The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-06-10
TO UTILIZE THE TERRIBLE
TORPEDO
Juror SNEAKED OUT AT NIGHT
And Then sneaked in Again to Escape
Destruction by SIMPSONS
Big Cruisers


June ., PM, VIA kingston, Jamaica, Mon
day, June 6, 8 a.m.-The firing by the New
York and New Orleans, briefly reported
last night, was directed against Spanish
torpedo boat destroyer probably the Furor
or the Piuton. The character of the enc
my was not definitely known until the
next day, when the torpedo boat Porter
found two loaded torpedos floating off
shore. Neither of them had been dis
charged. One sank, but the other was
hauled on board the Porter 1t exactly
lifted the description of the torpedoes car
ried by the Pluton and Furor. 1t is be-
lieved the torpedo-boat destroyer es-
capped. She was seen by the New Orleans
when too far away to do any damage, 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 it's kind since the be-
ginning of the war. AS seen from the
flagship, the scene was brilliantly dra-
matte. The New York was lying several
miles to the East of MORO Castle The
New Orleans was on her starboardhand.
close in shore, ready to pounce upon any
craft which might attempt to steal out
under the shadow of the hills. Shortly
after 10 O'Clock the New Orleans flashed
her private signal. 1t was answered by
the flagship, and in a few minutes colored
lights sprang up in the darkness from the
New Orleans deck. They signfied tina.
the enemy was in sight. A little later she
burned another colored light. This meant
that hostile torpedo boat was approach
ing, although later Captain Folger of the
New Orleans was not certain whether this
was correct. Instantly the semi-crcle 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. Simultane-
ously flash of fire shot from the New
Orleans sides
On board the flagship men and officers
had scrambled out of their hunks and ham,
nocks in response to the call, general
quarters" They stood in groups on deck
around the guns watching the short sharp
flames which showed the activity of the
New Orleans rapd-fire battery. The flag
ship was then too far away to hear the
sound of fire or see It's object The New
Orleans kept her brilliant searchlights play
Ing in all directnons and other ships near
her did the same.
On the decks Of the New York, the mar
Ines were crouched down peering into the
darkness, with their rifles 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 direction where the
New Orleans seemed to be firing. Every
now and again, sparks and red fire flew up
n the distance MARKING he Of
shells. Many persons then thought they
were exploding on the torpedo boat, but to-
day it Isl 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 steam
Ing at full speed towards the shore to head
off If possible, the retreat of the enemy
Into the harbor.
The evolutions had to be carried on with
great care to avoid getting in line of fire
from the other American ships
The searchlights played frequently and
private signals burned brightly.
A dim object like small boat enveloped
in smoke was seen in the port hand from
the signal bridge. and Ensign Murin re-
ported to Captain Chadwick. "a torpedo
boat one point forward on the port beam.
sir, headed this way"
Captain Chadwick. with Admiral Samp-
son was on the forward bridge Before
a shot was fired from the flagship this
curious looking object disappeared 1t
must have been two or three miles away
from the New York and the same dis
lance away from the New Orleans. The
Oregon grim and big, crossed the New
York's bow in the direction the torpedo
boat was reported. The torpedo boat was
l.. I'D for el,Nr will
and close to Moro Castle, an object was
seen from the Cliffs 1t was thought to bc
q torpedo boat. and the New Yorks for
ward eight-inch guns beloved out, light
Ing upon the crowded decks and filling the
air with bright smoke.
On shore a few sparks close to a dark
object showed where the shells struck.
The four-inch and sx-pounder guns fol
lowed suit and for a few minutes a SHARP
fire was kept up. The boom of the Ore
CONS big guns were twice heard to the
eastward.
"Cease firing was then sounded.
After a careful watch the New York
steamed back to her station and the men
went back to their hammocks. There had
been no firing in the forts and accounts
differ as to whether the torpedo did or did
not fire.
AT any rate, no damage was DONE Cap
tain Folger reported that he had sighted a
small steamer, perhaps a gunboat; that
she had failed to answer the private sig
mails, and that he had fired on her. He be-
Iieved she had escaped along the beach or
had been destroyed he could not tell which.
That ended the night attack. and the first
experience of torpedo boats in naval war
fare. 1t was not until the Porter found the
torpedoes that the danger of last nights
affair was fully realized. The Porter was
steaming two miles from shore and well to
the eastward of MORO Castle, when two
torpedoes were seen floating on the water
Ensign Gilis 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 finally got one
of the torpedoes safely on board The
other sank as he was getting it in.
Commander Fremont then brought the
torpedo alongside the New York. 1t was
14-inch Whitehead of modern make and
worth $780, 1t was in perfect condition, and
had 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 torpedo
boats out last night, although only one is
believed to have approached anywhere near
our ships
The ability of Spanish torpedo boat de-
I, IL