An item referred to a letter received from Cartagena reporting that since 21 April the Spanish 52-gun steam warship Navas de Toloza (1) was lying there in the harbour. It stopped the Columbian war steamship El Rayo and forced to hand over the most important parts of the engines, rigging etc. until the government of Bogota proved that’s she was no a property of the Chilean government. The El Rayo arrived there coming from New York, USA showing the USA-flag and which was replaced by the Colombian flag one hour after her arrival. The Spanish consul at New York officially complained that she was a Chilean privateer and the people who fitted her out had to give guarantees. President Mosquera (1) said in the chamber of representatives that the ship was his property and that he expected another two ships which he would supply his country without asking any costs.
Notes
1. Wood-built screw steam frigate Navas de Tolosa launched in 1885, before 1890 decommissioned. With a displacement of 4.460 tons and as dimensions 81,04 x 15,02 x 6,82 metres or 265’9” x 49’3” 22’4”. The horsepower of 600 nhp allowed a steam of 7 knots while under steam. The armament in 1885 consisted of 22-6’4” rifled muzzle lading guns, 4-6.4” smoothbore guns and 4 smaller guns.
2. Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera (1798-1878) was president of the United States of Colombia between 14 May 1863-8 April 1864 and 22 May 1866-1 November 1867.
