The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-04-28
SCENES AND ADVENTURES in. THE BLOOD-sTAINED

lowed closely by the Coohrane, and Il was
apparent that they were gaining. Al
nigftfall tho Huascar was on Arica, and
the Cochrnne was scarcely three miles
away. The only hopo left was to round
Point Augomos and escape down the coastv-
and consequently the Huascar poured oil
on her Ores and put on every pound Of
steam that she eduId bear. but. still tho
Cochrane and tbeOHiggins drew stead
lily nearer. The point was now In sight,
but the two battleships were In range. and
there was nothing left but to fight. Grau
cleared bis decks for action, the magazine
rooms were opened. the hoists wero adjust
cd and the surgeons took their places In
the cockpit. The moon was shining
brightly and the big Chilean battleships
could be plainly seen coming every mo-
ment closer. At 0;25 o'clock, when exact
ly of Point Augomos, the Cochrane was
just 1000 yards awav The Huascar opened
''the action. The first shot struck tho
Cochrane, which replied with a contipu-
ous fire. The fourth shot pierced the Huas-
cars armor and killed 10 eunners. The
O'Higgins now came up and opened FIRE.
Five minutes after the beginning Of the
action commands ceased to come from Ad-
miral Grau. Entering the tower, IL was
found that cannot shot had literally torn
the brave old commander to pieces One
log was all that was ever discovered Of
him.
Captain Aguirre assumed command, and
two minutes after cnteripg the tower Q
solid shot showed bis bead clean of. Lieu
tenant Corbojal then succeeded to the COM
mand. Five minutes later n shell exploded
In the tower and killed him and five 9TH
ers. The scene was now something awful
to contemplate The OHiggins and the
Cochrane were alongside and were pouring
continuous fire into the Huascar whose
trained eunners were all killed and all Of
her 10 inch guns dismounted: Her smoke
stacks were shot away, and dense clouds
of blnck smoke were filling the vessel The
unskilled gunners fired, but their aim was
wild, and they did little damage. The big
guns from the assaulting cruisers sent shot
after shot crashing through the Huascar's
armor as though 1t had been paper, while
the machine and rapid fire guns raked her
decks until dead men were piled In heaps
So great was tho carnage that the dead and
wounded wero pitched below to make
room for tho living. Lieutenant Rhadri
guez, who had succeeded Corbojal, was
torn to pieces by shell, and Lieutenant
Palacios, who then assumed command,
Gorezau then took command and gave the
order to ram the Coohrane The vessc, did
not move. Sending q man forward, 1t
wasfound ts.t tho navigators were dead.
Others were placed, and still the vessel did
not move. Ram, say, by God, ramr
cried Gorezau In a rage. Captain, re-
piled a sailor, .''the new nayigators are
also dead" Still others were placed, and
the order to ram was again given. Then
IL was found that the steering gear had
been shot away and that the vessel was
helpless. SO close now wero the assailants
that the FIRE from their guns set fire to the
clothing OF the dead sailors on the deck OF
the Huascar Suddenly the firing ceased.
Tho flag of the Huascnr was shot away, and
the Chileans thought that she had struck.
Immediately another set of colors went up
and the battle commenced again. Every
gun In the Huascar was dismounted, most
OF her men were dead. but the fcw sur
vivors fought on with rifles. Seeing that
the end had como and being mortally
wounded with bis last breath, the gallant
Gorezau ordered his men TO open the valvee
of the ship and sink. They tried to obey
the order. but could not.
For an hour and half the action had
lasted, but all resistance was now over in
the brave Huascar. Six commanders had
been killed, her decks ran in blood, hor
guns were disabled, and there were but
few of her crew left who wcro not dead or
woithded. The Cbileans boarded her and
towed tho charnel house into Mejillones
bay. The greatest naval battle between
modern warships had been fought.