Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-05-06
WARSHIPS IN ACTION.
SOMETIMES GET IN WORK AT
CLOSE RANGE.

turc of the Peruvian Iurrc'
Ship IIuascar- of the llOr'
rors of Naval Warfare.
Probably three-fourths of the pco
pie have an idea that with the inn
mcnse modern engines of war naval
battle between the United States and
Spain could not be fought at close
quarters.
As one man expressed it, the bat
tlcships would stand of six or seven
miles and pepper each other This
seems to be theory with little to
back it up, as was shown in the war in
1879 between Chill and Peru.
Claude II. Wetmore has described
in the current Century, one of the en-
gagements which took place at sea as
Il result of this war. 1t is vivid por-
trayal of actual horrors-nOt those
imagined by novelist of active mind.
In the Chilian navy were the power
full sister ironclads, Blanco Encalada
and Almirante Cochrane, and Others.
The Peruvian fleet had among Others
the ironclad Independence and the
turret ship Huscar.
Of the events prior to the surrender
of the Huascar, commanded by Adj
miral Grau, suffice it to say that both
fleets put to sea, there was an en-
counter in which the Huascar sunk
the Chilian sloop-of-war Esmeralda.
In pursuing a smaller ship of the
enemy the powerful Independence
was drawn on to reef in shallow
waters and totally wrecked. This was
terrible blow to Peru. The Huascar
was now her mainstay. For time
hostilities were suspended practically.
For prudential reasons the Peruvian
fleet had been recalled. But at last,
tiring of inaction, Admiral Grau OBJ
tanned permission of President Prado
to 60 out and harrass the enemy with
the Huascar and the corvette Union,
but with orders not to fall in the way
of any of the enemy's big cruisers.
The result was good for time, the
Huascar doing destructive work, while
the fleet Union watched in the ofiing.
But this sport grew tiresome and it
was determined to return to Callao.
The Huascar's bottom was fouled with
sea growth and some of her machinery
was so badly worn that only about
eight knots an hour could be made
with safety. 1t was time to 60 home.
All was rejoicing on board. In four
days home would be reached and
loved ones.
But on the night of October 7, 1879,
or rather early-at 3:30-the next
morning, the watch discerned a new
star-or was it the light of ship?
1t proved to be q Chilian ironclad,
and others of fleet were behind her.
Admiral Grau, mindful of orders and
the somewhat crippled condition of
his ship decided to flee. A light fog
favored him, but not before the enemy
had sighted him. The Union, he
knew, was fleet enough to take care
of herself, and he did not signal, she
being ahead and farther at sea.
The fog continued, and just as all
excitement had subsidized and all hands
were settling down to quiet break
fast, sudden lifting of the mists re-
vealed the hull Of an ironclad 10
miles away, her tunnels belching
forth black smoke which told what
stress of speed she was laboring under
She was coming straight for the
Huascar. 1t was the Almirante
Cochrane. Escape was impossible, for
behind was the fleet. Admiral Grau
saw this, and at once prepared for ac-
ton. Well they knew what was COM
ing, for the guns crews crowded into
the ill-ventilated turret, where they
were to stand and toll and sweat at
the great pieces in an atmosphere that
the suns fierce rays, already causing
the morning to be close and sticky,
would make sitting. Ammunition
holds were thrown open and the long
curtains of green felt were slung from
the deck beams above to protect the
magazine passages, in order that sparks
might not fall on the explosives. Rub
Der cloths were stretched over the
ward room table and fastened in such
way that the blood of the wounded
would flow smoothly and be caught in
buckets that were placed at the four
corners. The surgeon and his as
sistant laid out scalpels, long gleam-
ing knives, and saws. Huge piles of
lint were placed on the floor.
Breakfast was after all eaten by the
men standing at their posts and al
ready training the loaded guns. Pals
of coffee were drank by men while
setting their sights. The hinged bull
warks were let down, and the smooth,
ripping water was only four feet be-
meath the Huascar's deck. Only the
after companionway was left open, to
take the wounded down. Grau sig
nailed the Union to keep out of the
way and entered the coming tower.
The Cochrane was within 5000 yards,
vet not q shot ,roS f,roI from, fhoca