New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-11-15
The IRONOLAD BATTLE.
DETAILS OF THE HUAsCAR'S DOOM.


oNr OF The MOST REMARKABLE ENGAGEMENTS IN
NAVAL MISUNDERSTANDING DEFENCE OF IRE HU-
AsCAR's CREW.
The flies of lhe Panama Star and Hcrdd
which we're brought by yesterdays steamer contain iu
details ~ the recent battle between nonclads OF
Point Me'illones the south American coast. When
Admiral Gran deserted the Cochrane bearing down upon
him from the North vale the Banco Encalada was
creeping up from the South and fce OF wooden ships
was lowering about him, he realized that the doom o
The Huascar was sealed. Nevertheless he determined
10 fight to the last when the well IN shore ana
the Bianco was stlll few miles astern. Grau opened
fire upon the Coclranc with his turret guns, two 300
FOUNDER Armstrong rifles and received IN return
q lroadsido from guns Of the same caliDre
lie resolved To make the best use OF
the opportunity OF lighting single ironclld'
and with the hope OF sinking her before the arrival OF
her consort upon the of action steered directly
her Tue attempt Il ram her was 90 no avail Tor te
COchrane with her twin screws easily eVaded the siook
and turning her ships length let the Huascar
sweep swiftly by As tho latter however passed under
tue ae Gilman sac let drive her tuTTe guns ana
returned 10 her former position IN shore with her
prov toward the enemy ana her stern. the weakest ana
vulnerable portion of The ram guarded IRON ihe
Cniiian fire. The caunonadc procee1c without inter
mission From the decks and tops OF the two vessels
the ire OF mus ketry AMI gatns guns was incessant
At 1905 o. ID. one hour eight minutes after the
opening Of the light. the luascar had discharged her
urret pieces twenty-five times against the Cocnrane
and received In exchange thirty shots.
AT this moment the other Chiiian lr0nelaG came up
and immediately opened fire. directing he's attention
the Huas ears fghtng turret aud the Little tower near
the sokestack which tie battle station ofthe COM
mauder. The Blanco's guns eXcellently well
served their eject terrible. The tower car
rfed away, and Admiral GTau taken down below 10
the SUI with OF his legs torn of Wnie he in
ihecahiu solid 30O-pound shot the Blanco struck
fla and
passng directly through the ship lett gaping aperture
large enough for boat TO enter This shot killed the
brave Admiral. his aid Lieutenant FerTe and several
Others The Huascar now uninanageable, and X
was impossible 10 fit up any temporary steering ap
paratus as musketry and mtraleuses literally swept
the de,k Captain Elias Aguirre assumed command OF
The ship on the death Of the Admiral and took his sta
ton III the gun Upon this point the two Chilians
concentrated their Are The turret was hit by heavy
she'll which passing through port exploded inside. dis
aiding OF the two guns, Killing AGulFre aud all VINO
were serving the piece
but no one whispered OF surrender. Captain Nell
Carvhjal took the lmmand after Aguirres death.
wounded FlrstIAculenant Rodriguez succeeded Linn,
ANA a moment afcrwaid shared the fate OF the Admi-
raj and ACurTe Lieutenant Enrique Paacos followed
Rodriguez in the command, and although severely
wounded nued In charge until he end of the en-
gagement The enemy had never sackebed tnelr llie;
| approaching sometimes within biscuits throw from
the they poured in The deadly na from Their heavy
close quarters that the thin plating OF te
Huascar (Only four and half Inches OF iron andshps,
and half at the DOW ana kttrD) was
obstacle whatever 10 the prolectiles launched against H.
Still the Huascar discharged her sole remaining cannon
feet In diameter was choked up with tie fragments
| the shattered gun and the bodies Of the dead and
| wounded. Below in the dark passages and marrow
compar lments of the ship the scene was frighful.
| The dying and those who had persisted We're
| moments shot from the enemy came crash
ing through the sides of the doomed vessel.
AZ about half-past IL she in piiiabe condition.
Tne had been struck times by the enemys
shot. had been knocked cut OF shape, ana long since
Loaf IT,
pletey shot away the mast cut III iwo. and the mra-
euse IN the tops useless. The sm0kesiack and chimney
We're rdded With balls the propeller fouled
| one gun disabled and our OF PIG men who went
INTO action only So were aIve aud the majority OF these
were wounded. Five commanders had appeared at the
erilous post. Three were dead one was dangerously
Wounded and fifth barely able 10 hold his trumpet
The Cllans thought that the time had come TO close,
aud boarding party 10 complete the victory But
the brave fellows on the rallied an1 eioe ih,
back lose. This was the last effort The Chlans
boarded again, and the iuascar was theirs The sur
vvOrs OF the hight were taken on board Tue CochIAne
aud Banco. and treated with Kindness ana coDsldera-
ton by The capiors They accorded me funeral honoTs
Captain Rvero sent the following Official report 10 the
authorities at AnlOfagastai COchrane encountered
lIuascar Tins morning al y O'clock; bahoo eI.eIoa
action. at 10. uascar battered to pieces surrendered
Grdu his first aud second officers killed Peruvians
dltion the do not think she can be made avail
able further service. We had no casualties Tue
nlnc-lmch plating Of the Chlian irOncads, backed by
from eight eleven inches OF teak. impenetrabe.
matched and losing her rudder after the fight be-
gan. was unable 10 fire her guns with precision The
Among those on the Huascar who escaped uniujured
was the Chief Engineer, Samuel MdcMabOn, native OF
the United States.
TIE Peruvian Congress has passed several bills grant
ing L. Admiral Gfaus widow full pension, ana bestOw-
ing upon and her children valuable dwelling IN the
principal Of Lima. Another street istO bear Ms
name aud "A monument Is TO DO erected IN Ills honor
The Peruvian Ministers insisted on the acceptance Of
their designations General La Coiora Ia the new Minis,
fer OF War Dr. J. T. Guzman and Dr j. V. Arias mold
ely portfolios OF Foreign Affairs and JUS
tcc and Tor the time being net as Ministers OF t1e nie
nor and finance The Old Cabinet resigned partly from
attacks Congress. aud partly 10 give The Pres-
dent the benefit OF choosing more active and vigorous
advisers The President O Bolivia General Daza has
addre ,sod letter to the Lima Government lamenting
the loss GTau the Huascar, aud protesting hat
this calamity should only strengthen the bonds OF the
fraternity existing between Bolivia aud Peru, and stun
uIate them a common revenge