The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-10
TORPEDO ATTACK REPULSED.
LIVELY FUsILADE by THE FLEET
OFF SANTIAGO.

cred by the Lookout on the New
Orleans when Two Miles Away.
Probably Got Back to Port, But
May Have Been sunlS-FlOating
TOrpedOes Found.
Copyright, 1885, by the Associated Press.
Off Santiago de Cuba, Saturday. June 4,
2 p. M, via Kingston, jamaica, Monday,
June 6, 9 a. m.-The firing by the New
York and New Orleans, briefly reported
last night, was directed against Spanish
torpedo boat destroyer 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 float
ing off shore.
Neither of them had been discharged.
One sank, but the other was hauled on
board the Porter It exactly fitted the
description of the torpedoes carried by
the Pluton and Furor.
It is believed the torpedo boat destroyer
escaped. She was seen by the New Or
leans when too far away TO do any dam
age. 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 Spaniards,
which was fortunately frustrated by the
vigilance of the New Orleans lookout, is
the first instance of its kind since the be-
ginning of the war. 1t illustrated how
hard 1t is to hit small object at night.
Shortly after 10 o clock the New Orleans
flashed her private signal 1t was answer
ed by the flagship and in a few seconds
colored lights sprang up into the darkness
from the New Orleans deck. They signl-
fed that the enemy was in sight.
A little later she threw another col
ored light. This meant that hostile tor
pedo boat was approaching, although later
Capt. Folger of the New Orleans was not
certain whether this was correct.
Instantly the semI-circle of blockading
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 simultaneously flashes
of fires shot from the New Orleans side.
The New Orleans kept her brilliant
searchlights plying in all directions, and
all the ships near her did the same.
On the decks Of the New York the ma
rines were crouched down peering into the
darkness with their rides on their knees
watching for the sailors most dreaded
enemy-the torpedo boat.
The lookouts were in every conceivable
spot and guns were trained in the direc-
ton where the New Orleans seemed to be
firing.
Every now and again sparks and red fire
flew up in the distance, marking the ex-
plosion of shells. Many persons then
thought they were exploding on a torpedo
boat, but to-day 1t 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 steaming at full
speed towards the shore to head off, II
possible the retreat Of the enemy into the
harbor.
The evolutlons had to be carried on with
great care to avoid getting In line of fire
from the other Spanish ships.
The searchlights played frequently and
private signals burned brightly.
A dim object like a small boat enveloped
In smoke was seen on the port hand from
the signal bridge and Ensign Muslin re-
ported to Capt 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 a shot was fired from the flag
Ship this curious, lurking object disap-
peared 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 bows in the direction the tor
pedo boat was reported. The boat was
still headed for shore.
When a mile away, and close to Morro
castle, an object was seen against the
cliffs. 1t was thought to be a torpedo boat
and the New York's forward S-inch guns
beloved out making a hideous noise in
the quiet night.
On shore a few spars close to a dark OBJ
feet showed where the shells struck.
The 4-lnch and 6-pounder guns followed
suit, and for q few minutes sharp fire
was kept up. The boom of the Oregon 8
big guns was twice heard TO 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 a careful search the New York
steamed back to her station and the men
went back to their hammocks. There had
been no firing from the forts.
Capt Folger reported that he had sight
ed a small steamer, perhaps a gunboat,
that she had failed to answer the private
signal and that he had fired on her He
believed she had escaped along the beach
or had been destroyed, he could not tell
which.
That ended the night attack and the first
experience here with torpedo boats in nav
al warfare.
It was not until the Porter this afternoon
found the torpedoes that the danger of
last nights affair was fully realized The
Porter was standing two miles from shore
and well to the westward of MORO Castle
when two torpedoes were seen floating on
the water.
Ensign Gills jumped overheard and
swan around them. He tried to unscrew
the war nose, but the torpedo itself turned
too easily in the water. He returned to
the Porter and Commander Fremont fiu-
allv got one Of the torpedoes safely on
board. The other sunk as he was getting
IL In.
Commander Fremont then brought the
torpedo alongside the New York. II was a
u-inch Whitehead of modern make. and
worth about $500. 1t was IN perfect con-
dition. and had any Of our ships struck II
while It fioated 1t would have exploded
and perhaps sunk the ship. Therefore the
md was not only valuable but most for
turate.
a curious fact Is that the torpedo which