AS GREAT A HERO AS NELSON-

Press, Volume XLVII, Issue 7528, 18 April 1890, Page 2

AS GREAT A HERO AS NELSON-

[St __*. Ex-Nat al Officer in thb "weekly press."j

There is no ground for believing that Lord Cochrane was a guilty participator in the Stock Exchange frauds. The general belief is that his cousin, who escaped to the Continent, was the real culprit. The -visit of De Berenger to Cocbrane's house, and the change of clothes with which he furnished the swindler, were facts which no argument could satisfactorily explain away. Though he acted from the purest motives he was drawn into a snare, from which his political enemies were careful to see that he should not escape. He was therefore held to be guilty just as an innocent person who harboured a murderer and gave him clothes would be held in law an accessory after tbe fact. If his stock jobbing scoundrel of a cousin, Cochrane Johnstone, had been manly enough to a,vow the truth Lord Cochrane could not have been made, as he was, the scapegoat. Two years after Lord Cochrane's release i.e., in the summer of 1817, Don Jose Aloarez, the accredited agent of the Government *of Chili, applied to Lord Cochrane to undertake the organization of a naval force in that country. Chili and Peru had thrown off their allegiance to Spain and were making eflorts to free themselves from their hard taskmasters. Cochrane's fame had spread all, over the world, and when he accepted the invitation of the Chilian Government, he was; only in his forty-second year, full of vigour and craving for active-service. The Spaniards were" threatening Valparaiso by sea and were still in possession of the Continent from Concepcion to Chiloe. The Spanish Government at Madrid were making efforts to recover their lost possessions by a powerfill reinforcement of their Pacific squadron* Lord Cochrane sailed from London for Valparaiso in the Rose, a merchant ship, arriving in November, 1818. His reception by the , authorities and the people was most enthusiastic. General O'Hlggihs, the Sup.erne Uirector, arrived 7-ft.m the seat of Government at'- Santiago to welcome him. The Governor of Valparaiso gave a arand dinner in his honourj this 'Lord Cochrane returned on St. Andrew's Day, presiding in the full costume _f a Scottish chief. .The knowledge of his brilliant career and of his wrongs had preceded his arrival, and all except the old Spanish party were filled with delight at having secured his services. It is remarkable that the opinion amongst all classes in Spain, France and Italy was that a man who had made himself to be respected by his enemies on account of his exceptional bravery could never stoop to the meanness of fraud ; on these grounds alone the foreigner acquitted the man; j who was condemned by his own countryman. ' -••■"■ - - '• ■; ... 7

General O'Higgins insisted on taking; Lord .and Lady Cochrane back with him to Santiago, where there was so much festivity in his honour, that Cochrane'was compelled to remind him that their pur-: pose was fighting and not tea .ting. ; Ihe facts recorded of Cochrane's career! in South America are taken from the: "Life,of General Miller," who was with Cochrane during this portion of his life. The Chilian Squadron had'just returned from a successful cruise under the command of Admiral Blanco Euc&lada, having captured the Spanish 50-gun. frigate Maria Isabel in the bay of Talcahuano. The squadron now placed under the flag of Lord Cochrane was as follows :-*■'■'

o'Hl.Rins, -Ojruns—Viee-Admiral Lord Cochrane, Oaptain Foster San Ma. tin, 56 fcU_s---Oaptain W_____*.n L%ut aro, 48 gnne—Captain Guise * Chacabuco, 20 guns—C_ptain Carter

The O'Higgins had been the Maria Isabel: the San Martin and Lautaro were old Indiamen. In addition to T the abovenamed ships, the Chilian navy consisted of the Galvarino 18 (late British sloop Hecate) and the Aracuano, 16 guns. A commission was issued confer, ing upon Cochrane the title of " Vice-Adn_iral of Chili," Admiral and Commander-in-Chief of the naval forces of the Republic. Admiral Blanco, with patriotic liberality, relinquished his position in Cochrane 8 favour, paying him at the same time the compliment of personally acquainting, the officers and crews of tne squadron with the change which had been effected. There was, however, a dark side to this picture as well as a.bright one. The captains of the squadron regarded their new admiral with jealousy; the more so, as he brought with him from England some officers upon., whom be could rely. Two of the Chilian commanders. Guise and Spey, had shortly before arrived from England with the Hecate, which had been sold out of the British navy, and bought by. then, oh ; speculation. The Buenos Ayr eah Government having declined to purchase her. they had proceeded to Chili, where she was not only purchased, but her former owners were taken into the service. These officers, together with Captain Worcester, a North American, got'_|> a cabal, the object of which was fcb bring about a divided command. But as Admiral Blanco would cot listen to this, they induced others—whose jealousy was more easily aropsed—to entertain the notion that it wa» dangerous to a Republican government to allow a foreigner to command its navy. This unhappy schism was the cause of much mischief, and but for the patriotic disinterestedness of Admiral Blanch, who 1 consented fed serve as second in command, he effect would have been fatal to the cause. ! The four ships enumerated sailed from Valparaiso on the 14th of January,lßl9. The squadron had hardly got out of port When it was considered desirable to send back the Ch&cabuco to Valparaiso inconsequence of the disorganised state of her crew. Having apparently quieted the malcontents the Chacabuco again put to sea, shortly after which tbe crew, headed by the boatswain, took possession of the ship. The officers were kept iv close confinement for several days, but owing to the gallant efforts of LieutehantMorgell, of the marines, they regained possession, having shot the boatswain and two others. Six of the ringleaders were tried and executed al Coquimbo. Before leaving port Lord Cochrane received a volunteer in the person of his son, a noble little fellow then five year* of ±_earingtfaat the Spanish line-o_-battle ship, Antonio, had left- Callao for the Cadiz with » considerable amount of treasure on board, the squadron cruised just out of sight of the port till the 21st Febraary in the hope of intercepting her. As she did not appear, preparations were made to put in execution, an attack upon the Spanish shipping. Cochrane had previously ascertained that the naval force in the harbour consisted of the frigates Esmeraldo and Venganza, a corvette, three brigs of war, a schooner, a large flotilla of gunboats- and six armed merchant ships* the whole being moored close In under the batteries which

