The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-06-10

In smoke was seen on the port hand from
the signal bridge and Ensign Muslin re-
ported to Captain Chadwick: "a torpedo
boat one point forward on the port beam
side headed this way"
Captain Chadwick, with Read 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 away from the New Or
leans.
The Oregon, grim and big. crossed the
New York's bows in the direction the tor
pedo boat was reported. The torpedo boat
was stin headed for shore. When mile
away and close to Moro Castle an object
was seen against the cliffs. 1t was thought
to be torpedo boat and the New York s
forward S-inch guns beloved out, making
a hideous noise in the quiet night light
ing up the crowded decks and filing the
air with bright q ke.
On shore a few sparks close to the
dark object showed where the shells
struck.
suit and for a few minutes q sharp fire
was kept up. The boom of the Oregon's
big guns were twice heard to the east
ward. Cease firing was then sounded
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
and accounts differ as to whether the tor
pedo boat did or did not fire
At any rate no damage was done
Captain Folger reported that he had
sighted a small steamer, perhaps a gum
boat, that she has failed to answer .Ae
private signal. and that he had fred on
her. He believed she had escaped along
the beach. or had been destroyed, ne could
not tell which.
That ended the night attack and the
first experience here with torpedo boats
in naval warfare.
1t was not until the Porter found the
torpedoes that the danger of last nights
affair was fully known. The Porter was
steaming two miles from shore and well
to the eastward of Moro Castle. when two
torpedmoes were seen floating on the
water. Ensign ellis jumped overooard
and swan around them. He tried to un-
screw the war nose, but the torpedo itself
turned too easily in the water. He re-
turned to the Porter and Commander Ere
mont finally got one of the torpedoes
safely on board The other sunk as he
was getting it in. Commander Fremont
then brought the torpedo alongside the
New York. 1t was H-inch Whitehead.
of modern make and worth about $500.
1t was in perfect condition and hal any
of our ships struck it while it foated it
would have exploded and perhaps sunk
the ship.
1t is possible that there were two tor
pedo boats out last night, although only
one is believed to have approached any
where near our ships.
The ability of a Spanish torpedo ue-
stroyer to get out from the harbor is not
regarded as a sign that the Merrimac does
not block the channel leading into 1t.
Torpedo boat destroyers draw so --.e
water and have SO little bea mthat 1t
was scarcely expected the sinking OF the
Merrimac would prevent them from COM
ing out.
Two curious pictures Of war were pre-
scented yesterday. In the afternoon the
Spanish chief-of-staff was sitting AMIGA
bly, in Admiral SIMPSONS cabin and say
ing, over a glass Of wine, you know
there is nothing personal in this and a
few hours later his torpedo boat appar-
emily comes out and tries to blow the ad-
miral and his shin out of the wafer