The morning call., 1891-04-21
SUNK BY A TORPEDO.
The Chilean Cruiser PilcOmayO
Blown Up at Night.
Destructive Work of a Fish Torpedo-0vsr q
Hundred Lives Lost-Eseape of
the TorpedO-Boat.

By private letters from Chile, which came
up on the steamer from Panama. it has been
learned that a pitiabe state of affairs exists
in Valparaiso. Hundreds Of the poorer
classes, whose only means of earning a live
lihood were cut off when the rebels block
AIDED the port, were literally starving and
had broken into stores all over the city i'll
their efforts to obtain food.
Twice they attacked the barracks and
were only repulsed after thirty of them
were shot down by the soldiers. Then on
the night of February 18th the supporters
of Balmaceda proceeded to carry out plan
by which they hoped to be rid of some of
the ships blockading the purt A large
steam launch had been fitted up as q torpedo
boat and had been waiting several days for
dark night In order to carry oui the plan.
ABOUT 10 o'clock At night they stole out, and
keeping close 10 the shore managed to pass the
blockade without being detected by the rebel
vessels The plan. which was TO try and attack
the Blanco Encaada from the sea- was good
one, as 1t was expected that those on board her
would have all their attention drawn to the city,
where guns and rockets were being hred in
der TO attract The attention oil the rebel ships.
FOR THE BLANCo ENCALADA.
The torpedo-boat made good time, and guided
by The lights on board the WaT-ships, stee ed for
the vessel supposed 10 be the Blanco Encaada,
with the ports on several occasions. Silently
the crew OF the boat made ready for use the only
torpedo, and silently Tie launch crept closer and
closer TO the cruiser. whose crew, never dream
ing of an,attack from that quarter were trying to
make out what was going on in the harbor.
To the chagrin of The boats crew, when close
to The vessel IL was seen that instead OF the
BtancO they were close alongside the PicOmayo.
a small wood II gunboaI; but it too late to
reetify the mistake, and the Whitehead fish tor
redo was sent on It's mission OF destruction. The
vessel was not fifty yards from The boat, and in
a1ew seconds the silent messenger covered the
intervening distance, and striking tie gunb0at
| fair amldships almost lifted her clean out Of
wafer.
RUSH FOR PORT.
The torpedo-boat at once made a rush for the
harbOr with every pound OF steam her boiler
could carry, but the sparks from the smokestack
told the story, and in few minutes shot and
she'll were flying around her thick and fast. But
the plueky crew had several things in their
fayoT-the darkness Of the night, and the excite
blowing up Of the gunboat, and TO crown all, the
uncertainty felt by those on board the ships re.
garding the number Of the attacking force.
Only once was The boat hit, and then a shell
struck her smokestack and slightly wounded
one OF the men, The boat entered the harbor
safe under the fire OF the forts. which was brisky
returned by the ships, but with the exception OF
two men Killed and a gun dsmounted In the
water battery on shore, no fudher damage was
sustained on either side.
The Government claims that the entire crew OF
the gunboat was lost, but the bells state that
thirty OF the crew. including the captain, were
picked up by The boats OF he feet. She ia stated
10 have had crew Of 1876 men, aud was armed
with Two 100-pounder rife guns.