1880 June

On June 7th, the Chileans stormed Arica's fortifications. The Peruvians fought to the death, and among those lost were Francisco Bolognesi and Alfonso Ugarte.

In June or early July, 1880 several of a new torpedo, developed by the celebrated mathematician and inventor, Captain John Ericsson, were being shipped via Panama to Peru. (Panama Star Herald, Oct. 2, 1880)

Also in June, Paul Boyton paddled down the Delaware from Philadelphia to Ship John's light.

On June 28th in New York, W. R. Grace, his wife and two daughters boarded the ferry, the Sewanhaka, that carried passengers from Manhattan across Long Island Sound. While near Hell's Gate, passengers heard a rumble and saw a fire. Passengers cut off by the fire from escape jumped into the sea and drowned. Fifty people died. W. R. Grace helped calm passengers and helped them make their escape from the burning ship. The next day he emerged as a hero. The Democrats, looking for a strong candidate and successful businessman, asked him to run for Mayor of New York. (Grace, 1953) (Clayton, 1985)

Resources:

Clayton, Lawrence. 1985. Grace: W.R. Grace & Co. The formative years 1850-1930. Ottawa, Illinois: Jameson. 403 pp.

Grace, J. Peter Jr. 1953. W. R. Grace (1932-1904) and the enterprises he created. New York, Newcomen Society, 1953. 28 pp.