On 9 September Prat was promoted to Lieutenant, and on January 1870 he returned to the corvette "O'Higgins" as Assistant Executive Officer, under the command of Commander José Anacleto Goñi.

Notwithstanding the intense and hard work implied by his position, Prat never had any problems, and even more, he found time to dedicate himself to the study of mathematics, particularly cosmography and spherical trigonometry, which he enjoyed very much. He further studied other subject matters that he required to know, in order to obtain his license in Humanities, which he needed to go to the University and study Law.

On 8 January 1879, the "O'Higgins" sailed to Easter Island. The ship was performing a cruise of instruction carrying both cadets from the Naval Academy and seamen apprentices, with the mission of practicing a survey in the coasts that they would supposedly visit. The mission was wholly accomplished. A comprehensive plan of the Island was drawn, under the direction of the Director of the Seamen Apprentices School, Lieutenant Ignacio Gana, who received the cooperation of the ship's officers and cadets.

In the meantime, Prat was particularly concerned with the complete repair of the ship's masting, dedicating his effort to the upkeeping of strict discipline, control and cleannesss. His most significant action was to try to reconcile the stern, and sometimes untreatable, character of the Commanding Officer José Anacleto Goñi, with the activities of his subordinates, being loyal to both, and at the same time enabling the feeling of camaraderie and happiness to prevail on board, thus contributing to their professional progress.

Before leaving Easter Island a subject was raised on board on the convenience of embarking some natives that had asked to become part of the ship's crew, as they had no other nationality than the one the Island could bestow on them. After talking to Goñi, Prat obtained his approval to embark six of them as seamen apprentices, and another six to wait on the officers, in what was a real charity action, due to the fact that the natives were completely helpless.

The ship continued to Mejillones and Coquimbo, passing by Juan Fernández, and reaching Valparaiso on 6 March 1870.

In order to be able to render the examination needed to go to the University, Prat submitted a requirement before the University's Council asking for a date in which he deemed possible to be back in Valparaiso from his commission at Mejillones. Once in Valparaiso, on 30 October, the young Lieutenant asked for leave of absence on behalf of certain personal matters he had to attend to. It was granted and Prat rendered his pending examinations at the Valparaiso Lyceum and at the National Institute in Santiago, obtaining his Bachelorship in Humanities, which enabled him to attend the University. All this he did in moments when he not only had to divide his time between the Navy and his studies, but furthermore had trouble in being in the right place at the right moment to render his competence tests.

On 1 April 1871 he was appointed Executive Officer of the steamship "Arauco", under the command of Captain Santiago Hudson, and made a trip to Mejillones and then returned to Valparaiso, after bunkering in Lota. On 12 May, on her arrival to Valparaiso, the ship ran aground in Viña del Mar, in spite of all the precautions adopted. The sandy bottom of the sea and the calm day were not enough to save the ship --an old lady that had been bought on the run when needed to wage the war against Spain.

The Commanding Officer sent Prat to Valparaiso to obtain help and equipment to save at least the supplies and rigging, and though his mission was quick and effective, the effort did not render the expected success.

From the unfortunate "Arauco" Prat was transferred to the steamship "Valdivia", that had already been transformed into a pontoon boat, and had recently homed the Naval Academy, the Director of which was Lieutenant Commander Luis Alfredo Lynch. The Commanding Officer of the "Valdivia" was Ignacio Gana.. Prat became part of the faculty, that included Ramón Vidal, who was the Executive Officer, and Lieutenants Miguel Gaona, Ignacio Serrano and Federico Chaigneau.

On 26 April 1871, the Naval Academy was transferred to the corvette "Esmeralda", under the command of Luis Alfredo Lynch. The ship performed as Academy and also carried over some missions required by the Government, particularly at Mejillones, where some bolivian politicians had raised issues on the coast, putting at risk the interests of the chileans living there, which obviously had to be respected. Furthermore, the "Esmeralda" had to perform training exercises to maintain her state of readiness, particularly in gunnery.

By the end of 1871, the "Esmeralda" sailed for Mejillones, staying in station there until February 1872, and calling on Juan Fernández in her way back.

While in Mejillones, Arturo Prat performed as teacher of Naval Regulations, having to study the spanish monarchical standard clauses of Charles the III, which were against some evident principles of freedom. Thus, Prat started to teach his students public and administrative law theories, in order to provide guidance and clarify the rights that the so-called Regulations placed under one sole person. Such studies made him an expert on the matter and would later render its usefulness in his future law studies, which he was planning to begin as soon as possible.

Later, on April 1872, Ramón Vidal was appointed Commanding Officer of the baldhead schooner "Covadonga", and Lieutenant Arturo Prat became Executive Officer, Assistant Executive Officer, and professor of the "Esmeralda". Due to the illness of the Director, that same month of April, Prat had to replace him as Acting Commanding Officer, until June that year, when Luis Alfredo Lynch assumed command of the ship and the direction of the Naval Academy.

The ship was again commissioned for Mejillones and the number of officers started to decrease due to sick leave, which included Commander Lynch, who had to return to Valparaiso. On 21 November Prat was appointed Commanding Officer and Acting Director of the "Esmeralda" and the Naval Academy, respectively. On 28 November, the corvette was relieved by the corvette "Abtao", and left for Valparaiso the following day.

Ultima Modificación: Lunes 30 de Abril de 2001