The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-04-05
A FAMOUS SEA Fight.


Feruviou lroncia0o.
In the April Century Claude II. Wet
more has an article on "A Famous Sea
Fight describing the sngakemsnt be-
tween Chilean and Peruvian ironclads
of the coast OF Bolivia In 1879. Mr.. Wet
more says:
From the first OF the battle the sncour-
aging voice of drau mad come to the men
In the turret through the spsaking tube
from the conuing tower. but when the
Blanco crowded into the thick o. It, and
great shot struck the Huascar's sides az
regularly as blows of a bsttering ram,
the orders Of the commander were no
longer heard. abe officsr IN charge o
the turret called to his superior. There
was no answer, and when Ccmmandsr
ELIAS Aguerrs ran up the narrow ladder
that led to the tower, he stumbled over
tho dead body Of his admiral. A she'll
had struck the coming tower, and had
taken OF Grau's head 40 neatly as II the
decapitation had been by the guillotine.
This shell also killed Lieutenant Ferre,
the admirals aide. There was only time
to push the oorpses aside, aud the new
ommanding officer pulled back the tube
flap 10 give his directions, but as he did
50 the Husscar staggered, keslsd over,
then shook In every plate, while a CON-
cussion more terrific. than any 80 far told
that shell had entered the turrst and
burst there. When the fumes had cleared
away 50 that a person could speak, mid
shipman called out that one Of the great
hsA h<a ,txA
men killed. The survivors tumblsd the
bodies through the Eatoh that opened into
the dcck below, thus releasing the clog
gsd machinsry. and ~ the oorpsss ratified
down othsr men rushed up, throwing of
their clothing as they jumred into the
pools Of blood to seize hold Of the gear
and swing the remaining gun in posi-
tion, that it might train upon one Of tie
ships-they could no longer make out
which, nor did they oars-and 1t was dis
charged, hauled In, loaded, and dis
charged again.
Onco moro all was silent in the coming
tower. Lieutenant Palacios nastsned
there, but before hs could enter as was
compelled to push three bodies out of the
way. He nsa barely siven his first oom-
mand whom . bullet II ON the well-aimed
rifle OF a marine In an enemy's top
lodged between his eyes. Then the
fourth to command the Husscar that
day, Lieutenant Pedro Garezon, took the
place, and - no did 30 he called through
an aperture, telling the qusrterinastsr to
put the hslm to port, for he rad deter
mined to ram one of his adversaries. and
sink with her II necessary. Over an over
spun the wheel, but the Huascar's head
still pointed between tae Chilsans.
Port Port, 1 say. screamed the
commander.
''shs won't answer" came back the
sullen reply from the only one of four
quartsrmasters alive; the bodies of the
others were lying upon the grating at
his feet.
"A shot has carried away the starboard
steering-sear. sir" reported an ensign;
and he dropped dead as the words lsft
his mouth.
The Huascar now lay drifting In a
hell of shot and flame, put all the while
the rcd. white and req 1ottersd from the
peak. One BY ont, In twos and In
tLrses. tho men in tho turret dropped at
their pvsts and ct last the remaining
great gun was silent, its tackle literally
ehoked with dsad. The tuIret could not
be turned for the same reason. Corpses
hung over the military top; corpses clog
ged the coming tower.
With coats and waistconts of. the sur
geons had teen laboriae In the ward
room upon the wounded, who. shrieking
in their agony, had teen tumbIed down
the companionway like 90 much butch
cred beef; for there was no time to use
strstcrers CT to carry a stricken oomrade
TO touior's csre. steam and smoke fl
tered through ths doorwsys, and the
apartments teoame sitting. While they
we're saving, amputatiug and bandaging
q she'll tore into the ward room, burst
aud fragments wounded the assistant
surgeons the chief Of the msdical stat
having been killsd earlier In the cnflict.
Those unfostunates who were stretc aed
upon the table awaiting their turn under
the knife and those who lay upon the
floor, suffered no more pain; ttey were
killed as they lay grooming. This she'll
tore away ward room and stern cabin.
ana hardly trace was lett Of the bulk
head. After that what little surgery
was done was performed in the coal
bunkers.
Huddlsd In . psssageway near the on
aine room were q score or more Of nom
mbatants-stewaris pantrymen and
etp kera They Vere Ia a uIace that WAS
lighted only rs flashes came from the
guns; IL was filled with powder, smoke,
and clouds OF stsam that drifted from te-
low told that the Huascar had teen
struck in n vital sopt Of her machinery.
saddeDly trey heard q crash, followed by
ths rending Of the deck, and the little
ironclad swnyed rs IL she tad struck a
ref. sofre one passed tie word that the
ma intopu ast bad bssn shot away. AS
1t came down it irought living men 10 be
arsLsd To death, also oorpses that had
been hanging over the sides Of the mill