New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-31

MO DE JANElHO, may OO.-lhO OHiA"ii" "'''O
take Tacna and are rapidly marching on Arlca'
THE COMMANDMENT or CALLAo.
The following letter from an occasional corre-
spoDdent of The TRIBUNE has been received by tho
last steamer from Panama:
LIMA, April 27.-The mOnOtOny OF the
blockade Of the port or Caao, declared the 10th
inst Ivy tho Admiral OF the Chlan feet, has at last
been broken. On Tuesday the 20th at noon the eVeh
days granted tho departure OF foreign ships expired
The United States man-Of-war Alaska was the last 20
leave port The day was clear and coudess. The en-
emys fleet could be easily seen lying at anchor near the
head Of the island OF San Lorenzo and about eight miles
distant The piers, towers and roofs Of Calao every
knoll plain between the two cities, and even the
roofs OF Lima crowded with eager Razers, Valny
looking for the advance Of the enemy. ThursdaY, the
22d signs Of active movement visible. At half
past the ships steamed slowly toward the port and at
were in line OF battle, nearly threo miles from the
shore. In the following order: The corvette Pllcomayo
captured in November last from Peru, mounting TWO
7Opound rifles; the Angamos carrying an enormous
450-pound rihed gun OF the new Armstrong pattern
with range OF 10 600 metres 6d miles; the ironclad
Hnascar captured after desperate naval battle OF
October g, near Meones, and carrying two 3OOpound
muzze-oading rifles aud the flagship Banco Encalada,
a neavy rOncla1 remained we'll out OF range, mile 10
the rear OF the Others with tho transport Loa near her
On the Peruvian side, the single turretcd monitor
Aahualpa lay outside Of the northern entrance to the
landing docks and carried two 500-pounder ROdmans
The Peruvian vessels lay In tho inner basin OF the
docks huge structure. like gigantic oSter l., built In
concrete They the corvette Union, frigate ANA
zonas Ia useless hulk transports Oroya Tallsman aud
Rmac scholarships Mctcoro and Marathon, and gunboat
Tumbes OF these. the monitor and corvette were the
only two fighting ships, and their artillery was too
light to vessels lying at the range chosen
by the Chlians for their operations Two or three tor
pedo launches up. hoping FOR chance to get
n dash at the enemy. One OF thcm Hcrrschoh, and
fFnm he npu-
emy completed the 1ret lying within the basin.
The shore batteries distributed at intervals frcm
the mouth OF the Rmac TO the point mile south OF IT,
This point is tongue of sand aud shngle dividing the
Bay OF CalaO from that OF Chorros, and near It's cx
tremity two 900 FOUNDER Rodman guns defend the Bo-
queron passage between the mainland and the Island Of
San Lima lies eight miles cast Of Caao at an
elevation OF feet aud connected with 1t 10y two
railroads and a cart road.
Orders were tcographed along the limo Of defeneos
"Let the enemy fire first" As they slowly steamed
into position, the suspense among tho thousands Of
spectators on shore became almost painful.
At seven minutes past o'clock tho Huascar opened
fire on the shipping IN the dock basin. the walls OF
which, rising fifteen feet above the wHtcr formed
admirable protection against any but plunging fire.
The Plcomayo and Augamos followed, and called
response from the batteries aud by the Union and Alta
hualpa but during the entire action Isaw shot from
take effect although generally speaking, the aim
excellent Tho enemy knew his advantge In pos
sessng long-range r1ed guns against the Rodmans
and Armstrong; Of older patterns, aud cOoy kept Just
beyond the OF the shore batteries The duh hun
der OF the opening gun had hardly Bturted Lima before
a special train into the DesamparadOs station and
was ready convey General Silva Chief OF stuf with
his aids TO the OF action The President Colonel
PerOla, threw himself into tho saddle and RaOpod
CallaO on hearing OF the movements OF the fleet. A
heavy military guard was necessary 20 prevent the pcO
pie who were frantic TO got 70 Calao, from taking pos
session Of th3 train.
The ships fired eisurely averagng.a shot every two
minutes, and with tOefnbo accuracy. most OF the she'll
falling Ia the neghbQrhood OF the Peruvian vessels
few shot did tTlhug damage but many fell short,
or harmles6ly hammered the stone lbuwarks The lIu-
ascar and PiicumayO fred at intervals OF about
rs. she'll flew over the town with bOarse grOw and
buried itself mile two beyond, toward Eillcgas. Sho
miles from shore, and resumed practice at this longer
range. One shell pissed through the iron roofing OF tho
lway station crushed twelve inch grder, and passing
u its through the closed door OF the 1rscahs DLs
senger room, struck tho foundation wall aud exploded
with terrific force tearing huge the flooring
and setting II on lire. The circular hole IN the door
just beyond the station gates cut both lines OF track
leaving huge excavations the loose shingle deep
enough to Iury horse The section men were quickly
bummOHcu ana the ldCk repulIed III snort space or
time, so that the auxiliary engines running along the |
lines connecting the batteries were not detained
Another shell exploded In the plaza front
the Matiz church. and cuipped OF corner OF the Hotel
Roma I. fell. Meanwhile, tho batteries from north
To SOUTH and the beleHgured ships from behind the dock
rdmpars steadily firing In the direction Of tho
enemy, which still maintained n respectful Ohug.
One shot was reported TO have struck the HuaHcar
which remained In action until nearly O'clock. firing
parting gun ut b:45, answered by three from shore
This closed the action. Although the UuiOn MRr0non
ChalacO, Rlmac and OrOya all hit damage was
slight. The Union lost killed, gunner named
John Grant; another wounded In OF the
launches Half dozen citizens wounded by frag-
ments or shell, but seriously. During tho fight
President Pieoa rode from post TO post visiting every
battery along tue ne and encouraged the officers and