The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-10-31
L. $. SHIP ONCE FIRED ~ FROM
\ TURKISH FORT
Admiral Worden Cleared for Action
An Interesting and Exciting Incl
dent-Col. Mclean Was Aboard.

ne statements COMING lloli lll'
newspaper correspondents now in the
Turkish domain regarding the dispute
arising between the United States and
Turkey i'm allowing american men-of-
war into the harbor at ConstantinopIe
and the subsequent rumored mission
of the Bancroft to force its way
through the Dardanelles, is the source
of considerable discussion among the
National Guard men and all others in
this city. Honolulu has Il resident
who has had some experiences with
the Turks. This individual is Col.
Mclean, commanding the National |
Guard of Hawaii.
Col. Mclean. who has seen service |
in the United States navy, was sta |
toned some years ago in the Smyrna
harbor with United States fleet, in
command of Admiral Worden of Mon
itor fame. One of the squadron, the
L. S. Flagship Trenton, was fred upon
by Turkish fort and had it not been
for a hastv reconsideration of his ac-
ton on the part of the Turkish com
mandant, there probably would have
been II few more pages of Turkish his
tory than there is TO-DAY.
at all came about i'm this way" be-
gan Col. Mclean last evening in relat-
ing the story to Il group of friends.
"The Nandalia, the Marion and the
| Trenton. all American ships, were ~
| ing in the Smyrna harbor, The har-
Dor was a rendezvous for warships
from countries all over the world. The
Turkish government had very prop
erly given an order applying to all
men-of-war in the harbor, TO the effect
that no vessel would be permitted To
pass through the channel leading
down to Athens before sunrise or after
sunset.
admiral Worden prepared to steam
the Trenton down to Athens one af-
ternoon and the men were set to work
pulling up the anchor about ) o'clock,
fully two hours before shutdown. The
admiral did not wish to break the
Turkish regulation and the men were
| hurried in their work. But we eXper-
| fenced hard luck in the nature of
| foul anchor as the sailors term it.
However, the Trenton steamed out of
the harbor and got under full head
way before the Turkish fort alongside
of the channel was neared.
AS we approached the old for there
was a group of Turkish officers gath
cred about on the ramparts. They
were waving their hats. every mothers
son of them and Admiral Worden
thinking they were saluting him,
stepped to the side of the ship and
bowed in acknowledgements.
''Suddenly the flag which had been
floating TO the breeze from the pole
in the fort was withdrawn. This was
official sunset, but it was, of course,
quite light yet. Almost simultaneous
! ly with the lowering of the colors a
shot was fired from the fort, the shell
whizzing over the bow of the Tren-
ton.
"'Clear ship for action, Capt. Davis,
Beat to quarters, Train guns on
fort These orders came sharp and
quick from Admiral Worden.
Il don't know how long it was be-
fore the big guns of the Trenton We're
trained on the little Turkish fort"
continued the colonel, but | do not
believe that hardly thirty seconds
went by before the after pivot gun, of
which | had command, was placed in
position. Admiral Worden only wait
ed for another shot from the fort. Had
it come | have every reason to believe
that it would have been all day with
the Turkish fort that guards the en-
trance of the Athens channel. The
Trenton was an immense vessel and
while she steamed down the channel
was in full view OF every foreign man
of-war that was anchored in the
Smyrna port. To have stopped and re-
treated to Smyrna because sunset had
us NOulN nave HldNt INC
Trenton the laughing stock of not only
the Turks but of the many foreign
representatives stationed there. 1t
was simply technical error on the
part of Admiral WOrden which could
not have been avoided. Admiral Wor-
, den's fighting blood was up, the same
as it had been when the famous Mon
itor won the day, and he resolved to
: uphold the dignity of the United
States. He proved himself equal to
the occasion for the Trenton steamed
proudly into Athens that evening""
WAS there any serious trouble over
the matter, Colonel" inquired one of
the listeners.
"Oh, no." replied Col. Mclean.