Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-05
A FIERCE NAVAL FIGHT.
Gillian Government Torpedo Goats Attacked
by Rebel ship.

by a Rebel ship
News Of The fiercest sea fight that has taken
place during the whole of the Gillian war has
Just been received. 1t took place in the harbor
of Valparaiso on April % between the in
surgent cruiser Magellenes and the govern
ment torpedo boats Alden, Condell and Lynch.
four days after the encounter between the
same vessels at Channel Bay, the news of
which was received ON Monday last.
After the latter battle the Magellenes decided
to attack the government ships and. if pos
sible, destroy them before they could again be
fitted for sea. Favored by darkness the Ma
gellenes crept into the harbor of Valparaiso
and began the attack by ranging close along
side tine already crippled Alden and firing a
broadside into her that did terrible execution.
Nearly half of the torpedo boats crew we're
either killed on wounded and the vessel was
completely riddled.
FORTS COULD NOT FIRE.
An alarm was sounded in the forts but as the
vessels lay so close together the gunners in the
forts dared not fire for fear of hitting their
own vessels. Getting clear of the Alden the
Magelenes at once attacked the Lynch. but her
fire was returned with interest. The smoke
stack of the Lynch was blown away, and a boat
containing ten men. who had been sent to try
to attack the rebel vessel with a torpedo boat
NJ.
which had steamed to the outside of the Magel-
lenes. shot through and through. Over
forty of her crew were lying dead or dying on
her decks, but her guns were untouched and
her captain made up his mind to try to better
his position
TRICK OF The REELS.
Suddenly the rebel vessel began to move
astern and ceased firing and before the fact
was discovered the government steamers were
pouring broadsides into each other and the
Condel began TO NIL rapidly. The trick was
not discovered until the Masellenes had turned
and stearnlng across the stern of the CUndell
poured in a brOadside that nearly demolished
the latter. dismounting every gun and killing
fourteen and wOunding six more o. the crew.
The rebels steamer then started 10 steam out
Of the harbOr at full speed. Every gun ia the
forts On shore opened on her. but only once
was she struck. A heavy shell landed fairly on
her deck just forward Of her pivot gun and
burst The explosion tore big hole in the
deck. the pivot gun was thrown over on its side
and four men were killed. Soon after that she
was out Of range of the forts and ran up the
coast Of Caldera.
Over 100 men we're killed during this fierce
conflict, fully one-half of whom were ON board
the Mageilennes- No attempt made by the
foreign warships to stop the fSht, which lasted
fully All hour.
The COndel had to be run on the beach to
prevent her sinking while the Alden was 50
badly damaged that il viii take a io,Ig time to
repair her. In addition To the loss of nearly
haf OF her crew the Lynch lost four out of her
SIX ofheers. including her commander.
A dispatch from lquique saws that in conse-
quenee OF Bohylas recognition Of the Chilian
congress party as belliserents the Gillian min
lister at La Paz, the Bolivian capital has de-
nianded his passport.