Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-05-21
A BLOODY BATTLE.
The Famous Sea Fight During the Gillian
Peruvian Wharf.-The Decks Of the Yes
sells Yeretable SnambleS-FOur
Commanders Killed.


Peruvian war of 1879, which was the
result of a quarrel over the nitrate
beds near Antofagasta, Bolivia,
Claude Fl. Wetmore, in the Century
Magazine for April, gives a graphic
account of one of the most famous
sea fights of modern times. Admiral
Grau, an able officer, who was a
graduate of the French Naval Acad-
envy, and Captain Moore, a half
breed, was in command of the Peru
Wan turret-ship Buascar for the
Union.
On the night Of October I, 1879,
when only four days from home,
they encountered the Ch;lian Almi-
rante Cochrane, from which they at,
tempted to fly, having been ordered
by President Prado not to risk a
conflict with one of the enemy's bat
tie ships. When this proved useless,
Grau knew that it meant surrender
or fight, and be prepared for battle.
What followed is best told by Mr..
Wetmore, who writes:
cat 9 o'clock the Cochrane was
within 5000 yards, and Grau, hav-
ing give last glance around, and
having signalled the Union to keep
out of the enemy's way, entered the
coming tower that was to prove bis
tomb. Not shot had yet been fired
These modern ships, carrying guns
that could throw a she'll from four to
five miles, reserved their fire for
closer quarters. Five minutes later
Grau gave command to the officer
in the turret, and a shot from one of
the Huascar s 10 inch guns whistled
over the water. The commander of
the Cochrane evidently wished for
still closer range and did not reply
until three shots had left the turret
OF the little ship. Finally the answer
came in the shape of broadsde
and she'll entered the Huascar's
protective belt just above the water
line. A moment later the Calling
guns in the tops OF both ships were
brought into action and leaden hail
began to patter, while great projec.
tiles were hurled from the large deck
cannon. The rapid firing pieces of
the Chilians were trained upon the
Huascar's turret apertures, while the
one in the military top Of the latter
vessel was aimed at the gun ports of
the enemy. Many man dropped
dead or wounded, hit by one of these
small SHOT. For fifteen minutes not
much was accomplished by the great
gun fire; the heavy shot either fell
short of the mark or were buried in
the armor. By this time, when the
ships were within 1900 yards of
each other, she'll from the Cochrane
entered the Huascar's turret, ex-
ploded and killed twelve men. But
the places of the dead were quickly
taken by men from below, the cham
Der was cleared of the corpses, the
guns were loaded again and the ac-
tion was renewed. Then the Huas-
car secured an advantage. One Of
her 10-inch shells forced its way
through a case.mate, exploded on
the deck, dismantled a gun and
killed several men. For few min
utes the enemy was in such confusion
that not cannon was fired and it
became almost a panic on the Coch.
rane when the Huascar edged in
closer, her sailors cheering as they
again discharged the twin pieces.
"At this stage of the combat vic
tory perched for a moment on the
red, white and red, bat even as it
did so the comma1 Ter OF the Coch-
rane saw relief which Grau bad not
preceiyed. In fact shot that pillow.
ed into the Huascar's side was the
first warning the Peruvian Admiral
had of assistance coming TO the Chill
ians,and looking to starboard through
a peep-hole in the coming tower he
saw the Blanco Encalada bearing
down, while yeering seward, only a
few cable lengths astern of the rapid
" approaching iron clad, were the
Matlas Cousino and the Coyadonga.
evidently starting otto give chase to
the Union, by this time well in the
ofling, and fitted, because of her
superior speed, to take care of her
sell. Grau, therefore, turned his at
tcntion to his own ship, which, IN
deed. was iu sore straits.
"Seeing aid at hard the men on
the Coehrane had redoubled their