The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-11-15
FIGHTING on THE DEEP.
Conflict Between the HuasCar ami
the Chillan Fleet.
Bravo Admiral Grau, Though FaCIuI
Fearful Odds,
Meets the Enemy and Is Van.
qulshed.
The Lord Nelson of South America.

NEw foRI November lI.-The Soutl
American mails bring the following de
tails Of tho capture Of the lluAscar:
From tho moment that the Chillan Iron
clad appeared on the horizon, steamlns
rapidly toward, tho HaaScar from the
northwartl, whilst the BIanco ElcalJa wai
steadily pursuing tho ram from tho sonih
Admiral Grau perceived clearly that his
ship was doomed, but, brave man as be
was no thought Of surrender entered his
mind, and the whole ships company as.
stunned their appointed stations for the
struggle, with a conviction that no l.uman
power could extricate the lIuascar from
such overwhelming forces as those pre-.
sented by the Chilian vessels.
THE CONFLICT.
From the decks and tops Of tho
vessels the fire Of musketry and CAT.
ling guns was inCessant, and on the ilu.
Ascar the effect was becoming painfully
apparent. One hour and eight minutes
after the commencement OF tho fight the
HnGscar had discharged her turret pieces
20 tlmes against the CochTanG, the latter
replying with 80 shots. At this moment
the other ChiliAn irOn.Clad arrived on the
scene, and Immediately opened fire, first
directing her attention 10 tho lIusCar's
fighting turret and the little tower near
the smokestack, which Is the battle station
oil the commander. The BlaucO's guns
were excellent well served, and
their effect terrible. The tower was
carried away and Admiral Grau taken
down below for care Of the surgeons with
one oil Ills legs torn or While In the cab.
IN solid three-hunlred pound shot from
the BI1nco struck the Ram in the stern,
destroying the steering gear, and passing
directly through tho hip left a gaping ap.
perture large enough for a boat to enter.
This shot killed the brave Admiral, his
ald, Lieut.. Terre, and several others.
capt. Aguirre assumed command OF the
snip on the death OF the Admiral, and
took his station In the gun turret, but on
this point the two Chilians had concentra.
ted their fire. Tho turret was hit by
heavy, shell, which, passing partly through,
explode inside, disabling one OF the guns
and killing Aguire and all who were
serving the piece. The lluascar was now
practically at the mercy OF the enemy,
ungoVernable, and with half her often.
siVe power destroyed, her officers and
crew declmated, but the national flag was
still flying in defiance, and no one even
whispered OF a surrender. Can't. Militan
Cafvolal took command alter Aguirres
death, but was instantly taken below
dangerously wounded. First Lieutenant
Rodriguez succeed him, and moment
afterwards shared the fate OF the Admiral
and Aguirre. Lieut.. Enrique Palaces fol.
lowed Rodriguez In command, and, al.
though severely wounded, continued in
G,harge until the end Of the bloody drama.
stu the Huascar discharged the sole re.
manning cannon at long intervals, as the
very turret itseli, only thirty feet in
diameter, was choking up with the debris
OF the shattered gun. and the bodies OF the |
dead and wounded below In the dark
passages and narrow compartments |
Of the ship, the scene was fright.
iul. The dying, and those who had
peFlshed were heapcd Unfortunately
ttogether, and every few moments shot
from the enemy came crashing through
the sides ol the doomed vessel. The fore.
castle was completely shot away, the mast
cut IN two and the mitralleuse IN the tops
inutilizgd; The smokestaCk and chimney
wele riddIed with balls. The propeller
struck and iouled, one gun disabled, aud |
out oil 2lU men who went into action |
only " were alive, and the majority Of
these horS du combat. Five commanders
had succeeded each other In their per-
iIous post. Three were dead, one griev-
ously wounded and the fifth barely
able TO maintain his trumpet. The Chill
ians thought that the time had come TO
Close, and sent boarding party 10
complete the victory. But the brave iel.
lows on the Huascar rallied and drove
them back with loss. This was the OK.
piring effort. Flesh and blood could do
no more, indeed human vigor and bravery
mad withstood the steady shocks which
had overcome tho iron bulwarks Of the
historic ship. The Chilians sent another
boarding party, this time with success and
the hnascar was theirs. The enemy low.
cred the flag, which had waved triumph.
antly along their coast and witnessed
many gallant exploitoi the dead admiral.
The Peruvian Congress provided liber.
ally for the widow and family Of Admiral
Gran, and no mention Is made OF the
widow dying from the shock at the news
Of her husbands death, as previously
stated. Liberal provisions were also made .
Tor the families Of all tho officers and men
Killed and wounded on the Huascar,