The morning call., 1891-06-04

BY letters received in this city yesterday
It was learned that the battle fought at
Chanaral Bay on April oath, between the
insurgent cruiser Magallanes and the Gov
eminent torpedo vessels Sargente Aldea,
Condell and Lynch, in which the MagGllaneS
came out victorious was followed by a night
attack on the three Government vessels in
the haTbor of Valparaiso, where they had
gone for repairs after the fight on the oath.
A REMARKABLE ESCAPE.
The Magallanes came out of that contest
with very little loss other than that of her
Tapd-fTe guns which had been disabled in
the early part of the fight These were re-
placed by guns taken from a steamer be-
longing to the insurgents, and after few
needed repairs, the crew was reinforced by
thirty-fve more men, and the cruiser was
once more ready for sea.
UNDER COVER OF NIGHT
It was at once decided to attack the Gov
eminent ships. and, if possible, destroy
them before they could be again fitted for
sea. The Magallanes steamed 10 Valpa-
raise. and on the night of April 2Sih, favored
by the darkness, she cTept into the harb0r.
The position of the three vessels had been
RSeertained during the day and the fOrmida-
bic cruiser lost no time in getting to work.
FANCIED SECURITY.
The crews of the Government ships never
dreamed Of an attack being made so soon,
and the presence of three foreign ships-Of-
war in the harbor seemed to lull the crews
OF the toTpedo-boatS iutO a state Of fancied
security.
The rebel steamer began the attack by
ranging close alongside the already crippled
Aldea and firing a brosdside into her that
did fearful execution. Nearly half the tor
pedo-boat's crew were either killed or
Wounded and the vessel completely riddled.
Every one Of her guns, of which she carried
several Of the quick-hring pattern, we're dis
mounted and she was completely at her
enemy'S mercy.
THE FORTS WERE DUMB.
The alarm was sounded in the forts, bat
rs the vessels lay so close together the
gunIeTs in the forts dared not FIRE for fear
of hitting their own vessels.
AS soon as she could get clear Of the
Aldea the MagallaneS at once attacked the
Lynch, but her fire was returned with in
teTest by that vessel, her crew having
taken the alarm. The SmOkestack OF the
Lynch was shot away, and a boat contain
ing ten men who had been sent to try and
attack the rebel vessel with a torpedo was
blown out of the water.
BETWEEN TWO FIRES.
The Conden had steamed to the outside of
the Magallanes, thus getting the latter be-
tween two fires, and for a time it looked as
If il would be the iusurgent cruisers last
fight. She was shot through and through.
Over forty Of her crew we're lying on her
decks dead or dying, but still her guns were
untouched, and her captain made up his
mind to Try and better his position.
IN DARKNESS AND SMOKE.
The night was dark one and added 10 this
IA lie rTT m n 10 h1r ri
to distinguish friends from foe. Suddenly
the MagallaueS began TO move asteIn and
ceased firing. The trick was costly one tor
the Government steamers as they continued
10 load and fire as rapidly as possible.
Nearly every shot told as the two vessels
were so close together and in few minutes
tie COndell began to ill rapidly.
SUCCESSFUL RUsE.
The trick was not discovered until the
MagalaneS had turned and Steaming across
the stern Of the Condeil poured in a broad
side that nearly demolished the latter dis
mounting every gun and killing fourteen
and wounding six more Of her crew.
Tie rebel steamer. satisfied with the
damage she had done, started to steam out
of the haTbOr al full speed, As soon as she
got clear Of the Shipping every gun in the
forts ashore opened on her. Shot and shell
Tained about the vessel Ike hail, but only
once was she struck.
A sHEEL ON DECK.
The steamer was nearly out Of range of
the guns on shore when a heavy shell
landed fairly On her deck just forward of
her pivot-gun and burst The explosion
tore big hole in tie deck. The pivOt-gun
was thrown over on its side and four men
were killed. Soon after she was out Of
range Of the forts and ran up the coast to
Caidera.
The fight was one Of the hottest that has
taken place during the whole war. Over
100 men were killed and many wounded
fully one-half of whom were on board the
MagallaneS.
No attempt was made by the foreign war
ships to stop the fight, which lasted over an
hour.
BADLY DAMAGED.
The COndell had to be run on the beach
20 prevent her sinking, while the Aldea is
50 badly damaged that it will take long
time 10 repair her.
The Lynch was also severely handled,
but can soon be repaired. Her smoke-staek
was shot away and large hole knocked in
her side.
II is also stated that in addition to the
loss Of nearly half of her crew the Lynch
lost four out Of six of her officers, including
her Commander