Daily Los Angeles herald., 1879-11-07
Capture OF the Euascar.
Panama Star and Helald !

Steaming rapidly along the coast
the Huascar, at about $3.50 A. M, on
the 9Th of October, signalled to her
consort, the Union, that the enemy
was in sight, and imm ediately pro-
ceeded at full speed to the north
ward, hoping to elude their vigil
ance in the darkness, and trusting
to the superior rapidity of the
Union to mislead the opposing
squadron. The Union rather in
vited the enemy's attention, in
hopes that the Huascar might get
far enough ahead before daybreak
to escape. The Chilean vessels
were one iron-clad and three wood
en- steamers. Alta. NJ. of the Sth,
the Chileans were still in pursuit,
about 5000 metres from the Union,
the Huascar ahead; but when the
fog lifted there appeared directly in
front the remaining division of the
enemy's fleet, an iron-armOred frig-
ate and three corvettes or trans
ports.
THE PERUVIANs WISHED TO AVOID
A CONFLICT WITH THE CHILEAN
FLEET,
And endeavored to escape, but to
10 purpose. The Hnascar, at $50
A. NJ. found herself in front of the
Mejillones and q second iron-clad
within cannon shot, whilst the
first was coming rapidly up. Run
ming in toward shore in the bay OF
Meiillones de Bolivia, the Huascar
awaited the advance of her nearest
antagonist and let drive her two
turret guns, following up the dis
charge by an attempt at ramming,
which proved unsuccessful owing
to the power possessed by the Che
leans to turn in their own length
with their twin screws. The fire
was instantly returned, and mi
trailleuses in the tops of the Huas-
Car and her enemies commenced
their dreadful rattle. The Union,
to save herself from capture or des-
truction, continued her flight.
THE HUAsCAR, UNAIDED, CONTIN-
UED THE FIGHT.
She placed herself between the en-
emy's vessels, but the Chileaps
took every opportunity of getting
in shots at the stern of the ram,
her vulnerable point, and the
Huascar was taken frequently at
disadvantage. She several times
repeated her attempt to ram, but
unsuccessfully. After two hours'
combat, the Huascar, with her hull
riddled, engines damaged, turret so
lammed it would not revolve, with
only four officers unwounded, haul.
ed down the Peruvian flag and sur
rendered. The Chilean iron.clad
first into action fired her broadsides
very rapidly, as with her twin
screws she was able to present to
her adversary in few minutes
any battery she wished to use. The
Huascar's guns were we'll served,
and in an hour discharged twenty
five shots. Her gunners were for
eigners, principally English and
Scotch, among whom the mortali-
ty must have been considerable.
Her engineers were all foreigners,
twenty five of the crew in all being
Europeans. The damage done the
Chilean iron-clads was considera-
BILE. The Almirante Cochrane,
which sustained the brunt of the
battle, was somewhat damaged,
bnt the Blanco Encalada escaped
almost entirely.
THE UNEQUAL CHARACTER OF THE
FIGHT
May be understood when 1t is
known that the Huascar had but
two 300-pounders to oppose to
twelve, and her armor was Al inch
es as against 8 inches.
PATRIOTISM IN LIMA.
| Subscriptions have been opened
in Lima for the purchase of an iron
clad, to be called The Almirante
Grau. Men give their money,
their houses, their estates, theil
watches, and seven their sleeve
links. Women have thrown into
the fund their diamonds and silver
, plate. One lady sent diamond
, jewelry valued at $4,000. Others
J have been equally liberal. The
Archbishop OF Lima heads the sub
scription with 1000 soles. Already
nearly 100000 soles have been col
lected.
3 The Ministry, in order to give the
, President an opportunity to choose
i new advisers, resigned en- masse
!. but their designations were not ac'
3 cepted. -
g In spite of the feeling Of sadness
Y at the loss of Admiral Grau and his
y ship the Huascar, there is NJ
d thought of submission. A Com
y mission composed of DIR. Rozas
Q President of the Peruvian Senate
8 and Senior Camach, editor of the
: Opinion NacionaI, Of Lima, sailed