The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-06-04
A NAVAL BATTLE
The MagallaneS Attacked by q
Torpedo Flotilla
THEY FAILED TO BLOW HER UP
Inc insurgsnt Flag is Shot Into the Sea, but
Kescued-Final Withdrawal Of the
Government Boats,

Especial 10 The Observation-Disclosures Dfsparcn
NEW YORK, June 3.-Advices received
IN this city from the seat of war in Chill
give the details of a terrible battle between
the cruiser Magallanes and the government
notllla, composed of the torpedo boats
Admiral Lynch and Admiral Condell. as
sisted oy the torpedo boat Sargente Aldea.
IN the Day OF Chanaral. Chanaral is a few
hundred miles north of Caldera, which was
the scene on the 9th of April of another
battle which resulted in the sinking Of one
merchant bark and the defeat of the entire
government tiotilla at the hands of the in
surgent cruiser Magallanes. The MagaI-
lanes had to put into Chanaral the day
previous but had it's steam up. In the bav
were several merchant banks, some bound
for England, others for the United States
and Germany. The Alene, Bertha and
Albatross were three of the banks in the
bay.i
They carried cargoes of nitrate.
On the morning of the Goth the crew Of
the Magallanes sighted a vessel coming into
the bay from the northwest. Hardly had
the vessel been sighted when another and
another were deserted q little more to-
wards the south. They were recognized az
the government vessels, Admiral Lynch.
Condeila and Sargeante Aldea. BY the time
the notllla was within range every
man was at his post and
all hands ready for the tray,
which from the odds against
them, the insurgents expected would re-
suit In their enemies' favor. The fiotilla
divided, coming toward the Magallanes at
nalf speed, the Condell ON the starboard
81 a no
Lynch, which was the last to enter the
Day, nearly BOWS on. They formed tri-
angle with the opening of the angle tow
ards the Magallanes. Suddenly a small
blue nag was run up the mast of the Con-
dell and puff of smoke was followed by a
loud report With scarcely a minutes in
PERMISSION the Lynch and Sargeante AIdea
look up the refrain and the bullets went
Tying through the rigging Of the MaQaI-
lanes. AS the government gunboats at
Tackled the Magallanes, she could onlv
work ner forward batteries and her light
Hotchklss guns. Her heavy stern runs
could not be brought to play. She was in
very dlsadvantageous position as the Sar-
geante Aldea swept her port side while the
Condell did the same on the starboard A
shell from the Magallanes carried away the
remaining smOkestack of the Lynch and
killed over twenty men. All three of the
government boats concentrated their fire
on the forward batteries OF the Magallanes
and soon the forward port battery was dis
aoled oy shot from the Sargeante Aldea
The Magallanes responded by blowing the
forward mast OF the Condell into the sea-
After this the fight ragged fiercely and
the Sargeapte Aldea was nearly blown to
pieces. Both her rnasts were gone. her
smokeStack was on a level with the deck.
the pilot house and the officers cabins
were smashed into splinters The LYNCH
0r6f tornado the MaualIonno L
straight for tine bow but by singular Co
incidence huge cannon ball dropped into
the water causing swell which changed
the direction of the torpedo. On went the
torpedo until 1T came up to the bark
Bertha All hands were on the deck
the battle when suddenly an ex-
pioslon took place right under them,
drencnlng them from head to foot Before
they could collect their senses the vessel
began TO sink and in q few minutes had dis
appeared from sight, only the masts show
ing. The crew managed to escape in the
boats; only two persons were killed.
The Condell kept up an incessant fire on
the Magallanes and in order to bring all her
oroadsides to bear on the Coudell, the
rebel cruiser turned about. The Lynch
began fusllade from its guns, blowing the
yard arm Of the cruiser into the sea. At
the end of the yard arm was the flag. In
4 moment one OF the gunners sprang over
oOdIu Will d lew SLrOkSS caught the
yard arm Catching hold OF the ropes which
were thrown 20 him from the ship, he
vas soon standing on the deck holding on
20 the dripping flag. This action caused
The revolutlonists to fight with more vim
md 1t soon became too hot for the govern
nent vessels. The Condell gave the signal
md at full speed the fionlla put to sea.
They continued using their guns, but with
little effect. The Magellanes gave chase
IS best she could, but seeing it was useless
Ihe returned to Chanaral. Over thres
scores Of men were more or less wounded
md about twenty-five dead on the Magel-
ones; the government vessels put on all
steam and proceeded 10 Valparaiso, where
hey put in for repair. The oarks Alene
md Albatross were very badly injured hy
hots from the vessels. the Alene had q
zig hole in her bow, while the Albatross
vas without two of her masts. Captain
Joni, formerly OF the Blanco Encalada. will
hortly take charge of the Huascar and
Icting upon orders from Admiral Monk.
will proceed to Iquiq1e, where new crew
will be taken and a few changes effected,
Ifter which it will leave on a hunt for the
iotilla, with instructions to sink
il meets belonging to the gov