The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-18
THE PLUcKY ERICSSON
Rushed Into Thick Of the Fight and
Remained 10 Rescue.
GALLANT ACT OF LIEUT.. HUsE,

was war. The genius of an age and con
fiict shone in the big steel line whicl
promptly grappled with the ensmy tn
moment he appeared. 1t was heard il
the thunder of the blazing batteries
whose rapidity and deadliness, of fir,
riddled the Spanish ships and mad,
shambles Of their decks; in the bril-
liant handling Of the units of the Amer
lean feet, unguided as a whole, for i
must be remembered that Admira
Sampson and his flagship were not of
MORO when the fight commenced
There were then no fleet signals-ne
signals Of any sort in fact except the
warning -numeral 1880" which said,
:Enemy coming out" There was nc
Remember the Maine nor anything
else of the sort. The foe was sighted
coming out OF Santiago, and the Amer
lean ships went for him the moment he
was descried-the Iowa, Oregon, Texas
and Brooklyn.
The Iowa, according to the account
furnished by Lieutenant Alexander
Sharpe, Jr.. was 5000 yards distant
from MORO when the feet put to sea-
LieutenaLts Scheutze and Hill, am
told, were on the bridge of the battle
ship at the time. Hill, gazing through
a glass directed at the entrance OF the
harbor, said, There is something COM
ing out" Scheutze looked in the same
direction and after a few moments
scrutiny flung down the glass, sounded
the general. alarm, rang full speed
ahead, hoisted signal $50, ENEMY is
coming out" and let go a FOUNDER to
attract immediate attention. to the
warning message. The Iowa's finely
disciplined crew Loss no time in getting
to their stations, and her big bow gnns
were blazing before Captain Evans,
hrrrying from bis cabin at the first
alarm, Ind time to. reach the bridge.
After clearing the harbor the Spanish
fleet swung to the westward, and the
Iowa, swinging to q parallel course,
brought her starboard battery into ac-
tion. Four IL and four inch rifles
doomed at the enemy singly and in
pairs. From the powerful secondary
battery the rapid fire storm had burst,
and tho grim batt'aship stood toward
the enemy looking like thundercloud
rent by incessant lightning.
These l2 inch shells of the Iowa
weigh 1000 pounds, and are hurled
from tho high powered rifled guns by
the explosion of 500 pounds of powder.
The chilled steel projectiles are five feet
in length, and when one Of these cuts
through an armor belt and explodes in
the interior of ship it is good vessel
and a stout hearted crew that will have
any interest in subsequent events. The
Iowa hurled 30 of these monster shells
at her enemies, and if fsany of them
missed it was an of moment with the
gun captain, whose boast it is to hit a |
silver dollar at mile. While the 12 |
inch rifles Were hurting their splitting !
mines into the heart1pf the enemy the |
other guns were as hetly engaged. The
four inch rifes--and these are no joke, |
either--fung 4s of their shells toward
the foe, and the fine battery of rapid fire
inch rifles almost emptied its maga-
.ine,' firing 800 rounds. The Founders
discharged l, 200 rounds.
1t will be seen that Fighting Bob'
Evans dispensed his sfavors with prod
gality almost unequaled. In return
10 reoeiveda 6 inch she'll in the forward
of his ship and another in
he sick bay. Both exploded, but that
pecial providence which is said to look
'ut for tho United States, drunkards
md fools was still on duty, and not
oul on board the battleship was hurt by
he two explosions. BY way of contrast
should DO noted that ono shell on the
'izcaya killed and wounded so men.
'oth OF the shells which struck tho
owa passed through'the cofferdam and
ear the water line. but the faithful
ellulose Immediately chokcd the
1ounds. Patent leak shoppers were SUBJ
placed In the jagged rents and
the close of the battlo the Iowa was
ractically in the same condition as
7hen she went into action-minus some
The battle done, tho enemy's ships on
40 beach and in flames Captain Evans
id NIL he could 10 rescue the survivors
the combat. Many impressive Incl
cnts marked the arrival Of the survivors
4 board the Iowa. One lieutenant
ruggled up the sea ladder, his left arm
,attered by she'll and hanging by a
'ndon Of flesh, but as soon as ne had
aimed tho deck he steadied himself
nd, bringing his heels together, saluted
le quarter deck as though he was sim
y visiting officer from friendly
etA'
Out of tho many "scraps Of deeds
daring of that never 70 bc forgot
N day off Santiago tho adventures
al exploits Of the littlo torpedo
nat Ericsson should bo brought to
ght. LieutenHnt Usher, big. blond
I'd dashing. is an officer who would
I'VE made record like that of Cushing
this war had lao been given the op.
Jrtunity. r,
The Ericsson was or siboney when
% spauiards made their desperate sor-