The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-04-05

Capt. Grau again attempted to ram the
CHILEAN ship, and again the engines stopped
too soon But Pratt's spirit fingered us
wrath On the deck Of the ESmeralda, ana
his successor, Lieut.. SerranO, an Hnnlstak
able son Of the tropics, headed the board
crs and gained the Elascars deck. But
the vessels parted too soon, and the brave
borders persisted to man under the bul
lets fired from the turret and pilot tOwe'
Of the Huascar liaIi OF the Esmeralda>
crew were dead or disabled, her machinery
useless and her hull leaking 50 that sht
was settling rapidly.
Capt Grau hailed to surrender, but get
ting Il decided No! in answer he rammeI
again, stopping the engines at only 20 feet
and struck the starhoard beam of the f.;
meralda I, blow that sent her down. her
deck guns firing and her flag flying in is
place as She disappeared il the waters,
Out Of 200 Chilians 50 escaped.
The attempt to win by boarding was not
so reckless rs it seems at first thought
The Chilians We're good seamen and good
fighters; GraU's crew was Il poor one as
Pratt had time to learn from their bad
firing during he cannOna.lc. Besides, his
men had driven all the Pcruvians from
the deck, and if 20 men had succeeded in
crossing the lIausc;ir>S bulWarkS the vCs
sci would have been at their mercy. Had
the HauScar rammcd with force enough tC
catch the Esmcralda 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 a man or two and spared hi,
own life for second and it may be a
successful attempt Capt. Grau. sent the
effects of the fallen hero to the widow, say
ing, Capt. Pratt died Il victim to his
excessive intrepidity in defense Of and fol
the glory of his country.'
Meanwhile Pratt : inspiring example was
not lost on the companion ship CovahOn.,a
When the IIuascar singled out the Esmer
aida Capt. Condcll, of the CovHdoncsa,
tried to draw his antagonist, the Indie
pendencia, to shoal water. The Peruvian
| gave chase, firing often and attempting, to
| ram Her first l50-pounl shot entered the
starboard of the wooden ship, !aking her
whole length Condell turned and wit h
| one shot disin9unt"d the gan that had done
| his ship such damage, and his sailors drove
| the Peruvian crew below with then
| splendid rifle practice In this way the
| running fight WAS kept up for ten miles
| along the iuGented coast, the Covadongl
| hugging the shoals and slipping by her big
| adversary at every projecting point. AT
last they reached a reef at Point Grueso.
| Condcll took his vessel over where it was
so shallow that she dragged on the rocks,
the Independence following in excited
| chase.
| The Peruvian hclmsmen saw the danger
| and tried to put their ship to port, when
| the rea2y CHILEAN ritiemcn 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 q 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 4
total loss. Capt. Pratt is honored by d
| granite pyramid and two statues in ChiIi's
chief cities, and May p. the anniversary OF
| his death and of the wonderful battle OF
Iquique. is q national fete day for the hero
GEORGE l.. kILMER.