, 1880-01-17
THE FIGHT BETWEEN THE HUAS.
CAR AND THE ALMIRANTE
COCHRANE.

1uo IOlIUWluS 0CCOuut "a eu0 Akut y
tween the Peruvian and CHILEAN ships is so
graphic that we think 1t worth printing
although it refers to az event (which hap.
pened early 10 October. along time back,
according to the present speed OF news.
1t is contained in a private letter publish
ed in the Times
"Early on the morning of the 9Th of
October the Huascar aud the Onion, re-
turning from q cruise to the southwark of
Coquimbo, made their appearance in Anto-
tagasto Bay, where, however. they did not
remain long: there were three or four trans
ports here without a man.of- war. After
passing among the merchant ships they
continued their voyage to the northward.
making for Tetos Point. which bears about
northwest from Antofagasto. Meanwhile
it so happened that the Gillian ships
Blanco Encalada, Covadanga, and Matias
Cosini (the first, one of the ironclads) were
on their way from Megillones Ito Vslparai-
SO, and were rapidly nearing Tetos Point
from the north, entirely ignorant OF the
near approach of the Peruvian ships. Of
course, no sooner did the Huascar and the
Union round this point than the two
s~quadrons caught sight of one another, and
the Chilians, who were o few miles to sea-
ward, Immediately gave chase, but were
rapidly left behind, as the Peruvian ships
are much the faster. 1t is said that Cap
tain Gran. nf the Hnaonnr nvnn ."-s-l:-SA
him and then leaving them again. as no
was SO much their superior In speed.
While this exciting chase was going on, ehe
other'Chiiiap ironclad, Almirante Cochranes
with the corvette O'Higgins and the
TRANSPORT Loa, were cruising about 40
miles to the uorthward aud about 90 miles
from the land on the lookout .for tae
Huascar and the Union, which were
known to be somewhere south. So when
they sighted the smoke OF the i've ships
they Immediately concluded d tney
were, as they knew Of the three Chlllans
being on their way to Valparaiso. The
Peruyians now found themselves In rather
an awkward situatiou, but such was
Grau's confidence in the speed OF the shlps
under him that he had no fears for the
result.
Unfortunately for him, however, the
Cochrane, since being cleaned lately, can
exceed the Huascar in speed by nearly
one knot an honr +; but this Grau did not
bargain for. The first shot was fired by the
Huascar at $50 am. at the Almlrante
Cochraue; the two ships, however, still
being o long distance apart. The Cochrane
reserved her fire, contenting herself with
gradually closing on the Huascar. 1t was
$50 before the Chilians commences to
return the Huascar's fire, which had been
continuous, though without effect, The
two ships were now only 1900 yards
apart. which distance was rapidly decreas-
ing and the superior firing of the Chilians
soon made itself apparent. In q few shots
the Huascar's brave commander. dfau' was
severly wounded by q shot through the
iron coming tower, from which be was
directing the action, and 9 few minutes
afterwards a she'll blew him to fragments,
together with the men who were carry
ing him below. One 5of Tie o6Fst few
shots from the Cochrans Also carried
away the steering ropes of the Huiscar,
rendering her unmangeable for . time;
and great execution was done 9mong 9he
men by q shot passing through the bull
lust under the turret.
"The Cochrane was all this time closing
rapidly, a heavy Gre being kept up % both
sides but it was soon evident that the little
Huascar's fate was sealed. Her men ware
becoming demoralized by the t~resnsndcas
slaughter going on among thems sna o.