Page:A history of Chile.djvu/313

 THE PERUVIAN WAR 285 ceed to Valparaiso to undergo such repairs as would enable them to match in speed the redoubtable "Huas- car. " Other vessels of the navy were also overhauled, and a number of transports hired and purchased. On the 27th of August^ the "Huascar" appeared off the port of Antofagasta, having stopped at Iquique on her way down, where she took aboard two of the Ley torpedoes. In the bay were the "Magallanes" and "Abtao, " the latter with disabled machinery. Captain Grau, approaching the Chilean vessels, immediately opened fire, but they were moored so near the shore batteries that he was unable to take them. The "Abtao" was severely damaged and about twenty of her crew killed and wounded. A three hundred pound shot struck the "Huascar's" funnel and killed an officer. The torpedo expert had launched one of his missiles during the night at the "Abtao," but it had not pro- ceded far when it turned and came back toward its starting point. The "Huascar" was only saved by the gallant Lieutenant Diez Canseco jumping overboard and deflecting the torpedo from its course. Thoroughly disgusted with torpedoes of this pattern, Captain Grau had them all buried in a cemetery at Iquique. The Chileans, however, resurrected them. Quitting Anto- fagasta, the "Huascar" cruised about for some time, visiting Talca, Tocapilla and Mejillones and destroy- ed many launches and other property, before retiring to Arica. Admiral Juan Williams Robelledo had, as we have seen, resigned, and Admiral Galvarion Riveros had been appointed in his place to the command of the Chilean fleet. On the first of October, the squadron, consisting of the "Blanco," "Cochrane," "O'Higgins," "Covadon- ga" and transports "Loa'' and "Cousina, " fell in with the "Huascar" and "Union" off Antofagasta and gave