Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-08-03
BLOWING up A GILLIAN SHIP.
An ingenious Peruvian Torpedo

PANAMA, July 24.-The Chilian transport Loa
purcnased at the commencement OF the presen
war, is the steamer which was blown UP by
torpedo In Callao bay on the Sd inst. The affai
caused great excitement In Lima and much glori
ncatlon among the Peruv1ans. Theplan adopted
was the following, as related by correspondent
OF the Star and Re3'Gld:-A Peruvian Officer
took an ordinary fruit boat, put a torpedo in The
bottom, and over this placed false bottom
Weabg yeshg on OF tHp springs kept down by the
II with a very choice assortment OF camotes
yucas, chirimoyos. granadillas fowls, turkeys,
green @ vegetables. veg &C, &C., and towing it out 10
WARDS The DlockaGlDg squadron before daylight
set 1t adrift. All day long that launch Iioated
about, but the Chilians could not see it until
about O'Clock In the evening. Fearing ft
would fail into neutral hands, a boat was sent
out TO bring 1t back. The Loa was doing duty.
and seeing the boat from shore making towards
the neutral vessels, caught sight OF the launch.
and at once turned towards 1t. Seeing this,
me ooat from shore beat hasty retreat The
Loa low ered boats to fetch In the prize. and It
was brought alongside, and its discharge at
once commenced. AS the weight In the launch
was diminished the machinery In connection
with the torpedoes was set free. and I'm a mo-
ment 300 pounds OF dynamite were exploded
ana the Loa was lifted almost out OF the water
Inc erect. as described by those who were
watching the operation with breathless inter-
est from the ShOre, was awful in the extreme
Every mouse IN Callao was shaken to its found
atlon. and every ship In the bay shivered
as though fearful earthquake had
SpcDC !Io luly peHtdtu tueI1. lie HI
fated ship appeared as enveloped In one mass
OF flame which resolved itself into dense clouds
OF black smoke. When this cleared away she
seemed not to have suffered, but suddenly she
was observed to sink at the stern while her
bows went high in the air and the LOa disap-
peared forever.
While all this was going on the Blanco Enca.
lada and the Huascar were In their accustomed
positiOnsssOme e ght miles distant TOO far of 10
render any assistance to their unhappy cor :.
rades or such OF them as were left struggling In
the water. The boats of the Thetis Pengui, :,
Alaska, Decres and Gar1baldi were quickly low
cred and proceeded to the scene OF the terrible
event. The two first named ships succeeded n
picking up 80, the Alaska l, the Ders or
and the Gar1bald1 6, making about 40 in all, Cf
whom IL Is probable many Will die. At least
$50 MEN Persisted.
The only officers saved are the second COM
neer. The explosion occurred very close to the
anchorage OF the neutral squadron, and the dis
aster might very easily have happened to one
OF them. The boat resembled the ordinary
fruiters, which might accidentally have broken
adrtft and got out to sea.
The Siege Of Lima.
The condition OF Things In Lima Is daily be-
coming wore. One decree follows the other fp
rapid succession, and the purpose Of more than
attention OF the people from the actual condi-
ton Of AFFAIRS. In the meantime the Chilians
are recruiting actively, and by the LIST OF Octo-
Der expect to begin the siege OF Lima.
In the HArbOf Of CallaO.
The U. s. steamers Alasl q and Adams the
British steamers Thetis and Penguin the ItaI-
ian steamers Gar1baldi and Archimede and the
French steamer Decres, were In the harbor of
Callao On July 9Th.