Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-06-16


Even more picturesque and bold than
the defiance of the big Confederate Mer-
rimac by Ericsson's little Monitor was
the exploit which resulted in the sinking
of the Spanish torpedoboat destroyer
Terror
Audacious as was the little craft that
made Ericsson famous, the small Terror
was much more so in boldly attempting
to run the gauntlet of the powerful
American feet assembled about the en-
trance to Santiago harbor. Unlike the
Monitor, the Terror failed to catch the
enemy mapping, and the American fleet
demolished the little stranger as quickly
as Erlcsson's "cheese box" disposed OF
her more formidable looking enemy at
Hampton Roads.
Not sign of the Spanish boat or the
80 men comprising her crew has been
seen since 13-inch shell fired by the
battleship Oregon struck her amidships.
This shot made an American victory of
an exciting hours work, and thwarted
the first attempt of the Spanish to send
naval reinforcements to Admiral Cervera.
The Terror succeeded in getting within
a mile of the entrance to Santiago har-
Dor, but the vigilance of the officers ON the
New Orleans frustrated her bold dash 20
join Cervera's fleet
Up to the hour when l left the Ameri-
can fleet Rear Admiral Sampson had been
unable to determine definitely the iden-
tity of the vessel sunk by the Oregon's
thousand pound shell. There is littlo
question. however, that she was the de-
strCyer Terror
1t is unlikely that either of the torpedo
boats with Admiral Cervera's war ships
in Santiago harbor renewed the attempt
to attack the American fleet by night.
even If these small craft were able to pass
the wreck of the Merrimac. The moon
was high, a fact that undoubtedly would
have deferred Cervera from risking the
loss of either of his torpedoboats.
The vessel which the Oregon sunk was
| approaching Santiago harbor from the
| eastward, and her course was the enc she
would follow in coming from San Juan
to reion the Spanish fleet Tho Terror
was last heard from at Porto Rico. where
the Herald reported her on May goth. II
was said then that the destroyer was
disabled and had gone to San Juan for
| repairs.
An officer of the New Orleans, which
ship was on guard on Monday night at
! the eastern line of the American feet, de-
tected a speedy vessel trying to creep into
the harbor Of Santiago under cover Of
the shadows from the cliffs. 1t was half
past ten o'clock and the moon, which had
been obscured by clouds for two hours,
again lighted the entire const. Tho
searchlights of the New Orleans were
directed inland, and small boat was re-
| vealcd hugging the shore. She passed
out of view in few moments, making
| rapidly in the direction of Moro Castle.
Repeatedly the searchlights were trained
up and down the shore, but the shadow
of the cliffs protected the strange craft
from view.
JOINING A HOT CHASE.
Signals were given to the flagship New
York, which, with the Marblehead, lay
near the New Orleans. In short time
the powerful searchlights OF all three
vessels were sweeping the coast in an
effort TO locate the mysterious vessel.
Officers and men were convinced that
the Spaniards had made another attempt
to send torpedo into one Of the Ameri-
can warships. In and out of the lights
range the little vessel passed, and the
guns on the warships, trained as best
they could be on the fleeing enemy, began
pouring great quantities of shot toward
shore. In few minutes the Brooklyn
and the Oregon joined in the chase.
1t became apparent that the enemy's
boat intended to make bold dash for the
entrance of the harbor, then little more
than mile distant. Owing to the diff
Guilty of keeping the searchlights on the
enemy a signal burning above the flag
ship ordered the thanking vessels to close
in, firing as they steamed, while the New
York herself raced in shore at full speed
to head off the little craft.
Escape for the Spaniard clearly was
impossible, but the destroyer only Rugged
the dark shore closer and steamed the
faster She had gone unscathed through
nearly an hours hail of shot and shell
from the five American vessels, and was
now within a mile of the entrance to the
larbor.
ONE SHELL SINKS HER.
There had been no miscalculations
aboard the New York, and the flagship
, lay full across the destroyer's path when
, the Oregon got into the fight at close
, range. Only two hundred yards sepa-
, rated the Spaniard and the New York
when the men on the Oregon after re-
, peated efforts got the range and used her
big guns. An eleven hundred pound
shell striking the stranger full on the deck
amidships ended the chase as suddenly Ms
, il had been begun.
The broad beam searchlight, .,,-closed
only black water under the lowering hills.
, No sign Of the enemy five vessels had
been pursuing for nearly an hour could
be seen. Presently the ironcads, the
midnight tragedy being finished, moved
, back through the brilliant moonlight to
their old positions.
!, Amusement then replaced the surprise
the Americans felt when the New Or
leans flashed the news of its discovery to
, the fleet. III the moonlight the American
, fleet, stretched in long night formation,
could be plainly seen. From point a
mile to the west of Moro Castle, where
Commodore Schley was lying with the
i Brooklyn, the line of vessels extended u
mile TO the east of the harhor, where
, the New Orleans held the right The
big ST. Louis swept In wide circle TO
seward, guarding the rear, while the
torpedoboat Porter was on outside scout
. duty. In the vicinity was the Three
i Friends, the only despatchboat to witness
this most tragic and picturesque incident.
, Light as tine sea was where the fleet
lay, deep fringe of shadow rested under
, thc coast range, and the destroyer's COM
, mander evidently preferred to take tho
desperate risk of following its cover into
l harbor rather than to turn back. So
black was the water iDshore that the pro-
, ject gave fair promise of success, but this
was speedily dissipated after the discov-
cry of the enemy by the New Orleans
and the beginning Of the chase.
When the destroyer had reached point
within mile of the harbor one chance of
escape seemed open to it. One wondered
if the Spaniard could dodge searchlights