The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-30
zERRIEIC EIGHTJNG AT SEA.
Two ChiIian War Vessels and n Peruvian
IroncInd Sunk or Iquique.

LONDON, May ga despatch received
hero this morning from Lima. Peru. brings
news Of n terrific naval engagement Just fought
off the coast OF Peru. between tho Chlian
wooden war vessels Esmeralda and COvadonga
and the Peruvian ironclad Indepo pondencla. Tho
three vessels had been watching each others
movements for some days. and they finally camo
TO close quarters of the port Of Iquique little
town in the southern portion of Peru.
The fighting was Of the most desperate char
actor. Tho vessels all carried heavy guns. Tho
despatch says thatth slaughter was very great.
and tho three vessels were sunk. 1t is not
known how many men were on board nor is 1t
reported how many II any. were saved
The Chlinn navy was weak and poorly dis
cipined until 1864 when the Congress- voted an
appropriation to purchase formidable war
vessel. Tho Esmeralda. a screw corvette
armed with twenty 32-pounders. was built In
England for tho Chilian Government. In 1865
the Spanish -Chilan war broke out and tho
Spaniards blockadcd Valparaiso. However. the
Esmeralda slipped out Of port one dark night
and intercepted the Spanish gunboat Cova-
dongn whilo on route from Coguimbo for
Valparaiso. Tho latter was armed with a 40
FOUNDER Armstrong and two sixty eights rifled
and was braVely defended for half an hour
until the Gillian broadsidcs had crippled her
when she surrendered, with two men Killed and
fourteen wounded. BY the next week she had
been renttcd aud sailed on a cruise against the
Spaniards, who wero much chagrned, Tho
the war with Peru. with twelve Gs-pounders
while the CovadOnga had her battery changed
10 two zoo pound guns.
The Independenca was built M Blackwell on
tho Thames. in 1865. She was 2l5 feet long Al
feet wide. 80 feet depth of hold, and % iect g
inches draught. She was divided into several
water-tight compartments. and amidships her
hull was double. She carried twelve 1O-pounder
rlned Armstrong;. and two l5O-pound Arm
strongs on piyots on her spar deck. Her plating
i9r the, protection OF boilers was a. inches
thick. Her gun deck was feet above water :
over this was a spar deck with the enormous
pivot guns. and above these rose tho bulwarks.
her sides pr3seniing surface OF 20 feet in
iron tower for the use Of her commander in ac-
ton. Her machinery was 10 feet below the
water line. She has made IN several occasions
ii knots an hour. In March. 1866. tho Inde-
lcndencia was ono OF the fleet which fought tho
Numancia and other spanish vessels. The
battle was n drawn one Then followed the
bOmbardmcnt Of Valparaiso. Tho recent arma-
ment OF the lndependoncia consisted Of ono
3uu-p9under. two l5O-poundcrs, and twelve TO
The first and only othcr sea fight Of this war
took place, on the 18Th o. April. of the mouth Of
the River LOa. the boundary between Peru and
Bolivia. The vessels which took part in the on
counter were the Peruvian corvcttcs Union and
Illcomayo, and the Gillian steam sloop- -of-war
igh;ing. the Maga.lanes steamed away TO
lluldus; whore hcr consur's were on blockade
duty Tho Peruvian ships sailed for africa 10
rJport TO Admiral Mon;ero.
Chllian dospntrhes via Rio Janeiro dated
Santiago, May .. report that The Chllian fleet
rcpulscd the Peruvian Il aet off Iquique
report has beeu re- 'eived from Buenos
Ayrcs thai on the 5th inst "a crowd gathered
and made enthusiastic demonstrations in favor
OF Peru and Bolivia. and hOoted the Chinan
representative.
L1fsr.-Dctails received from Chiian sources
confirm the previous reports OF the naval On
gagcment of Iduiqua. The Poruvians made
the attack during the absence of the Chilian
ironrlads Tho Huascar took part in the battle
and came out Of il safely.