3-070-991 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Destruction of the Peruvian fleet by the Peruvians before evacuating Callao, 1881. 'The capture of the city of Lima, capital of Peru, by the Chilian army, on Jan. 17, has been recorded as the crowning event of the late obstinate and costly war between the two rival South American Republics...the Peruvians...are stated to have lost about ten thousand men killed and wounded...while the Chilian army lost about five thousand. The President of the Peruvian Republic, Señor Pierola, immediately fled from Lima...followed by several thousand...townspeople...who dreaded the license and outrages of the disbanded Peruvian soldiery...The Peruvian naval squadron, then lying in the harbour of Callao, a few miles from Lima, was destroyed by the Peruvians themselves, to prevent its falling into their enemy's possession. At daybreak on Monday, the 17th, the ironclad corvette Union was taken out of the harbour and set on fire; she was afterwards abandoned, and drifted on shore after burning a few hours. The other ships were burnt inside the mole or pier of Callao, and the magazines of the batteries and forts were blown up. This scene is represented in our Illustration, from a Sketch by Lieutenant Ernest J. Fleet, R.N., of H.M.S. Gannet, on the Pacific Station'. From "Illustrated London News", 1881.