The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-06-05
JEER THE SPAN
IARDS' BAD AIM.
scHLEY WORKS HIS GUNS ON THE FLY.
Stands Upon the Deck Chewing His Cigar,
and With Glass in Hand. Gives His
Orders With Inimitable
PhIegm.
PhIegm.

methically seaedtleet of Spain ia the mar
Dor of Santiago de Cuba got It's hrst
taste of American gun-powder on Tues
day afternoon and it was evidently not
to the liking of the Spaniards, for WIN
the big American warshipS firing ohIy
two rounds from their largest guns one
Spanish ship was hit and parts of forts
were destroyed. One 12-inch shcll from
the Massachusetts plunged into the deck
Of the Reina Maria the partly dismantled
Spanish cruiser. and killed eight Span
iardS, besides wounding many more. Al
ter the discovery of the fleet of the enemy
on Sunday Commodore Schley waited
forty-eight hours to see if they Wcuid
venture out. No movement was made,
however and on Tuesday morning the
Commodore decided he would find out
Just how far in the mouth of the harbor
the Spanish armored cruiser Crlstobal
Colon was located, appearance at differ
ent angles being very deceptive. In adj
dition to this. he was confident that the
forts would return his fire and in that
way the location of the Spaniards' guns
and the probable accuracy of their aim
could be determined.
At 10 o'clock. accompanied by Lieu
tenant Sears. Lieutenant Wells and En-
sign McCaulley. all of the flagship. he
boarded the yacht Vixen and was taken
to the Massachusetts. Up to the time of
IS going on board there was no intima-
ton on the battleship that she would be
allowed TO shoot.
After lunch Commodore Schley. with
his staff, went forward and took up Il
position near the coming tower. Lieut.
enant Sears, at precisely 1915 o'clock
signalled to the Iowa and the New Or
leans to swing into line and follow the
movements of the flagship.
FELL them to clear for action" said
the Commodore: and the signal and
hardly been made out when a cheer from
each ship came over the water.
''rell them to get ready for firing and
go to quarters added the Commodore
The men were at their guns in an in
slant
''Fire only with the large guns: get
the ship in the harbor. and hit her if YOU
can. but don't FIRE at the forts. The New
Orleans may try few shots at Moro
for a range"
The ships were ready to move in when
Captain Higginson, preparing to 90 10
his fighting station in the steel-protected
coming tower, said: "You had better step
in the tower, Commodore, you will be
sure there"
"No, replied Commodore Schley. i
want to see things: | can't see there"
Then. still chewing his cigar he stood
with his glasses in his hand. looking
toward the objective point.
The men of the secondary batteries
who were not busy, profited by the exam
pie and stood ont ON the open deck and
watched the firing of the guns. The three
war vessels were then about six miles
from the entrance of the bay. to the
southwest of it where the Cristobal Colon
could not be seen as she lay broadside
on to the narrow entrance. There was
but one place where she could be fired
at by the American ships and the firing
would have to be done, if the ships
were moving, in two minutes.
60 ahead at 10 knots northeast" was
the order issued by the Commodore and
the ships Strengthened out.
"Fire when you are at about 1900
yards" was the next order from the
Commodore, who stood on top of the IL
inch gun turret. Soon there was a
frightful roar and an immense half ton
proectile, propelled by the explosion of
five hundred pounds Of powder, went fly
ing toward the mark For three seconds
it flew along its trajectory and when it
dropped there arose a fountain of water,
which for minute hid the Colon from
sight, while n ringing cheer went up
from the jackies on deck. "A little
short, there. Try your other little
higher up" said the Commodore, and
elevating it to 5000 yards, the second
big gun hurled a projectile toward the
enemy.
A fair hit cried the men as the shell
crashed into the stem of the Mercedes.
The two aft guns then spoke.after this
the entrance of the harbor of Santiago
de Cuba was closed out of vision from
one board of battleship.
by this time the cruiser New Orleans
had come i'll range and the forts were
opening steady fire from what evil
IDENTITY seemed to be high power modern
guns. The shells dropped thick and fast
over or short of the Massachusetts and
the American bluejackets ieered and
laughed at the bad aim of the Spaniards.
One very well put shot close through the
upper works of the Massachusetts, but
1t did not hit anything and simply made
a splashing in the water upon the other
side OF the battle ship.
Inc long rifles of the New Orleans
We're by this time playing a tatto on the
low forts near the shore so as to draw
their hire and ascertain their range.
Inc Cristobal Colon opened fire with
her big guns, but their shells never once
came near the line, while it is believed
several shots of the American squadron
damaged the Spanish warship.
After running a mile to the eastward.
the Massachusetts followed by the other
American ships circled around and ran
back over very nearly the same course,
steaming west by south. On getting near
the range where the firing opened tbe
warships delivered one more round from
their starboard batteries and drew out
Of the Spaniards range.
For half an hour after the ships had
passed mile out of the range Of tbe