* The present Earl of Dnndonald, who, mounted oa the shoulders of the flag-lieu tenant, wavlag his cap and crying Viva, _» PatHa, had made his escape from hi. mother. The child was not to be pactfled otherwise than'by ao-ooauapTiaghia-a-ae-. and h» spent the chief _**.-*>__-•**>-©on boaird the o___sn_,

mounted upwards of 160 guns, whilst the aggregate force of the snipping was 350 guns/h.- A direct attack with so small a force seemed too hazardous a thing to be attempted, but in its place Cochrane had formed the design to cut oat the frigates during the carnival. Knowing that two United States ships of war were daily exr:ed at Callao, it was arranged to take the O'Higgins and Lantaro under American colours, leaving the San Martin behind San Lorenzo, and if the ruse were successful, to make a feint of sending a boat ashore with despatches, and in the meantime to dash at the frigates and eat them out. _

The execution of this desperate design was frustrated by one of these thick fogs so common on the Peruvian coast, in consequence of which the Lantaro parted company, and did not rejoin the flagship for four day. afterwards. The fog lasted till the 29th, on which day heavy firing was heard, and imagining: that one of the ships was engaged with the enemy Lord Cochrane stood into the bay. The other ships also steered in the direction of the firing, and when the fog cleared for a moment they saw each other as well as a strange sail, which proved to be a Spanish gunboat with a lieutenant aud twenty men. A boat from the O'HJggins took possession of her, and the fog again coming on, suggested to the Admhal the possibility of a direct attack, which, if not successful, would at least inspire the Spaniards with respect for the Chilian Squadron. Maintaining their Yankee disguise the O'Higgins aud the Lantaro stood towards the batteries, but narrowly escaped going ashore. The viceroy, who was at the time Inspecting the squadron (the guvs fired in honour of which occasion first I drew attention to the spot) having no doubt witnessed the capture -of the guuboac, provided for their reception; the i garrison being at their guns, and the > crews of the ships of war at quarters. Notwithstanding the great odds. Admiral Cochrane determined to persist in an attack. The wind fell light, which ' prevented him from laying the flag- ( ship and the Lantaro alongside the Spanish frigates as at flrst intended, but they anchored with springs on their cables abreast of the shipping. The Spanish squadron was anchored in two lines, the rear ships being judiciously disposed so as to cover the intervals of the ships in the frontline. A dead calm succeeding, the O'Higgins and Lantaro became exposed for two hours to a heavy fire from the '. batteries in addition to that from the two frigates, the brigs Pezuela and Maypen and seven or elseht gunboats. Notwibh- ! standing these fearful odds, the northern I angle of the principal fort was silenced by I their fire. A breeze springing up, the two ; ships weighed and ran down in front of , the batteries returning their Are. Captain Guise was severely wounded, whereupon the Lantaro sheered off and stood out of; | range of shot. As neither the ban Martin; [ nor the Chacabuco had been able to reach the scene of action, aud the Lantaro had withdrawn, the flagship was left to fight alone. Under these circumstances, I Cochrane withdrew to San Lorenzo, about: i three miles distant from the forts, which he ; was allowed to do unmolested. The ' Spanish naval force present on this occasion was the Esmeralda 44, Vengauza 42, Sebastlana 28, Maypen 18, Pezuela 22, : Potrilla 18, and another of 18guns, making with a schooner and the armed merchant, ships a total of fourteen vessels, ten of which were ready for sea, and twenty"seven gunboats. When the firing commenced, Lord Cochrane had placed his boy volunteer m the after-cabin, locking the door upon him;, but not: likiug the confinement the child contrived to get out of the quarter gallery window, and joined his father on deck. He waspermitted to remain, and, attired in a miniature midship- ' "man's uniform, which' the seamen Had; made for him, endeavoured to make him-' 1 self useful by handing powder to tne men at the guns. Whilst thus employed, a round shot-took off the head of a marine close to him, scattering the unlucky man's brains in his face. Instantly recovering his self-possession, to, his father's' great relief, he ran up to-his parent, who made sure the boy waskilled, exclaiming, "lam nob hurt, papa; the shot did not touch mc. Jack says the bail is not made that can kill mama's boy." The Chilian loss in this affair was rifling, considering that the O'Higgins and Lantaro had been under the rke of more than. 200 guns; the ships, however, had been so admirably placed that thej enemy's frigates lay between them, and; the fortress so that the shot of the latter: only told upon their rigging. The action: having been commenced in a fog, the: Spaniards believed that all the Chilians) were engaged, and were not a little surprised, when it cleared, to find that for some time they had been fighting one ship only. The attack so dispirited the Spaniards that tbey dismantled their ships: of war, their topmasts and spars being, formed into a double boom across the. anchorage so as to prevent approach. The Spaniards were previously unaware of the presence of their old foe and friend Lord' Cochrane, but when made acquainted with the fact bestowed upon him the not very,complimentary title of "El Diablo," by which norn de guerre he was generally: known afterwards.

