The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-06-27

a
1891 broke out in Chile !
he was professor in the naval academy
al Valparaiso. He was placed in command
of a transport. the Imperial, with the rank
of lieutenant. This position he retained
until the arrival of two torpedo cruisers.
the COndell and the AlmiTante Lynch, |
from Europe.
He was then assigned TO the Almiraute |
lynch, with rank of commander. i he !
TWO cruisers proceeded up the coast to- |
gether. The officers had been informed /
that the revolutionist fleet of seven vessels |
were riding at anchor In the harbor ct Ca |
dera. 2 small town about 400 miles north |
of Valparaiso. While II as'Stlt dark on /
the morning of April i, they steamed into |
the harbor and blew a great hole IN the !
side of the irOnclaG BlancO Encaiada, |
sinking ner in six minutes.
For this feat Commander Fuentes was |
made full captain. When the revolution !
lists triumphed after eight months of fight |
ing, he went to Mexico. where he became |
a citizen of that republic and after time
was created chief OF the Pacific department
OF the navy.
Captain Fuentes' story of the battle in
Caldera harbor is full of interest. "Our
plan" he said to a reporter for The CALL, !
was TO enter the harbnr with the Lynch
following the Condell AS we steamed
through the feet we intended TO launch
our torpedoes at the yessels on either side
and sink them.
1--WE used the Whitehead torpedoes
Each torpedo is perfec' submarine boat.
The fore part is filled with guncotton and
is tipped with the cap. The next cOmpart-
ment contains compressed air, the gradual
escape Of which prOpelS the torpedo for
ward. In the compartment just aft of this
is the hvdrostatlc valve. This can be so
adjusted that the torpedo is kept at any
desired depth. If it goes deeper the extra
pressure acts on a valve which governs a
/, Of =t7dd ha ri /
il rises too far the lack nj pressure allows
the valve to open and the horizontal rud-
der again moves, sending the torpedo down.
"IheVe is also an air com Dartment which
gives buoyancy. This is situated in the
stern. Two vertical ruddeTs, adjusted at
certain angles to give the torpedo the
proner course, are fixed at the end. These
are fastened tight.
Each boat had i've torpedo tubes, one
in the bow and two on each side. The tor
pedo is launched from these with a charge
of powder just sufficient TO put 1t IN rapid
molten
THE day we entered the harbor 5000
troops had been landed by the revolution
lists. They had no idea an enemy was
close at hand, and were INDUCING in feast
ing and drinking That evening all the
vessels started down the coast but the
Blanco Encalada and a small transport.
The captain and some of the officers of the
big ironclad were on shore and those left
on board were wholly unprepared for an
attack.
The Condell led the way. When we got
iato The harbOr we found there was but one
shin to fight and we headed for her.
when within $50 yaIds the COndell
launched her bo " torpedo, then turning to
port fred both the torpedOes from those
Iuhes.
None of the torpedoes exploded. Decid-
ing that the distance had been TOO great.
ran up with 100 yards of the Blsnc0
Enc9 lada
''She was firing at the Condell and did
not notice Us till the bo" torpedo was
launched.
II aimed the gun at the middle of the
ship and touched the electric button that
fired Ia AS the torpedo sped along in the
walter we could see it describe a great
curve. The vertical rudder was not ad-
justed properly and it missed the stern by
a bout six feet.
linn ediately both propeIers of the
Lynch were reversed to avoid collision.
Then running the port wheel at full sreed
and backing with the other we described
great curve and when within nifty yards
of.the Blanro Encalada the first ort tor
pedD was launched. Straight as arrow
it went for the big ship; little trail OF
white showed its path. The shells from
the enemy's guns fell unheeded. A II were
Watching the messenger OF death as 1t
went silently on its way.
Suddenly it touched. There was not
much noise and there was 10 great column
of water flew into the air. But tn big
ship gave a terrible shudder and began 10
settle. We learned afterward that ten
feet below her waterline great hoe seven
Ieet wide and twenty-sX feet long mad
been torn n the vessel.
"lhen the enemy abandoned their guns.
At no time had thew been served we'll.
The sailors tried TO save themselves.
1T was in vain. In less tnan SIX MIN
utes the monster gave a lurch and sank
from sight. OF 30S men on board only
l55 were saved.
The BlaucO En- ca lada could have torn
US to pieces had she been prepared. She
had six S-inch guns carrying 21O-pound
shells, but not one of them was fired. she
used only the small Encounters and 3.
pounders and machine guns.
IA French company was formed after
the war to try to raise her. After three or
four months work the undertaking was
abandoned"
Minister Egan, saying he was one of the
best informed men on Chilean matters and
one of the most successful diplomats at
Chile.
he was always just" he said. He
was thoroughly neutral, and II man had
a right to his protection it was granted,
without regard to politics"
When the war was closed Captain
Fuentes and others of the Balmacedists
were given passage by Admiral Brown OF
ing Peru the San Francisco was ordered
back to Chile to protect Americans, aud
the trip north was finished in a coasting
vessel.
Captain Fuentes was greatly interested
in the awful accident to the British iron
clad Victoria. The pavmaster Of the fleet
was felo officer when he was in The
British navy.
Il think" he said, THAT the stories
about defective construction in the Vic
.tOria are unfounded. She was one of the
best-built YES sells in the world.
I'm changing columns, when the vessels
are in double column, the speed is from
seven to ten knots IN hour The crushing |
force of 10000 tons of metal moving that |
fast is something awful. Now when you
double that by having Two vessels come to-
gether it ran readily be seen that vessel |
could Withstand such dreadful shock.
THOSE acquainted with the weights |
modern warships carry above decks will |
not be surprised at the Victoria's turning |