The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-25
BY A CHILEAN TORPEDO
Warship Pensacola's LauncD
Blown Up at africa.
FIVE AMERICAN sEAMEN DEAns
The War Will Give New Market for
Washington and California Wheat.
No Man Is Safe I'm BaImaceda's Domain
His New wsrships Are Unable to
Secure Arms and Supplies i'm Europa
"A Crisis Approaching.

"A Crisis Approaching.
New yoRK, July pa correspondents -
Callao, Peru, under date of June "a, writes
TO his paper thus: The man-of-war Pen-
sacola, of the United States navy, has
just arrived here after an exciting run
along the Chilean coast, and / send you
the first news of q thrilling accident so
africa, Chile, by which five sailors OF the
Pensacola lost their lives. Her steam
launch was blown up in the @harbor Of
africa by the Chilean torpedo boat Condells
and every man on board was killed.
The list of the dead includes: o. Smith,
New York; William Hayes, Brooklyns
Frank Peckham, Newark. n. j.; Teddy
O'Rourke, Huntington, l.. l.; Arthur II.
Dykeman, Pearsalls, l.. /.
The attack took place on the evening OF
June 1. The Condell stole into the harbor
of africa about p. m. There was heavy
fog, and objects at distance of 100 yards
could not be seen with any distinctness.
The steam launch had left the Pensa-
cola, on her regular evening trip to the
shore, and was making her way slowly,
when suddenly the man-of-war saw the
little boat lifted completely out of the
water. The quiet that followed told plainly
that the five men on board the launch had
been killed. The search-light of the PEN
sacola was brought into play, and at the
same instant orders were given to lower
the boats. The Condell was discovered
only short distance away.
The Chilean cruiser had mistaken the
launch for an insurgent boat and used
torpedo with deadly effect. There was in
tense excitement aboard both vesselssfor
the next twenty minutes. Signalling conf
tinued between the man-of-war and
the torpedo boat for some time,
and when the situation of af-
fairs became known on the Condell her
commander dipped his colors and sent his
chief officer aboard the Pensacola. 1t 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.
Commodore Irving, commandant at the
Brooklyn navy yard, was seen at his resi-
dence this evening and was told of the
reported sinking of the Pensacola's steam
launch and the killing of five of the crew.
81 have heard nothing of any such occur
renee" said the commodore, land it
truth in the story. Only today X
received letter from Admiral McCann,
dated July 6, from Callao. He writes from
on board the Baltimore, and informs me
that the Pensacola was preparing to sail
for San Francisco. Had there been any,
such occurrence as You relate he would
certainly have said something about it."
PANAMA, July 24.-0wing to the Chilean
government having prohibited the ex-
portation of wheat and -four to northern
ports the sitnation is assuming a serious
aspect at Lima, and has been taken into
consideration by the Peruvian goyern-.
ment. The Peruvian consul at Valparaiso
has been requested to give authentic in
formation on the subject, in order to de-
eide the cause to be adopted. Undoubtedly
the question is one of the greatest imports
ance, for the bread consumed on the(
whole Peruvian coast is made out of for
eign wheat ground in Lima mills, and the
greater part of this wheat comes from
Chile, but all that the PeruvianA
government can do is to give official notice
of the fact to the public and let each one
find for himself means to meet the dim
culties that will naturally arise. OwintS
to Balmaceda's prohibitory decree the
price of bread has already risen consider3,
ably, but this will probably not last long,
as orders will be sent Immediately TO Safa
Francisco for large supply of wheat tha3
should arrive about the middle of the
present month. Il
Several passengers who arrived at Mol
lendo, Peru, June %, in a German steamer,
asserted that government steamer tho,
went from Valparaiso 10 Coquinbo has1
started for LaSerena and destroyed all thK
war material at that place. Commercially
things were in bad way at Iquique. Thfs
condition at Pisagua from the effect of thf
war is sad. There is no work and the mt{i
| jority of the people are poverty-strickerf'
Regarding the late insurrection at Cd1
| quimbo, it is reported that many of Ban
nacedas soldiers, being dissatisfied, abarsa
| doned the rest of the troops.
| The torpedo cruisers Condell and Lynclfn
| accompanied by the transport Imperian
/ returned to Valparaiso on June IL Frofu
| Pisagua they brought SIT, 900 of duty paii1
| on nitrate by a vessel that was found thei3'
! already loaded. They have also brougI
| certain important documents that throE
some light on the proceedings at IquiquAn
| The government takes great precautiol* q
| every day TO prevent those who do ndn
side with il leaving the country, and, nc3o1
withstanding duly guaranteed passport 4
| no one who leaves Valparaiso can be ctfd
tain that he will reach his destination, IA
with or without just cause he may be d
tanned at any of the other ports. held Il
Balmaceda's troops, on the slightest 81
| piclon.
A great deal of excitement has be4 y
occasioned in Panama by the news frQo
France that the new Chilean warship hfn
been released. This, 1t is generally ID
ieved in Chilean circles here, means {: 3
| speedy termination of the war and to
triumph of Balmaceda. ~
LONDON, July 24.-Captain Arrnit, fs
Gently an officer on board the Chilean WI 2
ship President Pinto, writes 20 the pr&
warning Englishmen not to accept Off -
made by BaImaceda's agents. He says q
did three months service in the Chlle}A
navy under Admiral Latorre, and clai4s'
that he is not likely to get payment Tor
services, and that sailors who asked
their pay were put in irons. fi
PARIS, July 24.-As the Chilean cruife.
President Pinto, one of Balmaceda's v2o1
sells, was leaving the harbor Of Toulon ~
ran aground in a critical position. GXq
ernment tugs hauled her oil. howeW
The authorities have embargoed the pc
der sent for the use OF the Pinto from IL
land, and she has no guns. There is o n
a small crew aboard her. The Pinto. \ y
understood, will proceed to Genoa, hop
TO ship guns and recruit her forces at q
port. #i
Tba ,rvv a., tta n - ss.sesar eaxa A ceaM