The times., 1898-06-29
sIGsBEE's SIGNAL VICTORY.
He Disabfes the Famous Torpedo
Boat DESTROYER Terror


The auxiliary cruiser ST. Paul. under
the command of Capt. Sigsbee. the hero
OF the Maine, on last Wednesday engaged
the Spanish torpedo boat destroyer Ter
ror and an unarmored Spanish cruiser
and won signal victory over them. The
Terror was totally disabled and put back
into San Juan harbor in a sinking con-
dition with several killed and wounded
on board.
The Navy Department yesterday at $50
o'clock posted the following dispatch
from Admiral Sampson containing Capt.
Sigsbeess account of the engagement:
Admiral Sampson reports that the
Yale arrived yesterday and discharged
her troops.
Capt Sigsbee reports that on Wednes-
day afternoon the st. Paul, while OFF
San JuaHs Porto Rico. was attacked by
a Spanish unprotected cruiser and the
Spanish torpedo boat destroyer Terror.
The Terror made a dash. which was
awaited by the ST Paul. The St Paul
hit the Terror three times. killing one
officer and two men and wounding several
others. The Terror got back under cover
of the Notifications with difficulty and
was towed into the harbor in a sinking
condition, where she is now being re-
paired Later a cruiser and a gunboat
started out. but remained under the pro-
lection of the forts"
The Navy Department is very desirous
! of receiving further information of the
| fight but il is probable that nothing more
may be learned for several days. Ii is
supposed that the St. Paul is still off San
Juan blockading that port
! Some OF the newspaper dispatch boats
! have been ordered to find the St Paul.
however, and it is probable that full par
ticuIars will be received from them by
! Sunday at the latest
The story of Capt Sigsbee's battle was
received with>great pleasure by the naval
! officers. The fight is considered one of
the greatest victories Of the war.
One of the results of this engagement
| Will be the quieting OF much disturbance
| Of mind that the Spanish torpedo boat
destrOyers have caused. One of the great
uncertainties at the beginning of the war
was the lighting qualities Of these torpedo
boat destroyers. There were many proph-
/ ecies that these fighting machines of a
comparatively untried type might be. ex-
pected to 60 startling things.
Thus far in the war. however. the tor
pedo boats have not had chance TO make
| a strike. They have always been detect
ed in time and stopped by a shot or two
| from the American guns. Not one man
has been killed or injured, and not the
| slightest damage done by the five or six
destrOyers supposed to be in West In
! dian waters. 1t is not believed now thai
| there need be any fear of them
| The comment was heard al the Navy
Department yesterday that there is GER
| tain poetic justice in the fact that Capt
| Sigsbee has met torpedo boat destroy
er and won signal victory over her
| Sigsbee's ship. the Maine. was blown ur
by a torpedo, and he has now effectively
| destroyed the torpedo boat scare.
1t is not thought that the Terror vii
figure again in this war. She was hi
three times by the 5-inch guns of lht
St. Paul 1t is believed that these shot:
must have gone through her. Admira
Simpsons cablegram states that she wa
| in a sinking condition when she got ou
| of the range of the St. Paul.
This fight is the beginning of the Sar
| Juan blockade. AS announced in anothel
column President Mckinley yesterday pro
claimed the blockade of the Porto Ricar
| port. The ships of the blockading squa
dron are already in front of the port