Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-11-21
A Terrible Naval Conflict.

New YoBK, Nov. IL.
The South American mails bring the follow
| ing details OF the capture OF the Huascar
From the moment that the Chilian iron-clad
appeared on the horizon steaming rapidly to-
wards the Huascar from the northward, whilst
the Blaneo Encaada was steadily pursuing
the ram from the south, Admiral Grau per-
Selyed clearly that his ship was doomed, but
brave man as he was, no thought OF surrender
| entered his mind, and the whole ships com
| panY assumed their appointed stations for the
struggle with a conviction that no human
| power could eXtricate the Huascar from such
oNerWhellnlng . riS5g forces as those presented by
the Chilian vessels. From the decks and tons
OF the two vessels the fire of the musketrv
and Gatling guns was incessaut and ON tbe
Huascar the effect was becoming painfuiiy
apparent. One hour and eight minutes after
the commencement OF the fight the Huascar
had discharged her turret pieces twentv-6va
times against the Cochrane the latter renlv-
ing with thirty shots.
AT this moment the other Chilian lron.clad
arrived on the scene and Immediately opened
nre, hrst directing her attention to the Huas.
| cars hghting turret and the little tower near
the smokestack which is the battle station of
the commander. The Blauco's guns were ex.
eellentlY well served and their effect terrible.
Inc tower was carried away, and Admiral
Grau taken down below for the care Of the
surgeons, with one of his legs torn off
Whle in the cabin solid 3OO-pound shot
from the BlancO struck the ram In the stern
destroying the steering gear, and, passing al.
Tectly through the ship, left gaping aperture
large enough for boat to enter. This shot
killed the brave Admiral, his aid, Lieutenant
Ferre, and several others
captain Elias Aguerre assumed command
| or the ship on the death of the Admiral, and
took MS station in the gun turret, but on this
point the two Chilians had concentrated their
fire. The turret was hit by heavy shell.
| Wnlch, passing through port, exploded in
side, disabling one OF the two guns killing
Aguierre, and all who were serving the piece.
Inc huafcar was now practically at the mercy
OF Jhe enemy, ungovernable, with half OF
ner defensive power destroyed, and her Of
hcers and crew decimated, but the National
nag was still flying in defiance, and no
one even whispered of surrender Can
taln Melton Carvoial took command
after Aguierre's death, but was Instantly
taken below dangerously wounded. First
Lieutenant Rodriguez succeeded him, and a
moment afterwald shared the fate of The Ad-
miral and Aeuierre Lieutenant ENRIQUE Pa
laclos followed Rodriguez in the command,
and although severely wounded continued in
charge until the end OF the bloody drama
Sill the Huascar discharged her sole remain
ing cannon at long intervals as the very tur-
ret itself, only thirty feet in diameter was
choking up with the debris of the shattered
gun ard the bodies of the dead and wounded
Below in the dark passage and narrow com.
partments Of the ship, the scene was fright
ful. The dying and those who had perished
were heaped indiscriminately together, and
every few moments a shot from the enemy
came crashing through the side of the doomed
vessel The forecastle was completely shot
away, the mast cut in two, and the mitrail-
leuse in the tops unutilized. The smoke stack
and chimney were riddied with balls, the pro-
peler struck and fouled, one gun disabled, and
out of ZIG men who went into the action only
eighty-sixwere alive, and the majority OF these
horS d1t combat. Five commanders had sue
ceeded each otherin heir perilous post Three
were dead, one grievously wounded, ana the
NTH barely able to maintain his trumpet
The Chiiians thought that the time had come
to close and sent a boarding party to com
plete the victory, but the brave fellows on the
Huascar rallied and drove them back with a
loss This was the expiring effort. Flesh and
blood could do no more. Indeed, human
Vlgor and bravery had withstood the steady
shocks which had overcome the iron bulworks
of the historic ship. The Chilians sent
another boarding party this time with sue
cess, and the Huascar was theirs. The enemy
lowered the flag which had waved Triumphant
,li " along their their coasts, and .wiipGssed many
The Peruvian Congress provided literally
for the widow and family of Admiral Grau,
and no mention is made of the widow dying
from the shock at the news OF her husbands
death as previously stated. A liberal pro-
vision was also made for the families of all
officers and men killed and wounded on the
Huascar,