Presidente Pinto
The keels of both ships were laid down at the shipyard F.C. de la Mediterranée, La Seyne, France. The Errazuriz was launched on 21 June 1890 and the Pinto on 4 September 1890 and both were completed in 1892. The Errazuriz was since serving as a gunnery training ship and finally stricken in 1930, her sister ship however was already twenty years earlier stricken. With a displacement of 2,047 tons were the dimensions 81,8 (between perpendiculars) x 10,9 x 4,39 metres. The engines and four boilers supplied 5,400 hp allowing a maximum speed of 18.3 knots. The coal bunker capacity was 400 tons. The armament consisted of 4x1-15cm guns, 21x-12cm guns, 4x1-5,7cm guns and 3-35,6cm torpedo tubes.
The newspaper Algemeen Handelsblad dated 28 July 1891 reported that the Presidente Errazuriz arrived at Lisbon where immediately measures were taken by the Portuguese government to guard her and prevent that Portuguese sailors were enlisted. According to the rumours were all foreign sailors on board would be forced to go on shore where their documents would be inspected by the respectively consuls. Further was more said that the steamship Las Palmas was waiting off the Canary Island to supply her the necessary coal and to go with her to Valparaiso. Her sister ship the Presidente Pinto hit shortly after her departure from Toulon for her trial a sandbank and despite support of tugs still not salvaged. Her commanding officer was Chilean but his first officer seemed to be British.
The newspaper edition dated 29 July 1891 published an item dated Toulon 25 July reported that the Presidente Pinto was grounded a day earlier during her trial but still not refloated. The wind changed from direction from West to the East causing her further being pushed on the beach and now in7,5’feet water. All efforts were done to unload her and refloat her. The edition dated 1 August reported that she was salvaged and towed back to the shipyard with a broken screw and a slightly damaged hull.
The newspaper De Tijd dated 1 August 1891 referred to the British newspaper Times which referred tidings from Lisbon that the French consul requested the police to arrest the French purser Lachlin on the Errazuriz while he was there illegal. He was also artillery officer in the French army and did not asked for permission to join the Chilean navy. Although he protested heavily even with arms was he transported to the house of the civilian governor. As a result sent the commanding officer of the Chilean warship two enlisted French seamen from board. A released young Spaniard told the Spanish consul that on board were forty Spanish prisoners and many British and French and twelve Portuguese. A Spanish stoker which run away confirmed this story telling that the sailors just got water and salted meat.
The newspaper Algemeen Handelsblad dated 16 August published an item dated St. Vincent 15 August that the Errazuriz arrived there the 8th bunkered coal but still staying there. Her officers did not say anything about their destination. Rumours claimed that she was waiting for some more officers, a chief engineer and her sister ship.
The newspaper De Tijd dated 28 August referred to tidings from Kiel that she arrived at Kiel after unsuccessful efforts at Marseille, Genoa and Plymouth to complete her crew and complete her fitting out. In the meantime arrived also a transport of the British firm Armstrong&Co and it was believed that she would be armed at Kiel. German newspapers demanded that the German cabinet just like the Italian, French and British cabinets would prevent her fitting out.
The newspaper Algemeen Handelsblad dated 3 September reported that the Pinto bunkered coal and was preparing for departure towards Kiel. The German cabinet made the commanding officer clear that under none conditions he was allowed to enlist German citizens or buy guns.
The edition dated 9 September published an item dated Berlin the 6th reported that the Pinto anchored on a few miles distance from Copenhagen. The steamship Jesmond with the guns and ammunition on board for the Pinto was ordered to return to Newcastle.
The edition dated 12 September reported that the Pinto after her long stay at Copenhagen was underway to Southampton. Despite the Danish government forbade so she seemed to have received her guns still in Danish waters. From Kiel was reported that her commanding officer and chief engineer were underway to Paris where she would be handed over to the Chilean Congress party.
The edition dated 18 September reported that she steamed from Hamburg towards Le Havre where she was to be handed over to the Chilean government.
The edition dated 1 October reported that the Pinto still was wandering in European waters visiting several harbours. She was now lying at Hamburg and on board broke mutiny out. The police however refused assistance when the commanding officer asked for help while they had no permission to do so.
The Dutch newspaper Locomotief dated 2 October published an interesting item dated Berlin 27 August which referred to a telegram received from Kiel. This telegram reported that recently from England the Chilean warship Pinto arrived to be completed but that measures were taken to prevent taking guns on board. On board was a crew of just 150 men which were not dressed in uniforms and who behave very proper when coming on shore. A British steamship also arrived from the firm Armstrong&Co. with the necessary crew and 150 labourers to complete the Presidente Pinto within some weeks.
