In early September, the Chileans again bombarded Callao. On September 13th, 1880, while the Covadonga blockaded the small port of Chancay north of Callao, firing at the town with artillery, the Chileans saw an empty gig adrift. The crew of the Covadonga sent a boat to examine her. Having checked her thoroughly, they brought the gig alongside the Covadonga, and hooked her with tackles to hoist her in. As soon as a strain was brought on the after-tackle, the gig exploded. The blast blew in the side of the Covadonga.
The Covadonga sunk almost immediately. Apparently, the gig had been fitted with a false keel, packed with dynamite, and connected to an igniter, so that no explosion could take place unless an effort was made to hoist the boat. Twenty men, among them the Commandant, drowned or died as a result of the explosion; the rest reached land and were made prisoners. In retribution, the Chileans bombed the bays and neighboring ports of Callao, including Chorrillos, Chancay and Ancon. (Mason, 1885)
Resources:
Mason, Theodorus B. M. 1885. The War of the Pacific Coast of South America Between Chile and the Allied Republics of Peru and Bolivia. 1879-'81. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office.
The Covadonga is Sunk
1880 May
On May 1, 1880, a serious explosion took place at the torpedo manufactory at Ancon. (Mason, 1885) On May 10, RearAdmiral Riveros ordered the bombardment of Callao. One of the "school ships" was sunk. It lasted four and a half hours.
The Chileans added two torpedo boats, fitted with outrigger torpedos, to their squadron, the Janequeo and the Fresia. They were armed with Hotchkiss machine guns. In addition three smaller boats, the Guacolda, Colo-colo and Tucapel were used to watch the harbor at night. (Markham, 1892)
On May 25th, a dark night, the Janequeo and the Guacaldo found themselves close to a Peruvian launch, the Independencia, commanded by Lieutenant José Gálvez, son of the late minister of war. Gálvez threw a hundred pound case of powder onto the deck of the Janequeo and exploded the powder by firing his revolver. [Other versions of the story say this was a torpedo.] The Janequeo sank. His boat sank also and Gálvez was taken prisoner with his men by the Chileans of the Guacaldo. The Peruvians also blew up a Chilean armed transport and the gun boat, Covadonga. (Markham, 1892).
Resources:
Markham, Clements R. 1892. A history of Peru. Reprinted 1968. New York: Greenwood, 556 p.
Mason, Theodorus B. M. 1885. The War of the Pacific Coast of South America Between Chile and the Allied Republics of Peru and Bolivia. 1879-'81. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office.
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