Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-01-20
a Fierce Naval Fight.

,
condition of affairs prevails throughout tn
republic, aud a general conflict is Imminent
Civil war is under way in Cundiuamarca
Boyaca, Santander, and Magdalena, and,
seems, is about to break out in the State
Cauca. Here in Panama more trouble ma,
occur, but there will be little bloodshed
Heavy fighting has already taken place ir
the interior. The object sought can be bet
ter understood abroad by 3 description o.
the plans. The radical party, as it is
called, has joined faction Of the conserva
tives Thus united, they are endeavoring
to turn out the liberal governments in the
different States, which are the strongest
supporters Of the Government of Presiden!
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 announces
that q battle has taken place at Tunja, in
Boyaca in which the federal forces were
defeated, their commanderin chief, General
| Montirfar, and another general, having been
killed in the combat.
News from Ecuador is still of doubtful
| nature. No steamer has arrived from coast
ports during the past fortnight. and it is i'm
possible to say what is really occurring. The
Government declares the revolution over,
yet it continues to blockade Manta and Es-
meraldas, while the movement of troops in
the interior is continuous. Full particulars
have been received of the boarding of the
Huacho by Alfaro and the crew of the Ala
juela. The action seems to have been one
of the most gallant and sangunary ever
fought on board 81 vessel. The following
ptio iS otc frop a r
by an officer of the Nueve 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
Manto. This order was not obeyed. Sub
seguently, number of revolutionists want
Uu IN. .Ss1a1nela. Thence the Huacho went to
Bahia. thinking that Alfaro was there with
troops on board bis vessel. General Flores,
who was in command Of the Government
exuedition, had previously ordered one OF
the small steamers of his convoy TO go SCUM
and order the troops on board the Huacno
10 he landed in different and more STRAIT
epic poipt than Bahia itself, for which
thew were originally intended. On receipt
of This order she moved in the Indicated dl-
rection. Low water prevented our entrance
afterwards, and, therefore, we returned to-
wards Bahia. The Alajuela, however, hav
inp 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 hiring.
We at once steamed in the direction AS
we approached the firing grew heavier, and
was steadily kept up. On approaching lhe
scene of the combat our commander deter-
mined 10 attack, taking the AiaJuela between
US. Calling guns, rifles, and even machetes
had been abandoned, and men were engag-
ed in one OF those sharp encounters from
which few emerge alive. This death strug.
gle was horrible one, and yet the men OF
The Alaiue!a left the Huacho, Of which they
were in possession, aud returned to- their
own vessel. They resisted our attack, pass
ed between the Huacho aud us, and then
returned to the former vessel. Then we
endeayored to ram and sink her by the
stern. We failed, and she at once attacked
ne and even endeavored to carry US by
boarding, but failed owing to the play OF oui
machine-euns and rifles. Then she took
refuge behind the Huacho. We followed
her. but she renewed her attack on US. AT
this moment one Of our shells fell on mel
stern deck and set fire 10 it. Then we de-
termined to board her, but one OF our gun:
burst, tearing up part oi the deck anc
killing some of our gunners. We pursued
the burning Alaiuela, which, nevertheless
went alongside the Huacho and endeavoree e
hv numerous methods to set her on lire
, Finding that the vessel was on fire, an'
that he could not capture his two oppo
nents, and that even if he extnsuished 10,
flames he had no coal on board with which
to continue the unequal combat, Genera
Alfaro gave orders to run the vessel ashore
On grounding, those on board threw them
selves into the sea. Some cried for heir
and we sent boats to them. Immediatel
afterwards we boarded the Huacho. In
snectacle was horrible one. The dec
:. was q mass of dead and wounded. Captain
: officers, and men were dead or dying-te"
J, indeed. escaped from this sanguinary con
test. The Alajuela is burned to the water
y edge. We have very few prisoners.