Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-07-27
SAILORS KILLED.
Five Men Meet an Instant
Death.
Steam Launch Blown Up in the
Harbor africa.

A Small Boat Belonging to the United
States Steamship Pensacola Mistaken
for an Insurgent Vessel and Torpedoed
by the Gillian Torpedo Boat Condoll.
New YoRK, July 27-The World
prints letter dated Callao, Peru, June
"a, giving the details of blunder at
africa, Chill, by which five sailors of the
United States ship Pensacola lost their
lives. The steam launch belonging to
the man-of-war was blown up in the
harbor of africa by the Chilian torpedo
boat Condell, and every man ON board
killed. The list of dead includes o.
Smith. New York; William Hayes,
Brooklyn; Frank Peckham, Newark, N.
j.; Teddy O'Rourke, Huntington, l.. l..
Arthur E. Dykeman, Pearsalls, l.. l.
The attack occurred on the evening
of June /. The Condell, one of Balma-
ceda's cruisers, stole into the harbor Of
AFRICA about z p. III. There was heavy
fog, and objects at a distance of one
hundred yards could not he discerned
with any distinctness The steam launch
had left the Pensacola for a trip to the
shore, and was making her way slowly
when suddenly those on the man-of-war
saw the little boat lifted completely out
of the water. There was the dull echo
of half smothered explosion, and then
wreckage was scattered in every direc-
tion. I(ot sound of human voice
was heard.
The quiet that followed told plainly
that the men aboard had been killed or
so manned as TO be unable to make their
exit. The search light was brought into
play and at the same instant orders were
riven to lower the boats. BY the flash
of the search light the Condell was dis
covered only short distance away.
The Chilian cruiser had mistaken the
launch for an insurgent boat and had
used torpedo with deadly effect. There
was intense excitement on board both
vessels when the situation OF affairs be-
came known.
The commander of the Condell dipped
his colors and sent his chief officer
aboard the Pensacola. II then became
known that the explosion of the torpedo
was a stupid blunder on the part OF the
cruiser. Such apologies as could be
offered were made, but the feeling
among the comrades of the dead sailors
was very bitter. The bodies were not
recovered.
The Pensacola proceeded to Iquique,
and on June 9was again exposed to great
danger. Balmacedas cruisers, the
Lynch and the Condell pursued the IN.
surgent vessel Aconcagua and would
have captured her had not tho Esmer-
aida hove in sight. She finally put the
government vessalssto fight, but thescn.
gagement was hot while it lasted. Shot
and shell were flying everywhere. On
board the Pensacola the men crowded
the rigging to see as much OF the fight as
possible. One shell exploded within
ships length of the Pensacola's bow.
The Pensacola will probably be order
ed to San Francisco for repairs.
At the navy yard the officers stationed
there saw they have had advices from
Admiral McCann, who commands the
feet now in Chilian waters. dated 40
late as July O. The admiral made no
mention of an accident to the Pensacola's
launch and the officers incline To the
opinion that there is no truth In the
story. A..
An attempt was made to locate the
relatives of the mentioned as belonging
in this vicinity. Only those OF Dyke
man could be found. They gay. he lett
home about year ago, and they did
not know of his whereabouts until q
month ago when letter was received
from him in which he said he was in
Brazil and doing well. lie did not
mention the fact that he was in the
American navy. =,
The insurgents have captured the lit
tie city of Quinteros. Nothing OF value
was found by the rebels, and they ac-
cordingly left the place