Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-16
A FIGHT SP0ILT.
Peace News Arrives at Car
denas Just Before Action.
Torpedo Boats Gwin and Gushing Last
Vessels to Be in Action.
Were About 10 Engass Three Spanish Vessels
when News Of Peace Came.

Key West. Fla, Aug. 15.-To the tor
pedo boat Cushing. commanded by
Lieut.. Albert Gleaves, will doubtless go
the distinction Of having had the last
naval engagement of the Spanish
American war. Had the peace negoti-
atoms been protracted a little longer,
the Cushing would have unquestion-
ably have ended the conflict by ayeng-
ing its beginning. when Ensign Bag
ley and his four comrades of the Win
slow were killed at Cardenas.
At the very moment the orders for
raising the blockade reached the Cush-
ing she was making in for three Span
ish gunboats who had wrecked her
sister ship. intent on sinking them or
herself going down in the effort. They
Ligera.
A few days previously, the Gushing
destroyed six small sloops and a two
masted schooner, the Triumph OF Is
tons.
ing of the war. the Cushing's machin-
cry was disabled and although she was
entirely repaired within six weeks, she
was kept here until a week ago. much
to the chagrin Of Lieut.. Grcaves and
despite his urgent appeals for active
service. Eventually, Commodore
Howell allowed the Cushing to go on
the blockade and on Aug. she went
over to Sagua la Grande with orders
to stop the inside traffic in the shallow
waters behind the Keys, where the
gunboats could not enter.
Reaching Cardenas the next day she
was joined by the torpedo boat Nc
Kee, under Lieut.. Kneppes, and both
proceeded to Sagua. Learning that
there were two gunboats in the har-
Dor, the Gushing and Mckee cleared
for action. and went in to see II any
steamers were anchored inside.
AS they got under way the converted
yacht Viking, with the senior officer
Of the blockading station on board.
came up and halted the two boats.
which were obliged to return and an
Choir under the lighthouse.
That night. however, the Viking left,
and Lieut.. Gleaves being then the
ranking officer, took the Cushing and
Mckee across the shoals to the Boca
Christie channel and there captured
six small cargo boats of about four
tons each which were lying ct anchor
and had been abandoned by their
crews. This was done in full view Of
the gunboats. which from distance Of
two miles, contented themselves with
firing on the torpedo boats without
coming out. The shots were not re-
turned.
The sloops not being worth towing to
Key West were burned the next day.
On the sth the Siren arrived with the
lofEGuO DoQlS Twill dO xeu6cib anu
assumed command of the biockading
at that port.
The Cushing again asked permission
to go in and engage the gunboats but
was again refused and was ordered.
with the Gwin. 70 Carienas. to prevent
inland traffic between that place and
Santa Clara. They left. the next
morning. and. after chasing and hold |
ing up the bospital ship Soiace. the
American schooner Dollie. which with
the consent Of the authorities was car
rying Cuban expedition, the Man
grove and the schooner Anna z.
Kranse from Baltimore for Galveston,
they put into cardenas bay. last Thurs
day.
Here the two-masteA. schooner Tri-
lcontinled On pege =,