The Newtown bee., 1879-07-09
A NAVAL BATTLE.

NAVAL BAITLEs
 Desperate Conflict Between Peruvian
 Ironciads and Chilian Vessels--A ChiI-
 ian Vessel Sunk and Peruvian Iron-
 clad Wrecked.
 Official reports and correspondence have been received from Iquique, Peru, of the battles between the Peruvian ves- sels Huascar and Independencia and the Chilian ships Esmeralda and Covadonga. The Huascar arrived off the bay of Iquique and, discovering the Esmeralda and Covadonga in the harbor, ordered the Independencia, accompanying her, to guard the entrance of the bay, while the Huascar advanced against the Es- meralda. This vessel was lying far in shore, and protected by & line of torpe- does. When the Huascar got in posi- ton she had the enemy between her own fire and that of the field artillery on shore, which, however, did little dam age. Eight BOO pound shells were dis charged by the Huascar against the Es- meralda, one falling in her engine-room and killing all the machinists and fire men. The Esmeralda was fought very bravely by her commander, Don Arturo Prats, son of the recent Cabinet Min ister ot Chilli. Capt. Grau, seeing that his artillery practice was bad, owing to
 
 quarters. The first two attempts at sinking the Esmeralda by ramming proved intellectual, as she turned, and the monitors ram passed glancingly along her side; but the third effort sank her, striking her fair amidships, and causing immediate submersion. At the moment of this third shock, Capt. Grau also discharged his two turret guns at the Esmeralda, shattering her terribly. +1, selves into the water. with the excep- tion of Captain Prats. who called upon his men to follow him in boarding the ram. He, however, was accompanied by only half dozen of his men and his second lieutenant, all of whom, inclUd- ng Prats, were killed on the deck of the Huascar. The Esmeralda, out of crew of nearly 200, had only forty odd saved by the boats of the Huascar. The lat ter lost her signal officer, and had two or three men lightly injured. No dam of the Chilian. The Esmeralda was species of storeship for the Chilian squadron, and had on board a large quantity ofprovisions, ammunition and money, which, of course, was all lost, as she sank in deep water.
 The fight lasted from eight A. M. to twelve M Meanwhile the Covadonga, hugging the coast, being small vessel, drawing but little water, was followed at distance by the ironclad frigate h. dependencia, exchanging brisk fire from their heavy guns. This was con- tinued until both vessels were some ten miles to the southward of Iquique. Then Captain More, commanding the Inde- pendencia, determined to range along side of the Covadonga, and to adopt the same plan of ramming, which at that moment, nearly, was being successfully tried by the Huascar. Advancing rap idly against the Chilian, receiving heavy fire from her battery and from the rifiemen and mitrailleuses in her tops, Capt. More brought his ship Jose along terlaced. Just at this moment, as the Independencia was preparing to give the coup dc grace to her antagonist, she struck heavily on q sunken rock, turned upon her side and in an instant it was apparent that1she was lost. The Cova- donga let fly her last broadside, which was gallantly.returned by the starboard battery of the Independencia, the men standing knee deep in the water t: at was pouring in through the great hole made in her bottom. The commander of the Coyadonga, Capt Condell, of Scotch descent, opened asharp firessrom his tops on the sailors ot the Independen- cia, who had thrown themselves into the water and were striking out for the shore. After this the Covadonga, badly damaged by the fire of the Innepehden- cia, steamed away at the best speed she could toward the south. The Huascar shortly afterward gave chase, but the Covadonga had a good start, and the chase was abandoned. Boats were sent from the Huascar. and nearly all of the crew of the Independencia placed in safety on board. Capt. More gave orders to set fire to the magazine, but as the water had penetrated to that point it was impossible to reach it, and it was decided to fire the ship after spiking the guns. This was immediately done. The loss on board the. Independencia was eighteen men killed and wounded, principally by the fire of the rifemen and Gatling guns of the Covadonga. Lieut.. Guillermo Garciay Garcia of the well-known family of that name, is among the killed. While replacing the Independencia's flag, which had been shot away, he was struck by ball from mitrailleuse and killed instantly. The enemy's loss cannot be stated, but must have been severe, as their men, on a lower vessel than the Independencia, were more exposed. The disaster to the Peruvians is certainly great. The loss of the Independence will cripple them severely.
 The Covadonga was run ashore and destroyed in Antofagasta, possibly from damages received in the fight with the Independencia.