HOT TIMES IN CALLAO BAY.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3793, 23 February 1881, Page 3

HOT TIMES IN CALLAO BAY.

Lima, December 9th.—Early on the morning of the 4th the Peruvian launch Urcos, whilst on guard duty in the bay Callao, was attacked by three Chilian torpedo launches. The Peruvians was armed with one forty pounder and two mitrailleuse and rocket tables. The Urcos made a desperate resistance, but finally thought prudence the better part valor, and worked within range of the shore batteries, when the Huascar, Anramos, amd Chacabucos, with three more launches came over from the Island and tbe engagement began general. Shot, shell, and rockets were whizzing ab&it 'on the shore, whilst the batteries poaadefi away with the greatest energy at the it is believed it was struck once.. The Urcos also succeeded in striking ciie of the torpedo launches, and the combat then terminated by the Chilians returning to the island with it, to effect repairs. Three men were killed and two wounded on board the Urcos, which is nothing more than a slow launch tug. Once a torpedo boat attempted to get near enough to blow her up, but a shot from a forty-pounder put an end to the attempt. The spars weie cut qn the Chilian launches during the two hours the fighting lasted. During the first part, the fighting was done to the northward of the bay, where neutral vessels are at anchor. The Lackawanna and Garibaldi both had narrow escapes, heavy shell from the shore bursting quite close to them. They at once moved their anchorage, as in fact did most of the otherlvessels.