The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-04
DEATH OF THE ADMIRAL
Excitement in Lima Before and
After the News.
CAPTAIN GARCIA'S REPORT.
Details Of the Engagement as Brought by the
Officers Of the Union.
LIMA, Oct. IL. 1879.


on the Chilean coast. To-day the prayers OF the
Republic are being offered for the repose Of the
brave and noble souls who persisted with their vessel
in the combat of the Sth of October in the bay OF
Mejillones de Bolivia. The aconic kilograms which
] translate. received from the President, General
Prado. at africa, give comparatively clear idea OF
the fight but If time serves hope to have further
details at hand before closing this despatch On the
9th inst. we knew that the government had
been made acquainted with some disastrous
news from the south. and as 1t was known
that the two powerful Chilean iron-clads.
disappointed in not finding the Huascar in
africa in their fruitless errand to that place.
seeking for their redoubtable opponent it feared
that some misfortune had happened. The result
proved to be even greater than tho most dismal
pectatons. The Huascar, armed with two 300-pound
guns, in company with the wooden corvette Union.
was in tho horseshoe shaped bay Of Mejillones dc
Bolivia on the morning of the Sth. when the Chilean
squadron, composed Of the two armored ships.
Cochrane and Blanco Encaada each carrying six
guns. 300-pounders and with several wooden vessels.
appeared in the ofing. The Union able to es-
cape. and pursued by the Chilean corvette. managed
to reach africa. But the Huascar-the same blood
that animated the heroes OF Trafalgar flowed in the
veins OF Admiral Miguel Grau and his valiant subor
ainates. To fly not even thought of. The fight
sourse. be duly forwarded tins naval action will
mark epoch in the century and place the name Of
Grau in the list with Nelson. Gravina and Far
ragut. Strange that Grau and Farragut should both
be Of Catalan descent. Here have the tele-
yrams:-
Two Chilean ships the Loa and O'Higgins. yes
terday, in Iquique, communicated the following
probably to some foreign man-of-war encountered
In that port):-The Huascar on the Sth sustained
desperate combat with the two Chilean irOn-clads,
these having been badly damaged. The Lord Coch-
rane almost unable to move after the conflict.
The Banco Encalada received serious injury in her
hull and machinery and also lost great number Of
men killed and many wounded. The Huascar fought
from nine A. NJ. to hafpast three in the afternoon.
The Huascar lost the greater part of her officers and
crew. including the admiral. Don Miguel Grau and
with the second commander fatally wounded. pri-
vate telegram states that after the six hours fight
the Huascar disabled. her turret having been
struck frequently, and tho apparatus for revolving
broken.
THE EXCITEMENT IN LIMA
But no news is given to the ultimate fate of the
Historic ship Has she been captured or has she
gone to the bottom to form more of those
precious prizcs hold by the silent ocean, We will
soon know. The impression in Lima is Of course
intense. Groups of excited people crowd tho Streets
but instead of any manifestation OF despair weak
hearteduess. the inhabitants show their sympathy
for the dead by subscription opened and eagerly
responded to tor the purpose of procuring iron
clad to be called the Almrante Grau and to replace
the Huascar. Within week tho necessary money
l,5O00 900 soles. or more or less, $500. O0O-wl be
collected Don Nicolas de Pierola proceeds Europe
to-day tomorrow, via Panama, with the especial
commission Of purchasing this acquisition
to the Peruvian forces. The Republic is still
strong. and the glorious combat of Mejil-
ZONES. although entaing tho loss OF the prin-
sipal buiwark of the country the water, still
will give an example to those who remain to fight
s<a ctlx,a
vettes and the two monitors. excellent army.
10000 strong. and the principal ports well fortified;
capitally organized torpedo department, and nearly
ready for action. Money alone is needed. but Con-
yress has given full powers to the President to do
all that is necessary in the circumstances and it is
stated on good authority that an arrangement has
been perfected with the Messrs. Dreyfus with re-
spect to a new supply of funds. The Ministry re-
signed since the Vice President, occupying the
chair Of the Chief Magistrate during Prado's abb
at the seat of has received such full au-
thorization to probably render necessary the
sistance of new advisers The appointees to fill the
places of the retiring officers not yet known. and
the President has refused to accept the designations
offered. This communication will be kept open
until the last moment. Any quantity of canards are
in circulation but only credit authenticated
news.
CAPTAIN oARcIAs OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE
ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE HuAscAR AND
THE CHILEAN IRoN-cLADs.
LIMA Oct. IL. 1879.
Late yesterday afternoon the corvette Union ar
rived from the south. and she a partial wit
ness Of the Mejones battle subjoin a translation
of the report submitted by Captain Garcia Garcia,
the commander of the naval division to which the
Union belongs to the Director of tho War. General
Prado, at Arica:-
On BOARD THE UNION AT AScuon)
AFRICA, Oct. ., 1879.
To THE DIRECTOR OF THE WAR;
comply with my duty in informing Your Excel
lency of the incidents which have taken place since
the departure of this vessel with tho Huascar under
the orders of RearAdmiral Grau, from africa. the
Both September last. On that same day united
at lquique. after having landed the division OF Gen.
eral Bustaniante from board the transport Rimac
and the Huascar and Union proceeded together in a
southwardly direction. The 9TH .; October we were
skirting along the Chilean coast and after having
captured the brigantnc Coquimbo in Sarco sent
to Callao to be condemned by the Prize Court,
we continued ON our course south. During the
night of the 4th both ships entered the port OF
Coquimbo. examined the vessels there ut anchor.
and left without meeting with any resistance CO.
qumbo IL well fortified. We found there the
United States steamer Pensacola and an English
man-of-war. Tho next morning found us i'll the
roadstcad OF Tongoy. Here Admiral Grau deter
mined upon our return to the northwari, but at
the same time to touch in certain ports which
specified. Directing our course toward Antofa-
gasta. we sighted the lights of that port Mt thirty
hve minutes past one A. NJ on the sth. The Huas-
car entered the bay to reconnoitre and the Union
lay on and on until three A. NJ. when both vessels
proceeded on their way Steering north. at about
three miles from the coast. with the MORO Moreno
high cliff, on the right. suddenly observed tho
Huascar sheer of rapidly to the west turning again
to the southwest, and signalling to us, ENEMY in
sight"
THE ENEMY IN SIGHT.
We then perceived the smoke OF four vessels q
little TO the north close into shore and very to
u.s. IL was then half-pas four A. NJ, and although
the moon out, the atmosphere tcgqy rs ID is
generally at daybrcak in these ATTITUDES. The wind
blew fresh from tho south. and this might
provo unfavorablc TO the progress OF the
Huascar 1 placed the Union between her and
the cnemy's vessels and they, only seeing my
ship. Immediately bore down In direction
Continually increasing our speed we contrived to
draw them after u.s. southwardiy. while the Huascar
proceeded on her course north. At hat-past i've A.
nj. the fog lifted. and discovered that the pur-
suing squadron was composed OF one of the iron-
clads and three wooden steamers. They imme-
diately discerned the Huascar. then about three
miles to the north and all instantly turned their at
tention to the monitor. The Union, however, still
occupied her position between the Huascar aud the
enemy the latter being about seven thousand meres