The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-11-19
THENAyAL FIGHTIN SOUTH AMERICA
Desnerate Valor Of the Peruvians Five
Commanders Of the Huascar Killed
or Disabled.

NEW YORK, Nov. 1j.-SOuth American malls
bring the following details Of The capture q
the liIascar:
From the moment that the CHILEAN irOn-cad
| appeared TN the horizon. stfaming rapidly to
ward the Ullascar from the northWard, whiit
the HlancO Encnladh was steadily pursuing
the ram from the south, Admiral Gfau per
rhived clearly that his ehip WAS doomed. but
brave man as he was, no thought OF surren-
der entered hjs mind, and the whole ships
company assumed their appointed stations
for the struggle. with conviction that no
human power could extriGate the Huascar
from such OVERWHELMING forces as those pre-
scented byth CHILEAN vessels. From the decks
and tops uY the two vessels the ire Or mus
| RETRY and Calling guns was iDcessant, and
on the Huascar the effect was becoming pain
fully apparent. One hour and eight minutes
after the commencement or the fight the
Huascar had discharged her turret pieces
twent Live times against the COchrane, the
latter replying with thirty shots
At this moment the other CHILEAN lron-clad
arrived on the scene and Immediately opened
fire. first directing her attention to the Huns
cars iighting-tlirret and the little tower near
the smOkestack, which Ia the battle station OF
the com mander. The Bancos guns were *
celeptly served. and their effect terrible lhe
tower was carried away, and Admiral irau
taken down below for the care " the sur
geon, with ono Of hs legs torn Of While IN
tho cabin d solid 800 pound shot from the
Eianco struck tho ram In tho stern, destroy
Ing the steering gear and passing directly
through the ship, leaving q gaping aperture
large enough for boat to enter. This shot
killed the brave admiral. his aid, Lieut.. Fere,
| and several others. Capt. Elias Aquirre as
sumed command or the ship Oh the death OF
the admiral, and took bis station In the gun
| had concentrated their fires. Tho turret was
hit with n heavy shell which, passing
| through Il port. exploded inside. disabling
ono Of the two guns, killing AGu!rre and all
| who were serving the piece.
Tho iunsrnr was now practically at the
mercy or the enemy, ungOvcrnhble. md with
hnlf her defensive power destroyed. and her
| officers and crew dhclmated :; but the national
flag was still flying III defiance, and no one
| even whispered or surrender. Capt. Msllitof
| Carvaia took command after AuuIrres
DEATH but was instantly taken below, dan
Rerously wounded First Lieutenant Itodrl-
Rucz succeeded him, and q moment afterwhrd
shared the fate Of the admiral and Aauirre
Lieut.. Enrique Paacois followed Rodriguez
la command, and, although severely wound
ed. continued Iii charge until the end or the
bloody drama. Still! tho Huascar discharged
her sole remaining cannon MT long intervals
as the very turret Itself, only thirty feet IL
diameter, WAS choked mp with the debris 81
the shattered gun and bodies Of the dead ano
wounded
Below. In the dark passage md narrow
compartments Of the ship, the scene was
frightfnl. Thedyng and those who had per
i6haa were hfapfd indtSGriinfnnthiy together
and every few minutes a shot ffom the enemy
came crashing through the sides OF thu
doomed vossel The forecast!e was com
pletely shot away, tho mast cut In two ant
the ni.railieuse la the tops inutllized. The
smOksstaCk and chimney were rlddsd Will
balls, The propeller struck and fouhd, on
gun disabled, and out or two hundred and
sixteen men who went into action, only
| eighty six were alive, and the majority o
these hor4 d. combnt. Five commanders hat
| succeeded each other in their perilOus post
| Three were dead one grievously wounded
| and the fifth barely able to maintain hi
| trumpet
The Ghilians thought that the time hae
come TO close, and sent Il boarding party tc
complete the victory. But the brave follows
| on the Huasear rallied and drove them bach
with loss This was the expiring effort FLESH
and blood could do no more Indeed human
vigor and bravery hal withstOod the steady
shocks which had overcome the iron bulwarks
OF the historic ship. The Ghllans sent All
other boarding party. this time with success
and the Huascar was theirs. The enemy
lowered the Ha2 which had waved triumph
antiy along their coast and witnessed many q
gallant exllpit of the dead admiral
The Peruvian Congress provided liberailJ
for the widow ana family Or Admiral Grau
and no mention is made Of the widow dyins
from the shock at the news or her husbands
death, as previously stated. Liberal prOvi
sion Is also made for the families or all tn.
officers ard men killed and wounded on TN
HuasCar.