The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-11-27
! Desperate Naval Battle Between
+a.f. IrOn.clads,

PANAMA, October g5.-The Star ind
Herald has a story of a naval battle be-
tween the Peruvian itun-c1ad Huascar
and e, division Of the Chilian fleet.
Steaming rapidly along the, coast, the
Huascar, at aboutlhalf- past on the 9th
OF October, signaled to her consort, the
Union, that the enemy was in sight, and
immediately proceeded at full speed to
the northward, hoping to elude their
vigilance in the darkness, and trusting
to the superior rapidity of the Union to
mislead the opposing squadron. The
Union FATHER invited the enemy's atten-
ton in hopes the Huascar might get far
enough ahead before daybreak to es-
cape. The Chilian vessels were one
IRON clad and three wooden steamers.
At41 a.. M, on the Sth, the Chilians were
still in pursuit, about 5000 metres from
the Union, and the Huascar ahead, but
when the fog lifted there appeared di-
rectly in front the remaining division of
the eheifiy's fleet, an iron-armored
frlgate and three corvettes or transports.
The Peruvians wished to avoid a con-
fiict with the Chilian fleet, but to no
purpose. The Huascar at 9.30
a. m. found herself In front
of the MORO of Mejillones,
and .saf second iron4clad within
cannon shot, whilst the first was coming
rapidly up, running in towards shore in
The Bay of Mejillones de Bolivia. The
Huascar awaited the advance of her
nearest antagonist, and let drive her
two turret guns, following up the dis
charge by an attempt at ramming,
which proved unsuccessful, owing to the
power possessed by the Chilians to turn
in their own length with their twin
screws. Tie fire was Instantly return
ed, and the mitrailleuses in the tops of
the Huascar and the enemy's vessels
commenced their dreadful rattle. The
Union, to save herself from capture or
destruction, continued her flight, and
the Huascar, unaided, continued the
fight. She placed herself between the
enemy's vessels, but the Chillians took
every opportunity of getting In shots st
the stern of the ram, her vulnerable
point, and the Hnascar was taken fire.
quently at a disadvantage. She several
times repeated her attempts to ram but
unsuccessfully. After two hours COM
bat the Huascar, with hull riddled, en-
gines damaged, turret SO jammed it
would not reyolye,s with zonly Sfearz affi-
GERS unwounded, hauled down
the PERUVIAN. flag and -, sur
rendered. . The Chilian iron-clsd first
into action fired her broadsides very
rapidlysas with hertsyin screws shewas
able to present to her adversary in afew
minutes any battery she swished~ to use,
The Hhascar's guiis were well Served,
and in an hour had discharged 25 shots.
Her gunners were foreigners, principal
ly English and Scotch, among whom the
mortality must have been considerable.
Her engineers were all foreigners, 25 OF
the crew in all being Europeans. The
damage done the Chilian iron-clads is
considerable The Almirante Coch-
rane, which sustained the brtint of the
battle, was somewhat damaged, but the
Blanco Encalada escaped almost entire
lily. The unequal character of the fight
may be understood when it is known
that the Huascar had but two 3OO-pound-
ers to oppose Il, and her armor was
4 IL inches against 9 inches. Com
mander Grau, of the Huascar, and both
of his Lieutenants were killed in the en-
gagement with the Chilian fleet. Many
of the crew were killed and wounded
At the close of the action the Huascal
nearly sank Itswas thought doubtful
whether she could reach port. The
Chilian army, numbering $4,000, is re-
ported marching upon Iquique, Peru
Mrs. Grau is reported as dying soor
after being informed of her husbands
death. zvLIE4