Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-17
A FIERCE NAgAL FIGHT.
War Tn ssush Anerieaa watsrs-A B'oodS
cesass Beswees ousbeass-One Of the
yesseIs fsuruSd.

war I'm ssush Amer,eaa wassrs-A Blood
ConRNs Beswees 0unbeass-One Of sh
ve~eIs burned.
1 A Panama letter says: A mos
alarming condition Of affairs prevail
throughout the republic, and genera
conflict is imminent. Civil war is un
der way in Cundinamarca, Boyaca. San
tander, and Magdalena, and, it seems, i
about to break out in the State Cauca
Here in Panama more trouble may oc
cur, but there will be little blood
shed. Heavy fighting has already
taken place in the interior. TIT
object sought can be better un
derstood abroad by description OF the
plans. The Radical party, as 1t j:
called, has joined faction of the Con-
seryativcs. Thus united, they are en-
deavoring to turn out the Liberal gov
ernments in the different States, which
are the strongest supporters of the Gov
eminent ofPresident Nunez and then,
If successful, they will unite the States
they hold in an effort TO overthrow the
General Government. Severe skirmishes
have occurred in Santander and Boyaca,
and the cable this morning says that a
battle has taken place at TUNA, in
Boyaca, in which the Federal forces
" ere defeated, their commander-in-chief,
General Montirfar, and another general,
having been killed in the combat.
News from EQUATOR is still of doubt
full nature. No steamer has arrived
from coast ports during the past fort
night. and it is impossible to say what
is really occurring. The Government
declares the revolution over, yet it con-
tinues to blockade Mania and Esmeral-
das, while the movement of troops in
the interior is continuous. Full particu-
lars have been received Of the boarding
of the Huacho by Alfaro and the crew
Of the Alajuela. The action seems to
have been one Of the most gallant and
sanguinary ever fought on board YES
sci. The following description is ex-
tracted from a report made by an
officer Of the Nueye de Julio, one
of the Government vessels: " When
leaving Ballenitas we left orders for the
Huacho to disembark the troops she had
on board in Mania. This order was not
obeyed. Subsequently, a number of
revolutionists went on board of her, in
the belief that she was the Alajuela.
Thence the Huacho went TO Bahia,
thinking that Alfaro was there with
troops on board his vessel. General
Flores, who was in command Of the
Government expedition, had previously
ordered one of the small steamers ofhis
convoy to 90 south and order the troops
on board the IIuachO to be landed
in different and more strategic
point than Bahia itself, for which
they were originally intended. On
receipt of this order she moved
in the indicated direction. Low water
prevented our entrance afterwards. and,
therefore, we returned towards Bahia.
The Alajuela, however, having moved
previously, had passed through some of
the side channels, knew where the
Huacho was, knew how many men
there were on board. and determined to
attack her. At about midnight we
heard firing. We at once steamed in
the direction. As we approached the
firing grew heavier, and was steadily
kept up. On approaching the scene Of
the combat our commander determined
10 attack, taking the Alajuela between
rs. Calling guns, rifles, and even
had been abandoned. and |
men were engaged in one of |
hose sharp encounters from which |
ew emerge alive. This death-strug- !
lie was horrible one. and vet |
he men of the Alajuela left the Huacho,
If which they were in possession, and !
'eturned to their own vessel. They re- /
sisted our attack, passed between the
1uacho and us, and then returned TO
he former vessel. Then we endeavored
o ram and sink her by the stern. We
allied, and she at once attacked us-and
ven endeavOred to carry us by board
ne, but failed owing to the play of our
and rifles. Then she took
efuge behind the Huacho. We follow
d her, but she renewed her attack on
Is. AT this moment one Of our shells
ell on her stern-dcck and set fire to it.
hen we determined to board her. but
ne of our guns burst. tearing up part
f the deck and killing some of our
We pursued the burning
\ lajuela, which, nevertheless, went
longside the Huacho and endcayOred
" numerous methods to set her on fire.
hiding that the vessel was on fire, and
hat he could not capture his two OppO-
ents. and that even if he extinguished
he flames he had no coal on board with
'hich to continue the unequal combat,
General Alfaro gave orders to run the
essel ashore. On grounding, those on
oard threw themselves into the sea.
ome cried for help, and we sent boats
0 them. Immediately afterwards we
oarded the Huacho. The spectacle
'as horrible one. The deck was a
lass of dead and wounded. Captain,
Ulcers, and men were dead or dying
W. indeed, escaped from this sangui-
airy contest. The Alajuela is burned
the waters edge. We have very
w nriconarc -