Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-11-21
DESPERATE FIGHTING.
Bloody Details Of One of the Most Holly
Contested Battles Ever Fought on the

The South American mails which ar
rived at New York on the 14th inst
brought the following exciting details OF
the capture of the Peruvian iron-clad
Huascar, by the CHILEAN squadron. No
pares with 1t;
From the moment that the GILLIAN
iron.clad appeared on the horizon.
steaming rapidly towards Huascar
from northward, whilst the Blanco Es-
cal ida was steadily pursuing the ram
from the south, Admiral Grau per-
ceived clearly that his ship was
doomed; but, brave man, rs he was,
no thought OF surrender entered his
mind and the whole ships company
assumed their appointed sta.
tons for the struggle with a
conviction that no human power
could extricate the Huascar from sucn
overwhelming forces as those presented
by the CHILEAN vessel. From the decks
and tops of the two vessels the fire of
musketry and gatllng was incessant,
and on the Huascar the effect was be-
coming painfully apparent. One hour
and eight minutes after the commence
ment Of the fight the Huascar had dis
charged her turret pieces twenty-five
times against Cochrane, the latter re-
plying with thirty shots. But at this
moment the other CHILEAN ironclad ar
rived on the scene and Immediately
opened fire, first directing her attention
to the Huascar's fighting turret and the
little tower 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
one of the surgeons, with one OF his
legs torn OIL. While III the cabinet
solid 00-pound shot from the Blanco
struck the ram in the stern, destroy
ing the stearing gear and passing d.
rectly through the ship, left gaping
aperture large enough for foot to en-
ter. This shot killed the brave admiral,
his aide Lieutenant Fere, and several
others. Capt. Elias Aguirre assumed
command Of the ship on the death OF
the admiral, and took his station in the
gun turret; but on this point the two
Cniians had concentrated their fire.
The turret was hit by heavy shell
which, passing through a port exploded
inside, disabling one OF the two guns,
killing Aguirre and all who were serving
the piece. The Huascar was then a
the mercy OF the enemy, ungoyerna-
bic and with half her offensive power
destroyed, her officers and crew decl-
mated, but the national flag was still
flying in defiance, and no one even
whispered OF surrender. Capt. Welli- |
toa Cdrvaioh took command after
Aguirre's death, but was instantly taken
below dangerously wounded. First
lieutenant Roderiquez then succeed him
and moment alter shared the fate of
the admiral and Agulrre. Lieutenant
Enrique Polaclo followed Roderiquez in
command and although severely wound
ed, continued in charge until
the end ct the bloody drama. Still the
Huascaf discharged her sole remaining
cannon nj long intervals, as the very |
turret itself, only 80 feet in diameter,
was choking up with debris of shatter.
ed guns and the bodies of the dead and |
wounded. Below, in the dark passages
and narrow compartments of the ship
the scene was frightful. The dying and
those who had persisted were heaped in
discriminatory together, and every few
moments shot from the enemy came
crashing through the sides of the DOOM
ed vessel. The forecastle was complete
ly shot away, the mast cut i'll two, and
the mitrailleuse in the tops unutiliz-
ed. The smoke stack and chimney
were riddled with balls. The
propeller was struck and fouled. One
gun was disabled and out of 116 men
who went into the action only SO were
alive, and the majority of these-horS
de combat. Five commanders had sue
ceeded each other in their perlious
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 q boarding party to COM
plote the victory; but the brave fellows
on the Huascar rallied and drove them
back with a loss. This was the expir-
ing effort. Flesh and blood could do no
more, indeed. Human vigor and
bravery had withstood the steady
shocks, which had overcome
the iron bulwarks of the
historic ship. The Chilians sent
another boarding party, this time with
success, and the Huascar was theirs
The enemy lowered the flag which had
waved triumphantly along their coast
and witnessed many gallant exploit
of the dead admiral.
The Peruvian congress has provided
literally for TIE 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. Liberal provision
was also made for the families OF all the
officers and men killed and wounded
on the Huascar.