The Portland daily press., 1892-03-30

Inc IRE In the rear oiieo "a ~ = 49, - " eio's
quarters with the big lronciad. inc Huas-
car was provided with powerful oeak
for ramming, and the helpless Esmeralda
could not maneuver to Dodge IL. AS soon
as the CHILEAN was disabled, the Huascai
steamed for her at about elght knots, strlk
ing her as she stood nearly motloniess. Inc
blow was light, for the Huascar's engines
stopped when the vessel was one length
from the enemy.
Pratt's men were on deck and abort ply
ing their muskets with such gooo ann tna'
the Peruvians were nearly all driven De
low, and seeing that the SHIPS were coming
together the brave CHILEAN or Br1ton o.
what not, fourished his sword IN one hand
and revolver in the other, cr1ed out to
"board" and jumped to the deck OF the
Huascar. The contact OF the vessels was
SO slight, however, that only one man hao
time to follow the leader before they
parted. Pratt dashed along the deck Of
the Huascar, and Grau, seeing the hopeless
ness Of the case, called out from the turret
Surrender, captain; we desire to spare the
life of a hero!" Nothing daunted, the
brave Gillian opened fire upon the only
Peruvian in sight, killed him. and was
searching for other victims when musket
ball from aloft cut him down as he wal
about to ascend the turret ladder.
Capt. Grau again attempted to ram thu
Chilian ship, and again the engines stopped
too soon. But Pratt's spirit fingered as 8
wrath on the deck Of the Esmeralda, ane
his successor, Lieut.. Serrano, an unmistak
able son of the tropics, headed the board
ers and gained the Huascars deck. But
the vessels parted too soon, ana the orave
boarders persisted to man under the bull
let's fired from the turret and pilot towel
of the Huascar. Half OF the Esmeraldai
crew were dead or disabled, her machinery
/ useless and her hull leaking SO that SHE
was settling rapidly.
Capt. Grau hailed to surrender, but get
ting decided No! in answer, ne rammed
again, stopping the engines at only ~ feet
and struck the starboard beam OF the Els
meralda blow that sent her down, hei
deck guns firing and her flag flying in its
place as she disappeared in the waters
Out of 200 Chilians50 escaped.
The attempt to win by boarding was not
SO reckless as it seems at first thought
The Chilians were good seamen and good
fighters; Grau's crew was poor one, az
Pratt had time to learn from their bad
firing during the cannonade Besides, his
men had driven all the Peruvians from
the deck, and if 20 men had succeeded II
crossing the Hauscar's bulwarks the YES.
sci would have been at their mercy. Had
the Hauscar rammed with force enough te
catch the Esmeralda and hold her, the
Chilians would have had a chance. Had
Pratt been one of the kind who say go
in!" instead of "Come on!'' he would sim.
ply have lost man. or two and spared his
own life for a second and it may be
successful attempt. Capt. Grau sent the
effects of the fallen hero to the widow, say.
ing, Capt Pratt died victim to his
excessive intrepidity in defense OF and fol-
the glory of his country"
Meanwhile Pratt'siaspiring example was
not lost on the companion ship Covadonga.
When the Huascar singled out the Esmer-
aida Capt. Condell, of the Covadonga,
tried to draw his antagonist. the indie
pendencia, to shoal water. The Peruvian
gave chase, firing often and attempting to
ram. Her first 150pound shot entered the
starboard of the wooden ship, raking her
whole length. Condell turned, and with
one shot dismounted the gun that had done
his ship such damage, and his sailors drove
the Peruvian crew below with then
splendid rife practice. In this way the
running fight was kept up for ten miles
along the indented coast, the Covadonga
hugging the shoals and slipping by her big
adversary at every projecting point. AT
last they reached reef at Point Grueso.
CondeIl took his vessel over where it was
SO shallow that she dragged on the rocks,
the Independence following in excited
chase.
The Peruvian helmsmen saw the danger
and tried to put their ship to port, when
the ready CHILEAN rifemen shot the man
whose hand was at the wheel and the vessel
drove ahead upon a rock. Then Condell
turned, and hauling up out of range
poured in fire that set the Independence
aleak and in flames and her flag was quick
ly hauled down. Before he could secure
his prize, however the Huascar hove in
sight, and knowing that his vessel had
been damaged in her speed, he didn't risk
another fight but escaped to the fleet in
northern waters The Independence was
total loss. Capt. Pratt is honored by
granite pyramid and two statues in Chili's
chief cities, and May 81, the anniversary OF
his death and of the wonderful battle OF
Iquique, is national fete day for the hero.
GEORGE L. KILMER.