The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-18
THE BATTLE OF MEJILLONES.

| CHILEAN OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE CAPTURE
OF THE HUAsCAR-BErwEEN TWO FIREs-A
PRIZE GREW BOARDS THE VESSEL.
The report of the commander-in-chief of the Chill
can squadron has just been published. 1t is dated
Antofagasta, October 10. 1879. and runs thus
When off Punts Arenas. steering south. about half
past three of the morning OF the Sth the lookout Of
the Blanco Encalada saw right ahead two smokes
that seemed TO be coming out from the coast rs
though to reconnoitre my command. They ap-
peared to be five miles off.
ordered the course to be made at once for them,
and they seemed to Withdraw as soon as put for
them This made me believe that they were enc
mics, and little later could see that the Huascar
and the Union were fleeing from US. The chase was
begun.
Although the boilers in bad state ordered
to fire up vigorously and go at full speed straight
after.
/ soon saw, however, that they were faster than
we were and that all our efforts to overtake them
would be useless unless. as ieIt sure, the otner
Chilean vessels would come out OF Mejillones and
delay them with their fire.
expected they would. because knew the Coch-
rane should he at that time cruising about twenty
miles west of Punta Angamos.
The enemy kept fleeing from us: sometimes steer.
ing westerly. other times toward the coast but al
ways northward and their swifness increased every
moment the distance from us.
But my duty was to keep following as the best
means force fight, expected the cruisers or
Mejillones would appear. In fact. at seven A.
VI. saw smokes to the northwest. and soon after
aRAu SEES HE MUST FIGHT.
their engines steering to the north, but not far
from the Between them and each of our IRON
the Union, being the switest was visby increasing
her distance. and was pursued by the corvette
OHiggns and steamer Loa.
Leaving the rest of the squadron, the iron-clads
steamed at full speed after the Huascar, and the
Cochrane began to shorten her distance from the
Huascar, which did her best to get away to the
north but the Cochrane gained on her and cut her
off, and it was easy to see that the Huascar would
soon have to fight
AZ twenty minutes to nine A. NJ. the Cochrane was
about two miles or At n quarter past nine the
Huascar, still fleeing fired her first shots. but the
Cochrane made no reply, waiting until close and
able to strike surely. Soon both vessels were in
sharp action.
After o heavy fire on the Cochrane the Huascar
made at the Blanco Encalada and exchanged some
The distance became so small that the ramming
seemed possible. At one time tho Huascar passed
within twenty Ave yards. discharging her cannon
and keeping upa heavy fire from the mitrailleEses
THE RAM YIELDS.
The Cochrane. which had been thrown out of the
way by the Huascar turning the Blanco Enca-
lada. made at her again and placed her between two
fires, and the Huascar. thus under shower OF mis-
siles from both vessels. had to yield.
Almost at the last the Covadonga came up within
gunshot and let fly a ball at the Huascar.
When the Huascar struck could then see how
demorazed her crew had become. Her engines
kept going. though trying to escape. but men
were throwing themselves overheard.
therefore stopped firing and ordered the nearest
vessels to lower their boats to the man in the
water, and the BlanCO Encaaua sent launch tO
bring the officers from the Huascar. The launch
soon brought back word that Grau had been killed,
having been carried away by shot and his body
not having been found and that the two next in
command had died soon after.
The death of Rear Admiral D. Miguel Grau was.
sir, greatly felt in our squadron whose ommanders
and officers did ample justice to tho valor OF that
notable seaman.
first treated OF the transport and caro- of the
wounded and prisoners. and put Chilean prize
aboard and ordered the Huascar to steam at
once for Meiilones.
The triumph achieved near that port has greatly
weakened the navy of our enemy. and has given the
Republic all excellent war vessel as, her engine be-
ing perfect she will be able. after repairs, to
fight under national flag.
Besides this valuable prize We have twenty eight
officers and over one hundred persons of the crew
Onr losses were slight The Cochrane received
two shots, but not in vital part, ana the com
mander reports ten injured. one mortally, some
others severely.
The Blanca Encalada suffered no injury to vessel
crew. GALVAhiNo hlNEhO.
Eighty-fve of the Huascar's were English
men, The Cochrane carries six 300-pound Arm
strong rifles in cascmate projecting at the sides to
admit OF firing right ahead and astern.