The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-11-15
DEFEATED HEROES.
a GALLANT NAVAL RATTLE.
Huascar Crsw-The Trafal.
gar of the Pacific.

Hunscar Crow-Tho Trafal-
gar of the Pacific.
New York, Nov. 14.-South Ameri
can mails bring the following details O.
the capture of the Huascar:
From the moment the Chillan iron
clad appeared on the horizon, steaminl
rapidly towards the Huascar from the
northward, whilst the Blanco Encalads
was steadily pursuing the ram from the
south, Admiral Grau perceived clearly
that his ship was doomed, but, brave
man as he was, no thought Of surrsn
der entered his mind, and the whole
ships company assumed their appoint.
ed stations for the struggle with con
viction that no human power could ex.
tricate the Huascar from such over
whelming forces as those presented by
the Gillian vessels. From the decks
and tops of the two vessels the FIRE OF
musketry and gatling guns was inces.
SAINT, and on the Huascar the effect was
becoming painfully apparent. One hour
and eight minutes after the commence
ment Of the fght the Huascar had dis
charged her turret pieces twenty-five
times against the Cochrane. the latter
replying with thirty shots.
at this moment the other Gillian
ironclad appeared on the scene and inn
mediately opened ERE, first directing
her attention to the Huascar's fighting
turret and the little t,wer near the
smoke-stack, which is the battle station
Of the commander. The Blanco's guns
were excellently well served and their
effect terrible. The tower was carried
away, and Admiral Grau taken down
below for the care of the surgeons with
one of his legs torn of. While in the
cabin a solid 300-pound shot from the
Blanco struck the ram in the stern,
destroying the steering gear, and pass
ing directly through the ship left gap
ing aperture large enough for boat to
enter. This shot killed the brave ad-
miral, his aide, Lieut.. Fere, and several
others. Capt. Elias Aguirre assumed
command Of the ship on the death of
lee admiral, and took his station in the
gun turret; but on this point the two
Chilians had concentrated their nre.
The turret was hit by heavy shell
which passed through port and ex-
ploded inside, disabling one of the two
guns and killing Aguirre and all who
were serving the piece. The Huascar
was now practically vt the mercy of the
enemy. ungovernable, and with half her
offensive power destroyed, and her
officers and crew decimated; but the
national fag was still flying in defiance,
and no one even whispered of surren-
der.
Captain Melliton Carvajal took COM
mand after Aguirre's death, but was
instantly taken below dangerously
wounded. First lieutenont Rodriguez
succeeded him, and moment after
ward shared the fate of the admiral
and Aguirre. Lieutenant Enrique
Palacios followed Rodriguez in COM
mand, and, although severely wounded,
continued in charge until the end of
the bloody drama.
Still the Huascar discharged her sole
remaining cannon at long intervals. as
the very turret itself, only thirty feet
in diameter, was choking up with the
debris of the shattered gun, and the
bodies of the dead and wounded. Be-
low, in the dark passages and narrow
compartments of the ship, the scene
was frightful. The dying, and those
who had perished, were heaped indis-
criminately together and every few
moments a shot from the enemy came
crashing through the sides Of the
doomed vessel. The forecastle was
completely shot away. the mast cut in
two, and the mitrailleuses in the tops
rendered unservicable. The smoke
stack and chimney were riddled with
balls. The propeller struck and fouled,
one sun was disabled, and out of lie
men who went into the action, only sc
were alive, and the majority of these
were hors du combat.
Five commanders had succeeded
each other in their perilous post. Three
were dead, one grievously wounded,
and the fifth barely able to maintain
his trumpet.
The Chilians thought that the time
had come to close, and sent a boarding
party to complete the victory. But the
brave fellows on the Huascar rallied
and drove them back with loss. This
was the expiring effort. Flesh and
blood could do no moro. Indeed, hui
man vigor and bravery had withstood
the steady shocks which had overcome
the iron bulwarks of the historic ship.
The Chillians sent another boarding
party, this time with success, and the
Huascar was theirs. The enemy low
cred the flag which had waved triumph
antly along their coast, and witnessed
many gallant exploit Of the dead ad-
miral.
The Peruvian congress has provided
literally for the widow ond family of
Admiral Grau, and no mention is made
of the widow dyiug from the shock at
the news of her husbands death, a.
previously reported.
Tho Nicaragua Canal.