New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-09
THE USEFUL TORPEDO BOAT.
vA1IARr.r AS A DISPATCH BEARER AID
n RECONNOITRING.
pit ~ 70 EXPOSED 70 GrrAT DANGER ANn
LIFE ABOARD ONE Is So rS'NMT'RTAh4'f
AS TO GIVE OFFICERS ASn MEN

LIFE ABOARD ONE Is So rScoMi"oRT ABLE
AS TO GIVE OFFICERS ANp MES
NERVOUS rRosrHATIoS
fvpov .r,rr connrsro>pr~r or THE rniHuNr J
Key West Fla MAY N-In the ran'ehah'
o, the blockade u the cuban coast the toip'''
rect has given many proofs ~ US u''iD.''
Tn 70 now none - them have href a sinE.' Tor
pedo. but all have amply justified ~" rAp'''"
tons that they would he most 'alHAhi" :" ""'
faro THOR sneed has made them q ne greatest
service as dispatch boats and their small dr'"R"'
has enabled them 20 patrol shallow waters
IN which none - The hg vessels could 20. Ihe
charts OF Cuban shores ana ha-hors IN the pos
s.ssion q, the United States Navy arc not com
rlete. and tho confidence ~ their accuracy Is
20, g-eat 60 they have been supplemented h'
.,A,,ga rnode nv forped o- boats IL choosing
. ,,,d,ng-nlace or planning a bomharlm"nt Il
O. absolutely necessary 20 know he depth of
.o,o- The torpedo neet has gathered many
,.alnahlA data which larger and slower boats
could not have got with safety In r"connoi-
,r,ng these little fellows are also most Elective
and thew can do this work al much Joss eNp'ndl-
,ure q, coal than guahoa's or cruisers
These canabli-'es - The torpedo boats have
also exrosed them % danger. When cl"S' "
sbore they have at various times drawn VIC
FIRE OF the enemy. although with me uS""' III
r,,,,,,v from, harm enjoyed by the objects oi
cro,,sb rnerks,nanshlp Torpedo-boais are not
h,u, N be struck by anything heavier thah
-,eo-hau and a good shot from even a snai'
cannon might be disastrous. Yet the s'rV'oe
is much sought after by young officers l"'
YER, danger is what may give them an 'pp'r
tunlty to win distinction
p,t outside OF the risk ~ death life on a
~. o. D
..roc,ouv true in the present blockade. The
boats are So small that there IS room on th'"
Tor only about half e the officers and crew tha'
ought to be place. on them. This involves dou-
,lo duty when the craft are continually under
., 7, & hard on the mon. but even worse on
/ ,ho comma nd.r and tho cxcrutiv" officer. True
i,. ono Of them need be watch AZ a Tine
,,t ubeo spccial alcrtncss = needed ho'h are
e,,-, N he ON deck when the sea Is running n
all high the waves brcaH over the boat c'h'lh-
,,alv and a drenching &c almost as common an
occurrence as meals are. Even when an OFFICER
,oos below his lot IS often unonvaol". III rouE"
weather the matches and skylights must D"
closed 10 keep the boat from being Hooded ana
The cabin becomes insufcrably warm A''e'
- u.oot mr. two In the Florida strait naval men
oro mite willing 20 back II agains' the hritsn
/ Channel for nastuoss. An east Wlhd mas III"
+ NINA, eerious differences with the Gun slTtAHl
and between them they Kick up a sea that IS
+ little short o. nendish Sometimes the "ihc"r
an watch on a torpedo-boat has 10 have him
COLI dashed 10 something stationary 50 as not -
NO swept overheard when he is relieved he
finds the cabin 50 hot that he may ind II pre-
.arahle TO remain on deck. one naval cadet.
+ after q irving time Of several days, In which NJ
cot little or no sleep. had himself dashed to IN"
deck The seas broke over him al intervals.
Inn, ne AYERS that he got several comfortable
mans on the run over to Key West
Even In fair weather tne i'ii rn' b"al Is '''
,,soeira hle domicuc while under way She is so
frau and her machinery powerful that her
whole frame throbs and shudders When she J.
going at speed. II you try TO sleep, rs on
/ man describes II. you feel as II some one WIZ
/ continually shaking you by the shoulder IN
owaIxen Won The result Of all this is That IN
constant service the officers and crew before
+ 1onr roach a state bordering on nervous eNndua
ZION When they come ashore 10 coal their YES
sels their sleep is sweeter than babys ana
sounder than a gorged giants. FortuhateS
tho smallness OF their bunkers usually insures
neriodicaI visits to the base OF supplies. some
~ them I'm the present blockade have been
coaled from schooners in quiet water near the
Cuban shore and have thus missed the welcome
stav ashore The Foote. Lieutenant Rodgers III
command has had an especially trying vlgN.
one reason why naval men have been so anx-
IONS that landing be effected on the Cupat
coast Is TO secure place where the torpeco-
heats might be tied up in the daytime ihey
- tho rreatest service at night ana Inost