Note 15 — Chapter III

Two small Chilian wooden ships, the Esmeralda, of 850 tons, mounting eight guns, commanded by Arturo Prat, and the Covadonga, of 412 tons, with two guns, commanded by Condell, were engaged in the blockade of Iquique, when, on the 21st of May, 1879, they were attacked by the Peruvian ironclad Independencia, of 2004 tons, mounting 18 (chiefly heavy Armstrong) guns, commanded by J. G. Moore, and the monitor Huascar, of 1130 tons, mounting two 300-pounder Armstrong turret guns, besides two deck guns, under Miguel Grau, the most skilful and enterprising of the Peruvian commanders. The Chilian captains resolved on a desperate defence. After maintaining for two hours the fight against the Huascar, Arturo Prat resolved on the attempt to board his adversary. Bringing his ship alongside, he sprang on the deck of the Huascar; but the ships were separated at once, and two men only fell along with him, while the Esmeralda went to the bottom with her crew of 180 men, of whom several were picked up by the boats of the Huascar. The Independencia, following the little Covadonga, ran on the rocks in the shallows south of Iquique, and became a total wreck; while the Covadonga, though shattered by her enemy’s guns, was able to reach Autofogasta. The heroism of the Chilian commanders saved their country, and at the critical moment changed the fortune of the war.