The affair in which Cochrane had been engaged was not unlike (in some respects) that in 1806 when in command of the Pallas, he engaged the Mi nerve. . The same intrepidity and skill which marked his conduct under the batteries of Isle d'Aix was observable in the harbour. of Callao. When in the Pallas he was surrounded by a devoted band of officers and men; at Callao he was associated with some who, he knew would be glad if he failed. 1

On the Ist March, Captain Foster was sent Away with the gunboat captured' from the Spaniards and the launches of the O'Higgins and Lantaro, to take pos-i session of the island of San Lorenzo, when an instance of. Spanish cruelty pre-' sented itself in the spectacle of xhlrtyseven Chilian soldiers taken , prisoners: eight years before. The unhappy, men for eight long years had been forced to work-in chains under, the supervision of a military guard, their "sleeping place during the *#hole of the'period being a filthy shed,ii. Which they were every night chained by the leg to an iron bar. The joy of these poor men at their deliverance after all hopfehad fled can be easily imagined. From these and the Spanish prisoners Lord Cochrane learned that there were in Lima a number of Chilian officers and men taken onboard the Maypen, whose Condition was even more deplorable than theirpwn, the fetters on their legs having worn their ankles to the bone; whilst their commander by a refinement of cruelty had been lying for more than a year under sentence of death as a rebeL Upon Cochraue sent a flag Of truce to the Viceroy requesting him to permit theprisoners to return to their families in exchange for the Spanish prisoners on board the Squadron and others in Chili. The request wa. rudely refused, the Viceroy concluding his reply with an expression of surprise that a British nobleman should command the maritime forces of a government " un* acknowledged by all the powers of the globe." Cochrane replied that he had adopted the cause of Chili with the same freedom of judgment that he had previously exercised when refusing the offer of an admiral's rank in Spain, made to him not long before by the Spanish Ambassador in London in the name of Ferdinand VIL

Finding his original plan of attack impracticable with his slender means Cochrane resolved .o fife out fire ships. A laboratory was formed on San Lorenzo, under the supervision of Major Miller, Three months were busily employed in the manufacture of rockets and other preparations for a renewed attacs: upon the ship* ping at Callao. '",' Leaving Admiral Blanco at Huach with the San Martin and Puyrredon, on the 4t_j pf April Lord Cochrane sailed for Supa with the O Higgins and Gaivarino. Having Sreviously learned that a sum of money estined lor the payment of Spanish troops 1 was on its way from Lima to GuaUibhchoi od the follow ins* day a party of marines; landed and captured the treasure (amounting to 70,-00dols), together with a quantity of military stores. On the 7th, having; received further information that tbe Philippine Company had placed other; treasure on board a French brig at Guam* bucho, he sailed for tbatpiace and on the 10th the seamen of the O'Higgius examined her and brought off an additional -OOOdoLs. The secret of his obtaining possession of these and other convoys of Spanish money along-the eoaat was that Lord Cochrane paid the inhabitants for information relative to its transmission. As the Chilian Ministry refused to allow him "secret service money-"-these disbursements were made at his own expense. His object was to make friends with the Peruvians by adopting towards them a conciliatory course, and by strict care that none but Spa-i-h property should be taken. Confidence was thus inspired, and the dis* satisfaction with Spanish colonial rule -soon changed to an earnest desire to shake ft off* Had i- not been for this good understanding with the inhabitants Cochrane would not have ventured to detach small parties of men, as he often did, for opera* Sons at a distance into the country.