The New York herald., 1879-10-08
The Chilean Squadron Frightened
from Iquique by Torpedoes.
TOASTlNG PERUVIAN INDEPENDENCE.
An Adventure Under the Fire of
the Huascar's Guns.
ATTEMPTS TO MAKE PEACE.

havlng recently returned from six weeks visit
to the socaed theatre of war; at Iquique. africa.
Tacna and the adjacent portions of the southern sea-
coast OF Peru. during which time had not the for
tune to be witness of any stirring feats OF arms
for the simple reason that none have occurred ex-
cept the naval operations of the plucky little
Husaoar the Chilean coast, which have been
fully ichronicled by the HERALD's Lima corre-
spondence, it me that cannot better
relieve the necessary dulness of period OF suspense
than by the relation of chapter OF incidents and OBJ
servatons of character almost purely personal.
am now at liberty to state fact which at the
time was necessarily shrouded in all possible mys-
tery-namely, that during the last few days of the
blockade of Iquique the attention of the Peruvian
Headquarters staff was largely concentrated
upon a projected attempt upon tho vessels Of
tho blockading squadron by means of the Lay
torpedo. 1t is pretty well known that the Peru
vian government has given great attention to this
particular instrument Of warfare and that all the
principal modern improvements in this line
are represented this coast by the inventors
themselves by skilled mechancians contracted at
heavy COST Two or three torpedo companies or
enterprises were watching their chances at Iquique
to gain the handsome rewards which tho Peruvian
government had contracted to give for the destruc
tion of each Chilean vessel of war. The Lay tor
pedo, represented by two Americans. the one
which expected to attack tho Blanco Encalada in
open daylight during the last week in July the first
in August. After long delays in the arations
all necessary arrangements had been completed.
three of these formidable implements were ready,
and the morning OF the 3oth of July fixed for the
great experiment which, should it fail of success.
was expected to cause the instantaneous lombard
ment and destruction OF the town. 1t will be
bered that false alarm Of torpedoes had been the
pretext for tho feeble bombardment Of the night Of
July 16.
THE BOLIVIAN PRESIDENT IQuIQUE.
On the 9th of July the President of Bolivia, Cap
tain General Harion Daza. accompanied by his gen
eral secretary DR.. Serapio Reyes Ortiz. and brill
liant retinue Of staff officers. reached Iquique after
an overland journey from Pisagua. The series
of breakfasts and dinners given to the
nlustrious guest by General Buendia, the
commander-in-chief at Iquique, was particu-
larly elaborate from the fact that the three
days of his stay in that port the which
the festival of Peruvian celebrated
The foreign consuls and notable residents of Iquique
were invited to meet the Bolivian President at a
State dinner. and your correspondent had the
honor of being present at all these banquets.
On the night Of July 2s. the real ami
versary of Peruvian independence the speeches
OF President Daza. General Baendla DIR. Reyes Ortiz
and several members of the stats Of both armies
trsachery and ambition Of Chile. Among the other
gentlemen present was Don Modesto Molina, editor
of ~ Oowecso. of Iquique gentleman who had hon
oraby distinguished himself at tho time Of the great
naval combat Of May 81. by the generous terms in
which he had conceded the laurels of valor to the
Chilean foe. This course of conduct had brought
upon him and his paper the censure Of some Of the
ardent patriots but of late the bellicose
Of the Concrete has been all that could be asked.
On the present occasion Don Modesto had sat up
nearly oil night preparing poem entitled. "The
Psalm of the War;" which could not po ssibly be
charged with lack Of warlike fire. It really q
fne production. and declaimed by Senior Molina
at the banquet received with thunders of ap-
plause Shortly after taking his seat Scnor Molina
again and proposed the health of the NEw
YORK HERALD in little speech, in which he paid
that paper the most fattering compliments for its
enterprise and for its advocacy of the Monroe doc
trine applied to the republics of South America
at war Your correspondent taken by surprise.
meried but in few brief sentences. after thanking
the proposer Of the toast referred to the act that
the national anniversaries of Peru Bolivis Colom-
bia and the United States all occur in the same
month Of July. assured the distinguished guests
that the HERALD. as well as the government
and people of the United States, cherishes tho
most cordial friendship for the republics of
South America, and proposed as a sentiment tho
fratsrnal union of the republics of South America
in federal compact forming the United States OF
the South" Your correspondent knew from
previous conversation that ideas or this char
acter were cherished by more than ono dis
tinguished person present, but was scarcely pro
pared tor the unanimous chorus of applause
with which his toast received. any
doubt had remained as TO the prudence of
venturing such toast 1t would have been dissipated
the following day by the visit of three members
OF the stan Of President Daza commissioned pre-
sent him with fne photograph, on the back Of
which was an autograph dedication from the gallant
General In terms which the proverbal modesty Of
HERALD correspondents prevents mo from quoting.
GREAT EXPECTATIONS THwARTED.
Au hafn ntfoft tInA A,xx
of the bockading squadron had been fixed for the
morning Of July Soth when the Bolivian President
ent after bidding goodby to General Daza
proceeded to seek favorable position for
his disappointment in journaistic sense. to per.
ceive that the bockading squadron, coming in from
mp its usual position in front of tho port it had
done every morning OF late. remained several miles
from shore. Evidently the Chilean Admiral had
and know exactly the date of the at
tempt which was to imperil his exist
tcnce The squadron did not again return to its old
positions. and four days later the famous blockade
Of Iquique, after four months duration, was for
mally raised. Not doubt remains in my mind that
the fear OF the Lay torpedo was the determining
cause OF this important decision. In spite OF all
the secrecy which had been observed as to the pro-
iected torpedo operations there seems not to have
been man. woman or child in Iquique
who was unaware that attempt was to be made
tho roads leading TO the pampas back of the town
had been thronged with beasts OF burden boar
ing the household goods OF the dwellers IN lquque
and such valuables could not conveniently be
carried away had been buried. The principal
merchants had put up shanties mile or two In the
of tho town and lived therein for two or three
weeks In true picnic style. But the morrow Of
the departure of the Chilean squadron tho ugitvos
began to return. and long Iquique was again tho
abode of families which had been absent for months
The railroad trains resumed their daily trips up the
ten-mile gradient to the bluffs of Molle. ana the
engines for the condensation.Io of potable water
began to work with the utmost activity. Col
onel Belisaro Suarez chief of the general stan.
npdn nnIp audi nf tha Eiratd
ion, immediately began operations tue FORTH
cation of Iquique with heavy guns a measure which
had previously peen hindercd by the OF the
squadron and two little iron torpedo launches
whioh had been in process of completion for many
weeks were hastily fitted up for service
GRAVES KsMERALDA THE INDEPENDENTLY.
Your correspondents was present at breakfast
given by Colonel Velarde to several friends, incud
ing the General-in-Chief. which occasion tho
IDEAS broached by me In a toast on the niversary
of Peruvian independence, as above mentioned,
the subject of prolonged and approving discus