Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-09-18
TRICKED BY PERUvIANs.
The Novel Manner in Which Two CHILEAN
Men-of-War Were Destroyed.

Men of-War Were Destroyed.
During the latter part of the late war
between Chilli and Peru, says a correspon-
dent Of the Boston Globe, the Chilians had
succeeded in destroying or capturing
nearly all of the vessels of the Peruvian
fleet. Nevertheless after this the Pc
ruvians succeeded in destroying two of
the vessels of the Gillian fleet in a man.
ner both novel and ingenious. The Gillian
fleet was employed in blockading the diff
ferent ports of Peru, and the officers and
men had long been strangers to every
thing in the shape of fresh provisions or
fruit. One morning a sailbOat was seen
drifting about in an aimless manner, and
later it was discovered that she was
loaded with fruit and that there was no
one on board of her. The general impress
sion on the Gillian man-Of-war was that
she was Peruvian fruiter, that
having been becalmed in the night
had dritted out with the tide
toward the blOckading fleet, and
had been abandoned by the crew to avoid
capture. Great was the joy on the man.
of-war at the prospect of obtaining boat
load of delicious fruit. A boat was
speedily manned, and in short time the
fruiter was towed alongside and secured
at the SdHgWdy VI the blOChduSIs WulS
preparations were at once made for re-
ceivlng the coveted cargo on board. The
fruit was being rapidly passed on board
when suddenly loud explosion, an I'M
mense volume of water thrown into the
air, the rapid sinking If the vessel and
the cries of the wounded made the sur
vivOrs aware of the fact that the fruit
boat which they had regarded with such
longing eyes a few moments before was in
IT. INN tornado
boat and that their vessel was a wreck.
The unfortunate gunboat soon disappeared
beneath the water and many of the crew
sank with her.
One would suppose that this would
have taught the Chilians lesson, and
that in the future they would give stray
boats a wide berth. But it did not, for a
short time after this another Gillian man.
! of-war was destroyed in a somewhat SIM
liar manner. The gunboat named the
LOa was engaged in blockading port to
the north of Callao, when one morning
the lOokOuts on board of her discovered a
very handsome whitehall row boat adrift.
About half way between the shore bat
teries and the blockading fleet, and
almost at the same time they saw that a
Peruvian boat had put off from
the shore and was pulling rapidly
toward her with the evident inten-
ZION VI I6CON6IluB n6Is 1u6 OullAduS
at once determined to get possession
of the boat if possible, and their fastest
pulling cutter was quickly manned and
sent for her. Then took place what
seemed to be an exciting struggle, and as
the two opposing boats, coming from OPP
! pOsite directions drew near their prize it
seemed impossible to determine which
would gain it. Soon, however, the boat
from the Peruvian shore batteries ceased
rowing and then turned about and
started for the shore, while the Chilians
took in tow their prize and returned to
the Loa. Remembering the fate of their
sister ship, however, they proceeded eau
tiously to examine her, fearing another
Peruvian trick. After careful eXami-
nation, inside and out, and after sweeping
| underneath her with ropes to
| ASCERTAIN if any tOrpedOes were attached
to her bottom, it was decided that
all was safe, and preparations were made
for hosting her aboard. The boat was
brought alongside and the boat tackles
were hooked into two very convenient
eyebolts, one in the bow and one in the
stern. But no sooner were they set taut,
and the weight of the boat had come upon
| the eyebOlts, than a terrific explosion
| took place, and in few moments the Loa
had sunk, carrying many of her gallant
crew with her to a watery grave. l
learned afterward from Peruvian officers,
whom / met in Lima. that the entire
lining of this whitehall boat was filled
with dynamite, and that connected with
the eyebOlts in the bow and stern were
wires and fuses which were put in action
by any strain brought on them.