SINKING A WARSHIP.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9140, 22 July 1891, Page 3

SINKING A WARSHIP.

THE FATE OF THE BLANCO ENCALADA. How the Chilian . warship Blanco En-, calada was sunk ia described by the correspondent of the New York World, as^ follows :~Early on the morning of April' 23 the third officer of the Encalada, Lieutenant Marquiz, was upon the bridge when the lookout called his attention to a light to seaward on tho ironclad's port. In a moment it disappeared, and it was surmised, as events proved, that it was the search-light of the Government torpedo boat Condell.' Half an hour afterwards the clouds obscuring the moon cleared away and the officer saw two small vessels not more than half a mile away, both bearing down upon tho ironclad at full speed. One was the Almiranto Condell coming on from tho south-west, while the Almirante Lynch approached from the north-west. The Encalada wa3 CAUGHT UNAWARES. She was at anchor and her fires were banked, so that she could not have been able to get up steam enough to turn round even had her anchors been up. The alarm was immediately sounded, and the crew and officers took up their position to repel the attack. Tho Condell came bow on, and as soon as she was within range fired a torpedo, which, however, missed its mark. At tho same time the torpedo boat opened fire with her Hotchkiss gun, which, being on a pivot, could be turned in every direction. The Almirante Lynch, which had slowed down as she approached the man-of-war, also made use of her Hotchkiss gun when almost bows on. The Encalada answered, but owing to her disabled condition, could not do much damage. THE FIRST SERIOUS CALAMITZ was caused by a shell from tho Blanco Encalada which carried away some of the Almirante Lynch'a fore-rigging, and as tho Government boat was much exposed she took up a new position to starboard of tho ironclad, whence she fired a torpedo, which, like that of the Condell, missed its aim. The Blanco Encalada replied with a heavy fire, but the Lynch manoeuvred quickly and was difficult to hit. She soon fired another torpedo, which, like the others, missed, going 100 yds astern. In this manner the insurgent sailors fought with all the energy of which they were capable, being fnlly alive to their terrible danger. , Every shot ut the smaller Government boats was carefully aimed, but the steel armour of the torpedo vessels turned aside the shot and shell. Tho Condell fired two more torpedoes, but both went wide' of the mark. In return the Blanco Encalada landed A SUEtL FROM ONE OF HER HEAVIEST GUNS. on to the deck of the Condell, killing four men and shattering her rear smoke-stack. On the starboard side the Almirante Lynch was busy with her Hotchkiss gun, which tore the rigging of the Blanco Encalada into tatters, smashed her boats, and played havoc with her upper works. The dead and wounded lay upon the Encalada's decks, which were slippery with blood. Her sailors fought bravely, and though the Lynch sent two more torpedoes in her direction, the explosives Went wide of their mark. Altogether the Lynch ejected four torpedoes at the Encalada without effect. Tho officers of- the Lynch 1 now determined to make . A SUPREME EFFORT. Her flag was run np to the peak, and her • Hotchkiss gun becume silent. She worked round until she was bow on to the starboard side of the Encalada, and then thoro was a swish from the tube in the Lynch 's ram. The Encalada got her Bearch lights on the approaching miaßilo, as she had on the other four, and her gunners poured a leaden rain on to it for the purpose of sinking' it. This time, however, the aim of tho torpedo was true, and the storm of shot' from the Encalada failed to destroy it.' The steel torpedo net also failed to divert the messenger of destruction, so eudclen and unexpected was the attack. The torpedo struck the' Encalada just abaft the foremast, and a deafening explosion followed. A huge hole yawned in her (Starboard' sidej extending below the water-lino, and the ironclad quickly filled. TERROR REIONED ON BOARD. tho doomed ironclad, and tho men scrambled into the boats, hanging upon the rear davits, which were the only one.H that had not been destroyed by the fire of the O'lliggins' guns. Both the Condell and the Lynch now opened fire from the Ilotchkiss guns, and scores of men wore killed .while attempting to escape. Many of the sailors sprang into the water only to meet deatli by drowning or by being eaten by sharks, with which tho bay nbounds. The ironclad quickly settled, and, with a sudden lurch, wont down in lean than three minutes, with her officers and cre\v. Out of two hundred men only twelve escaped. Among the latter was Captain Goni, who sprang overboard, and, escaping tho sharks, swam to the Caldora Boach, whero lie was rescued in an exhausted state.