The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-04-30


but tho two hattleship s voro in range. and
tJere was nothing left bet to fight. Grau
cleared his decks for action, the magazine
rooms were opened the HOSTS were adjust
cd and tho surgeons took their places in
tho cockpit. Tho moon was shining
brightly and the big Chilean battleships
could be plainly seen coming every mo-
ment closer. At 9:s5 O'Clock. when exact
~ off Point Augomos. the Cochrano was
just 3. 600 yards away. The Huascar opened
the action. Tho first shot struck the
, Cochrane, which replied with a continu-
Gus fire. Tho fourth hhot piercod tho Huas-
cars armor and killed - gunnors. The
O'Higgins now came up and opened fro.
Five minutes after tho beginning of the
action commands ceased to como from Adj
miral Grau. Entering tho tower, it was
found that a cannot shot had literally torn
1.-The brave cid commander to pieces. One
leg was all that was ever discovered OF
him.
Captain Aguirre assumcd command, and
two minutes after entering the tower a
solid shot showed his head clean off Lieu
tenant Corbojal then succeeded to tho 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. Tho O'iIiggins and the
Cochrane wore alongside and were pouring
a continuous fire into the Iiuascar. whose
trained gunners were all killed n all OF
her 10 inch guns -disn.ounted. Her smoke
stacks wore shot away. and dense clouds
OF black smoke were filling the vessel. The
unskilled gunEers fred, but their aim was
wild. and they did little damage. The big
guns from the assauiting cruisers sent shot
after shot crashing through the Huascar's
armor as though it 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 were pitched below to make
roem for the living. Lieutenant Rhadri-
guez, who bad succeeded Corbojal, was
torn to pieces by u shell, and Lieutenant
Palacios, who then assumed command,
was killed a few minutes later. Ensign
Gorezau then took command and gave the
order to ram the Cochrane. The vessel did
not move. Sending a nan forward, it
was found that the navigators were dead.
Others were placed, and still the vessel did
not move. Ram. I say, by God, rant
cried Gorezau in a rage. Captain re-
piled d sailor, ssthc new -nayigators arc
also dead" Still others were placed. and
the order TO ram was again given. Then
it was found that tho steering gear had
been shot away and that the vessel was
helpless. So close now were 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 Huasoar was hot away and
tho Chileans thought that she had struck.
Immediately another set of colors went up,
and the battle commenced again. Every
gun in the Huascar was disInountod. most
of her men were dead, bur the few sur
viyors fought on with rifles. Seeing that
the end had come and being mortaliy
wounded with his last breath, the gallant
Gorezau ordered his men to open tho valves
of the shin ard sink. They tried to obey
the order. but could not.
For an hour and a half the action had
lasted. but all resistance was now over in
tho brave Hrascar. Six commanders had
been killed, her decks ran in blood, her
guns were disabled, aAd there were bu5
few OF her crew left who were not dead or
wounded. Tho Chileans boarded her and
towed tho charnel house into Mejillone5
bay. The greatest naval battle between
modern warships had been fought.