The Battle of Ironclads.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3458, 24 January 1880, Page 1

The Battle of Ironclads.

South American mails bring the following thrilling details of the capture of the Huascar:—

From the moment the Chilian ironclad - appeared on the horizon, from the northward, while the Blanco Encalada was steadily pursuing the ram from the south, Admiral Gran perceived clearly that his ship was doomed; but, brave as he was, no thought of surrender entered his mind, and the whole ship's company assumed their appointed stations for the \ struggle, with a conviction that no human power could extricate them from such overwhelming forces as those presented by the Chilian vessels. From the decks and tops of the two vessels the fire of musketry and Gatling guns was incessant, and on the Huascar. the effect was becoming painfully apparent. One hour and eight minutes after the com* mencement of the fight, the Huascar had discharged her turret pieces twentyfive times against the Cochrane, the latter replying with thirty shots. At this moment the other Chilian ironclad arrived on the scene and immediately opened fire, first directing her attention to the Huasear's fighting < turret and little tower near the smokestack, which is the battle station of the commander. The Blanco's guns were excellently served, and their effect was terrible. The tower was carried away, and Admiral Gran was taken down below, for the care of surgeons, with one of his legs torn off. While in the cabin, a solid 300 pound shot from the. Blanco struck the ram in the stern, destroyingher steering gear, and passing directly through the ship, leaving a gaping aperture large enough for a boat to enter. This shot killed the brave Admiral, his aide, Lieutenant Fere, and several others. Captain Elias Aguirrie assumed command of the ship on the death of the Admiral, and took his station in the gun turret, but on this point the two Chilians had consentrated their fire. The turret was hit by a heavy shell, which passed through a port and exploded inside, disabling one of the two guns, and killing Aguirre and all who were serving the piece. The Huascar was now practically at the mercy of the enemy, ungovernable, and with half her defensive power destroyed, and her officers and crew decimated ; but the national flag was still flying in defiance, and no one even whispered of surrender. Captain Melliton Carvajal took command after Aguirre's death, but was instantly taken below dangerously wounded. First Lieutenant Rodrigues succeeded him, and a moment afterwards shared the fate of the Admiral and Aguirre. Lieutenant Enrique Pala- | cious followed Rodriguez in command, and although severely wounded, continued in charge until the end of the bloody drama. Still the Huascar discharged her sole remaining cannon at long intervals, as the very turret itself, only 30ft in diameter, was choking up with the debris of the shattered gun and the bodies of the dead and wounded. Below, in the dark passage aud narrow compartments of the ship, the scene was frightful. The dying and those who had perished were heaped indiscriminately together, and every few moments a shot from the enemy came crashing through the sides of the doomed' vessel. The forecastle was completely shot away, the mast cut in two, the mitrailleuse in the top rendered useless, the smokestack and chimney riddled with balls, the propeller struck and fouled, one gun disabled, and out of 116 men who went into the action only 86 were alive, and the majority of these were hors de combat. Five commanders had succeeded each other in their perilous post. Three were dead, one grievously wounded, and the fifth barely able to mantain his trumpet. The Chilians thought that the time had come to close, and sent a boarding party to complete the victory. But the brave fellows on the devotedHuascar rallied, and drove them back with loss; 'Thia-wjat-the expiring effort. v Flesh aud blood could do no more. Indeed, human vigor and bravery had withstood the steady; shocks which had overcome the iron bulwarks of the historic ship. The Chilians sent another boarding party, this time with success, and the Huascar was theirs. The enemy lowered the flag which had waved triumphantly along their coast, and witnessed many a gallant exploit of the dead Admiral.