May 21, 1879 · Pacific Ocean off Iquique Theater
May 21, 1879
Blockading Iquique, the old wooden Chilean corvette Esmeralda was cornered by Peru's powerful ironclad Huáscar. When Grau rammed the Esmeralda, her captain Arturo Prat leapt aboard the enemy ironclad sword in hand, calling on his men to follow, and was cut down. The Esmeralda was rammed three times and sank with her colours flying. Grau chivalrously rescued survivors and returned Prat's effects to his widow.
Commanders