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THE PERUVIAN WAR 305 been sent to maintain the blockade in the port of Chan- cay, not far from Callao. Observing an empty gig and launch near the mole, the "Covadonga" opened fire and destroyed the launch, and then sent a boat alongside to examine the gig. When this had been satisfactorily done, the little craft was towed to the warship where tackles were hooked on for the purpose of hoisting her up the starboard davits. When the tackles were tight- ened an explosion took place. The "Covadonga" was blown in and sank immediately. The gig had been arranged to explode in this manner. The captain and some of the crew perished, but about fifty of the men were rescued. These diabolical acts enraged the Chileans to such an extent that Admiral Riveros bombarded three de- fenseless towns ; not, however, until the Peruvians had refused to accede to his demands and turn over the "Union" and "Rimac," then lying in the harbor pro- tected by the guns of the batteries. An expedition of three thousand men was landed at Chimbote, Paita and other places about this time, com- manded by Colonel Patrick Lynch, the avowed object being to ravage the coast towns. In Paita, he burned the. custom-house and other public property, and com- mitted depredation in ten or eleven other coast towns, as well as upon adjoining farms. Near Chimbote a contribution was demanded of nearly gioo,ooo from a rich sugar planter at Palo Seco, by way of ransom. The president, Pierola, refused to allow the planter, Don Dionisio Derteano, to pay the amount; then Lynch burned the premises and destroyed the property. After this another attempt was made by the Peruvi- ans to blow up Chilean ironclads, October gth, by means of a sunken boat filled with powder. This time they were not successful. On the 6th of December, three of