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Updated: May 15, 2025
Jim closed up his telescope with a snap, and made his way to the forward turret of the Blanco Encalada to ascertain how long it would be before the gun captains thought they might effectively open fire; for he was most anxious to share in the combat before all was over.
There is something amiss, after all. Go full speed ahead, for all you are worth. That light is heading straight for the Blanco Encalada, and if it should be an enemy's boat which is carrying it we shall have all our work cut out to intercept her before she reaches the flagship. I wonder whereabouts the Cochrane launch is. She would be of great assistance to us now.
Like a flash Terry disappeared to rouse the crew, while Douglas continued to watch the approach of the launch, in a perfect agony of apprehension. The little craft was very close indeed now, and, steaming at the rate of some nine knots, she would be alongside the Blanco Encalada in a couple of minutes; and once alongside the battleship, nothing could save the latter from destruction.
Having, therefore, made certain that they had left no enemy in their rear, the Chilians steamed away from Iquique on the 3rd of October, and arrived at a point ten miles to the south of Arica at three o'clock the next morning, where the fleet hove to, in order to allow of a council of war being held by the commodore and captains in the cabin of the Blanco Encalada.
Admiral Williams had thereupon sent an ultimatum to the intendente that, unless Senor Douglas was returned to the Blanco Encalada by daybreak, he would bombard.
It was half-past one o'clock p.m. on the eventful day of April 22 when Admiral Riveros hoisted a signal on the Blanco Encalada for the fleet to weigh anchor and stand over toward the batteries in readiness to engage; and a few moments later the clatter of chain-cables was heard, as the men-o'-war got their anchors.
The Chilian admiral, Blanco Encalada, had succeeded in capturing a Spanish fifty-gun frigate, which had been renamed the O’Higgins; but this was only a temporary success; and with his undisciplined and badly-equipped fleet he was quite unable to withstand the threatened attack of the Spaniards. Lord Cochrane had to encounter troubles from the outset.
This gentleman listened courteously to them, examined them shortly upon their capabilities, and finally gave them a letter of introduction to Admiral Rebolledo Williams, of the battleship Blanco Encalada, to whom he recommended them to apply, saying at the same time that he had little doubt they would be successful in obtaining commissions, as Admiral Williams was very short of efficient officers just then.
The soldiers were therefore to be landed at once under cover of the guns of the squadron, while a naval force, composed of men from the Blanco Encalada and the Almirante Cochrane, were at the same time instructed to land at the northern part of the seaport and seize the Custom House.
Jim then bade good-bye to Captain Condell and returned to his own ship, the Blanco Encalada, where he was most enthusiastically received by all his friends, an especially warm welcome being extended to him by his chum Terry O'Meara.
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