Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-03-11
LETTER FROM PAUL BOYrON.
His Rough Experience In Peru-A
Prisoners I'm the Hands Of Ghe
= ChtItans.
Baltimore San

butftR1oTe san.
A resident Of Baltimore has received a
letter from Paul Boyton, the noted swim.
mer, dated lima, Peru, February 7.
Mr.. Boyton had been in the amnlov az
the Peruvian Government for several
months, engaged in improving its torpe-
do service, and writes q graphic lescrip.
ton OF the disasters which befel the Pc
ruvians at the hands of the Chilian forces.
Mr.. Boyton had some hairbreadth "a.
capes, and is quite ready to abandon the
torpedo business in that quarter for
something that will pay better, and az
the same time prove less perilous. TIE
following extracts from Mr.. Boyton's
letter TO his Baltimore friend will be read
with interest:
Zone night sailed across the Island
Of San Lorenzo and dropped anchor un.
der the cliff at the head of it. The island
was occupied by small garrison of
Chlllans, and their fleet anchored at the
other end during the day. Taking a
torpedo aud my dress I padded ashore
for the purpose of making a reconnoitre.
Before leaving ordered the men on the
sloop not to move until returned, which
l said would be in about one hour. [
was detained for over three hours on
account of a guard which had to flank,
and when did get back, to my horror
and surprise found the sloop had left
me. AT that time could not start for the
main land, as daylight would reveal me
to the enemy before | was three miles
from the island, so | was compelled 10
seek a hiding place, which | found
in a cave under the cliff, which
was well inhabited by sea lions.
seals and otters. They raised
a frightful row at my appearance
among them, which caused my hair to
stand as straight up on my head as il
could get in my rubber suit / succeed.
ed in getting up on piece of rock,
where | held possession until brighter
daylight showed me q better place. The
sea lions made no attempt to molest me,
but the seals were more ipQuisitive, and
more than once | had to knock them
over the nose with my paddle. sat
there all day long, without a mouthful
to eat or drop of water TO drink. Night
came at last, and then / started on my
voyage home. ! got TO Callao little be-
fore o'clock in the morning, where
came near being shot full of holes by the
guard on the mole. Thank Heaven.
they were not good ma1ksmen, or /
would not be now telling you my story,
When | found the men on the sloop.
the only explanation they could give
was that they thought had been cap
tured, and so concluded to get out of
harms way. We made attempt after at
tempt, but all ended in the same way.
proposed an expedition to Pisco, where
the enemy was about TO land troops, but
was ordered not to go by the chief. His
order ! had to obey, but he was the only
man in Peru whose order | would obey.
Well, we were driven from post to post
as the Chilians closed in, until at last
we had to take refuge under the guns at
Callao. There, at the request of the chief,
/ took command of the submarine boat.
but, after three days trial, went to
Lima, and informed the chief that it was
a failure, and begged him to release me
from its command He declined, and
asked me TO stand by her, as she
was the only hope. Soon after the
Chilians landed at Luvin, and then
the chief went suddenly 10 the front to
superintend in person the disposition of
the Peruvian army. At last, when things
began TO look serious, abandoned the
submarine boat and went to Chorsellas.
That night could not see Don Nicolas,
and the next morning before daylight
the Chilians had surprised the town and
the battle of January 13 commenced. 1t
was hot work, | assure YOU. was sure
the chief had been captured until II
o'clock. when | saw him and few off,
GERS riding along the beach to Baraneo.
| followed and stood by him the balance
of the day. He exposed himself in the
most reckless manner, and his example
had good effect on the Choices. The
next day there was a truce to bury the
dead. On Saturday, January IS,
a flag of truce was brought into
our camp, and an agreement
was made for an armistice until 12
o'clock that night for the purpose of
having a meeting of the officers to see If
terms Of peace could be agreed on. The
meeting took place about noon, and at
2 o'clock, while the officers were still
debating, a shell came flying over the
camp. In an instant firing commenced
all along the line, and in quicker time
than it takes me to tell you the battle
had begun. a more fierce and bloody
one | never witnessed. Well, you
must know by the papers long ere
this how it ended. 1t proved to be the
of Peru. That evening I
saw the chief for the last time, as be
rode past, blackened with smoke, on
his way to the mountains. | followed
the thoroughly di,organized army into
Lima. Here we found the city in the
hands of a mob, who plundered and
burned to their hearts content Bullets
few through the streets as thick us hail;
the yells Of wounded men, the shrieks
of frightened women, the red glare of a
hundred fires-all went to form about
as perfect picture of hell as one could
well imagine. On the night of the 18th
you could not walk ten steps without
over dead man. At last the
Chilians marched IN, and order was to
some extent restored. / hope it viii
never be my lot to witness such sights
again.
"On the 22d | was arrested by the
Chilians as the torpedo man, and after
a little delay was released on parole but
not at liberty TO leave Lima. So at pres
ent am prisoner CT war. ! was slight
ly wounded in two places, but they do
not amount to anything. Most of my
baggage fell into the hands of the mob,
but | was satisfied that anything was left
me-"