1879 September

On September 3rd, Consul Marquez informed the Peruvian government that another Herreshoff torpedo boat acquired through the Grace company had arrived in Panama, coming from New York. He was worried that the authorities would confiscate the cargo. The government sent the Oroya to bring the munitions to Peru. (Yábar, 2001, p. 129)

On the 10th another Herreshoff torpedo of the the same type, completely armed and 70 feet in length arrived from the same source. Also reportedly arriving at approximately the same time were six Krupp cannons destined for Bolivia, three million rifle and machine gun munitions, 4500 rifles, 2 Nordefield machine guns and 40 conical steel shot for the squadron. The Oroya went to Panama to receive this cargo, entered directly to the port and loaded the armaments in Taboga. The Chileans objected strongly, but by the 23rd of September, the Oroya, with its cargo, departed from Panama headed towards Callao. (Yábar, 2001, p. 129)

Marquez expected a yacht torpedo and two more launches to arrive by the beginning of October, sent from New York by Canevaro, Vice President of the Republic. A torpedo launch arrived on the Ailza. Three naval officials went to Panama to await its arrival. The chief M. De la Barrera observed that it lacked navigation equipment and machinery. They believed that after it was tested in Europe, it was poorly attended. Rust had formed in all the parts that were not copper or bronze. Pistons, cylinders and condensers were rusted shut. It is possibly this launch that was captured by the Amazonas in Ballenita, a port in Ecuador.

Resources
Yábar Acuña, Francisco. 2001. Las Fuerzas Sutiles y la defensa de costa durante la Guerra del Pacifico. Lima: Dirección de Intereses Marítimos. 650 pp.