Untitled

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 53, 2 March 1880, Page 4

A British naval officer, writing from Valparaiso, states that of a large numher of English sailors among the crew of the Huascar, upwards of 30 had passed through the gunnery ships Excellent or Cambridge, many of whom were deserters from the English navy. One was formerly midshipman in our navy, but failing to pass the examination at Greenwich College, he joined the service of the Argentine Republic as lieutenant, but threw up his commission and shipped as. able seaman on board the Huascar in order to see sonic active service. He adds that nearly all those killed on board the Huascar in the engagement were English . or Americans, and they too, did nearly all the fighting, the Peruvian portion of the crew having, after the death of Admiral Grau, who, it is mentioned is of English descent, deserted their stations, and devoted themselves to pillaging the cabins of the officers.