The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-11-04
LATEST FOREIGN NEWS.
England.

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.
LONDON. November AT the municipal
elections throughout England on Saturday,
wherever political considerations were in
volved, The Liberals were mostly tri-
umphant. In one or two very important
boroughs the balance OF power was COM
pletely reversed in favor Of the Liberals:
In LIVERPOOL, where the Town Council
stood ~ Conservatives and % Liberals, it
now stands "a Conservatives and 80 Libc-
rails. -f.:,-...,..... &ssw3 &C.. s;.."..
The .sBlack-Tongue" Disease.
LONDON, November IA disease known
locally as "black tongue" but which is
probably very violent form OF dipbtheria,
has appeared in section OF the country
surrounding this city. The disease has
buff1ed the skill Of the medical men.
The late Naval Battle.
PANAMA, October 25.-Further Informs
tion OF the cruise Of the Huascar and Union
south, and Ut their meeting with two dlyis-
ions OF the Gillian navy, is derived from tue
official report of Captain Aurclio Garcia Z.
Garcia, commandant Of the Union. The two
vessels called at IqElque, then stood south,
arriving off Sarco, CHILEAN port, on the 4th
instant, where they captured 4 Gillian
schooner (Coquimpo). On the morning OF
the 5th they entered the harbor OF Tonqucy,
when they learned an attempt would be
made to land u strong Chilian force at lqui-
que, or some other point on the coast OF
Peru, when Admiral Grau determined to
return TO africa. Proceeding north two
Peruvian steamers OH the 9th sighted the
first division Of The GILLIAN fleet. which was
looking for them. The Huascar and
Union at once put about and made off
as fast as possible to the southwest.
They had drawn we'll away from the land,
the Chiian fleet following them, when
Grau resolved 10 steer north and endeavor
10 run between the Chilian fleet and shore.
In this maneuvre he succeeded, and swept
by the cnclny's first division without firing
a gun. The superior speed Of the Peru
Wan ships was manifest as they rapidly
steamed away from the enemy'S BlaEco
Encolala and three wooden steamers, and
they thought escape certain, Wien sudden
~ they sighted second Gillian division,
composed of the Almirante Cochune and
several smaller vessels, coming down upon
them. In few minutes Grau saw he
could not escape from this iron-clad, whose
speed was equal to his own. He accord
ingiy steered for shoal water, where, OIL ac-
count OF his lightncss of drausht he might
lead his huge enemies on rock or be able
to outman9uvre them. The Union here
deserted her consort and escaped to
the westward, closely followed by
several smaller vessels Of the enemy.
These could not come up with her, and she
proceeded north to africa without having
fired a shot during the disastrous fight.
The fight was begun by the Haascar dis
charging her two 300.pounders at close
range at the Almirante C0chrane, which
Grau followed up by an attempt to ram bis
antagonist. This was unsuccessful, as the
CHILEAN iron-clads are double-screws and
can present any front they choose attack by
ramming. AS the Huascar swept by at
such close range, she received a broadside
from the Lochrane, and before she had
proceeded far the other battery was poured
into her. At the same time the other Chilan
iron-clad came down upon her, and Grau, I'M
dismayed by odds against him, boldly placed
himself between the two ships, which were
thus prevented from firing so rapidly on
account of the danger OF hitting each other.
This. no doubt, prolonged the fight, which
is said 10 have lasted two hours before the
Peruvian flag was hauled down. For about
an hour officers OF the Union were able 10
observe the deadly combat, and speak favor
ably OF the manner in which all three IRON
clads were handled. 1t is not known whe-
tLcr the Huascar was taken by boarding or
that after the death Of Grau, which is said
to have occurred early in the action, and
wounding Of the executive officer and Sevc-
raj subordinates, the remaining officers un-
burt, only four in number, hauled down
the flag. The Huascar lost large number
Of officers and men, circumstance which
ofk -fto I'D of In
Gillian vessels Oahiggin and Loa. The
hull of the Huascar is said to have been rid
died and her engines damaged so that she
was afterwards lowed to Antofagasta. Her
turret was damned so that it would not
revolve, and everything was swept from her
decks by the terrible fire from the iron
rendered completely useless. The GILLIAN
iron-clad which went first into action fired
her broadsides very rapidly, as with her
twin crews she was able to present to her
adversary in few minutes any battery she
wished to use. The uuascar's guns were
we'll served.
The damage done to the Gillian iron
clads was uncomfortable. The Almirante
Cocbrnne, which sustained the brunt of the
battle, was somewhat damaged, but the
Blanco Eucolada escaped almost entirely
| The UNEQUAL character OF the fight may bt
understood when il is known that the Huas
car had but two three-hundred Founders tc
onpose to twelve OF the same calibrc, an(
her armor was four and half inches a.
against nine inches, which The lron.ciad:
carried.
subscriptions have already been opened
in Lima for the purchase Of an iron clad tt
be called the Alnirante Grau. The mer
have Given their watches and even theil
sleeye-links, and the women have thrown
into the fund their diamonds and silver
Mate. The Archbishop Of Lima heads thu
subscription with 1000 soles. Nearly 200,
o0O soles have already been collected
although the list was only placed before thu
pubIic Yesterday. In spite OF the feeling o.
sadness at the loss OF Grau and the Huas
car. the enthusiasm seems high, and ne
Thought of submission or Cancellation crosse:
the mind OF the people. The determination
| to wage the war until victory is obtained OF
all is lost is as fixed as when hostilities com
| menced.a
The Ministry, to give the President op
portunity to choose new advisers, nave re
signed en- maSSe; but their resignation
| were not accepted.
A report comes from Lima that Mrs
Grau, wife OF the heroic admiral. on receip
Of the intelligence OF his death was so seri
ously affected that she died shortly after
Spain and Her Colonies.
LONDON, November ga dispatch fToI
Madrid to the Standard says: The repre-
sentatiyes In the Cortes from Cuba an
| Porto Rico have held meeting to discus
the ministerial policy. 1t was decided :
unanimously name a deputation to ask To