The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-27
SUNK IN CALOERA BAY.
Great Naval Combat Between Gov
eminent and lnsurgent YES
sells in Chilli.
How the Blanco Encalada Was
Destroyed by the Condell
and Lynch.
&l44 &zt4n
Story of the Battle as Told by Can't. r. II.
Nesmith, an Eye Witness to
tho Fray.

SAN Francisco, June 26.-Capt.' F. B.
Nesmlth, who arrived in this city a few
days ago after an eight months soiourn in
Chill, gave Il Chronicle reporter yesterday
an interesting detailed account of the naval
battle in the harbor of Caldera on April ODD
last between the insurgent cruiser Blanco
Encalada and the government torpedo
boats Almirante Condell and Almiyante
Lynch, OF which he was an eyewitness. The
narrative, as related. is as follows: II was
on the Sophie May, an English schooner
temporarily engaged on the CHILEAN coast.
We sailed from Valparaiso on April IA for
Caldera and arrived st the latter place on
the afternoon of the 2lst. The harbori is not
large. but it is quite well protected from the
sea, and the town of Caldera does not appear
to be a prosperous place. The day
after our arrival the land forces
of the insurgents occupied the place,
and after leaving a guard of. 800
troops the main body marched on Copiapo.
The same day the insurgent cruiser Blanco
Encalada entered the harbor and dropped
anchor south of the entrance, her position
being shielded on the west by high bluffs.
Our schooner and two other coasting YES
sells were anchored between five and six
hundred yards distant from the war ship.
1.-THE morning of the 23d had not dawned
when the dim outlines of a steamer could
be discerned entering the harbor. 1t was
about four O'Clock and the eastern horizon
over the distant heights of the Cordille,as
was tinged with the first faint glow of the
morning. The air was clear and the sky
was studded with stars.
"The new arrival stopped for several
minutes when fairly in the herbor and
signaled. The cause of the signals was
soon apparent, for n second steamer ap-
peared in the wake of the first. Up to
this time all had been still in the harbor,
but the second steamer had been in sight
but a few minutes when the call to quar-
ters was heard on the Blanco Encalada.
The two steamers proved to be the govern
ment torpedo boats the Almirante Cundell
and Almiranto Lynch. They were accom-
panieI by the lmperiale, but the latter war
ship remained outside presumably to guard
against surprise, as it was known that the
insurgents had the Magellanes and other
VESSELS but a short distance up the const.
Both the Condell aud the Lynch ap-
preached slowly, bow on toward the Blanco.
The flash of the guns, the whistline of the
shot and the shrill mss Of the shells from
the shore batteries made up n vivid and
thrilling scene. Suddenly tho Condell,
which was slightly in advance of the Lynch,
steamed ut iull speed toward the Blanco.
We thought she intended to ram the war
ship, but II few minutes later we observed
it was merely to obtain nm advantageous
position to fire a torpedo. At a distance of
not more than 200 yards the Condell
launched two1orpedoes in rapid succession
and then backed off.
For nearly an hour the vessels kept up
mn incessant cnnnonade without using any
more torpedoes. During this period tho
%insurgent transport Aconcagua had entered