrs. Grau IL reported dying soon after b
| inv n formed nusbQudrs dqafh