DESPERATE AFFAIR.

Temuka Leader, Issue 303, 12 October 1880, Page 2

DESPERATE AFFAIR.

The Panama Star and Herald nf July 22nd has a story of the lo>s of the Chilean transport Loa in Calla ■ Bay. A Peruvian officer constructed a launch, put a torpedo into it and ov r this put a ialse bottom testing on springs, kept down by the weight of the cargo ; then he loaded it »• ith a very choice assort—e. , raent of fruits, and towing >t out to- ■ wards the blockading squadron before *■ daylight, set i adraft. Alt lay it floated' about, but towards evening fearing it would fall into neutral hands, a Bbat was sent out to bring it back. The Loa seeing a boat from shore making towards a neutral vessel, caught sight of the launch and turned towards it. The Loa lowered two boats, brought the launch alongside, and the discharging commenced. As the weight in the launch dimin’shel the machinery in connecti n with the tor edo was set on fire, and in a moment three hundred pounds of dynamit; were explo led. The Loa was almost lifted out of the water, and appeared enveloped in a mass of flauv j , which resolved itself into dense clouds of smoke. When this cleared away the vessel appeared not to have suffered, but suddenly she went down by the stem and disappeared. Ships of war and non-combatants quickly lowered boats and picked up about forty men struggling in the water,, of whom, it is probable, many will die. At least one hundred and fifty men perished. The only officers saved are the second commander ( wounded) the doctor, and one engineer. Every house in Callao was shaken to the ground by the explosion and every ship in the bay shivered, as if by a fearful earthquake. A Lima correspondent says -There is an ugly entered Moquegua, where the Chilians had left their sick in a car of the natives and murdered every ‘Chilian they could ' find. It is also rumored that the Chilians have sent a force to wreak rible revenge.