The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-06-10
SIGNALS IN THE NIGHT
SHELLS FROM THE NEW OR
LEANS ILLUMINE THE
DARK NESS.
THE TORPEDO BOAT, HOWEVER, ESCAPED
Two TorpedoeS Were Found, and one Was
Lifted on Board the New York--lt was
Worth About So, 500 0--0ther
Torpedo Sunk.

'V'PSNN
copyright 1893 by Associated Press.)
Off Santiago dc Cuba, Saturday, June
4, = D. m., via Kingston, Jamaica, Mon
day, June 60 Il. m.-The firing by the
New York and New Orleans, briefly re-
ported last night was directed against Il
Spanish torpedo boat, probably the Fur
or or the PlutOn. The character of the
enemy was not definitely known until the
torpedo boat Porter found two loaded
torpedoes floating off shore. Neither of
them had been discharged. One sank;
but the other was hauled on board the
Porter 1t exactly fitted the description
of the tOrpedoeS carried by the Pluton
and Furor. 1t is believed the torpedo
boat destroyer escaped. She was seen
by the New Orleans when too far away
to do any damage, and the heavy fire
must have driven her back. When the
New York arrived she would have had
time to stink along the shore and back
into the harbor.
The daring attempt Of the Spanards
which was fortunately frustrated by the
vigilance of the New Orleans lookout
the first instance of its kind since the
beginning of the war. 1t illustrated how
hard it is TO hit q small object at night
Shortly after 10 O'Clock the New Or
leans flashed her private signal. 1t was
answered by the flagship. and in few
seconds cOlored lights sprang up into the
darkness from the New Orleans deck.
They signitied that the enemy was in
sight. A little later she burned another
colored light. This meant that Il hostile
| torpedo boat was approaching, although.
later, Captain FOlger. of the New Or
leans, was not certain whether this was
correct. Instantly. the semi-circle of
hlockading ships flashed night signals
For six or seven miles. east and west
of the harbOr. they twinkled brilliantly
in the darkness and then went out Sim
nltaneously, flashes of fire shot from the
New Orleans side
The New Orleans kept her brilliant
Searchights playing in all directions and
other ships near her did the same.
On the decks of the New York, the
| marines were crouching down, peering
into the darkness with their rifles on
their knees, watching for the sailors
most dreaded enemy, the torpedo boat.
The lOOkouts were in every cOnceiva-
BILE spot and guns were trained i'm the
direction where the New Orleans seem
ed to be firing. Every now and again
sparks and red fire flew up in the dis
tance, marking the explosion Of shells
Many persons then thought they were
exploding on Il torpedo boat, but. to-day
| it is believed that they found their mark
on shore. The moon. which had been
| hidden behind the clouds, came out at
about II o'clock. The, New York was
| then steamng at full speed toward the
| shore to head off. if possible, the retreat
of the enemy into the harbor. The evo-
| lutiOns had TO be carried on with great
care, to avoid getting in line of fire from
the other American ships. The search
| lights played frequently and private sig
nails burned brightly.
A dim object like small boat envel-
oped in smoke. was seen on the port hand
from the signal bridge and Ensign Mus
tin reported to Captain Chadwick: "a
| torpedo boat one point forward on the
port beam. sir; headed this way"
Capt. Chadwick, with Rear Admiral
Sampson, was on the forward bridge.
Before Il shot was fired from the flag
ship this curious lurking object disap-
pcared. 1t must have been two or three
miles away from the New York and the
same distance from the New Orleans.
The Oregon, grim and big crossed the
New York's boats in the direction the
torpedo boat was reported. The boat
was still headed for shore. When n mile
away and close to Moro Castle, an oh.
icct was seen against the cliffs II wns
thought to be a torpedo boat and the
New York's forward eight inch guns
beloved ont, making il hideous noise Ia
the quiet night.
On shore few sparks close to dark
object showed where the shells struck.
The four inch and six FOUNDER guns
followed suit, and for Il few minutes
sharp fire was kept ur. The boom Of
the Oregon's big guns was twice heard
10 the eastward Cease firing" was
then sounded. The searchlights failed
to reveal the presence of the enemy and
nothing but the bare coast could be seen.
After careful search the New York
steamed huclt to her station and the men
went bnck to their hammocks.
There had been no firing from the
forts,
Cnntnin foigcr reported that he had
sighted small steamer, perhaps gun
hoot. mud That she had failed to answer
tho ppivate aignnl aud that he had fired
an her. tie believed she had escaped
along the beach, or had been destroyed
aud could not tell which.
This ended the night attack and the
| frat experience here with torpedo hoats
| III naval warfare
II was not until tho Porter this after.