Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-04-29

sdns roar and the shells whistle |
When the muster to morning and even
ng quarters in time OF peace.
In the second place the bombardin. |
ave a very thoughtful though frigh,
iui Illustration of a warships dealt |
lealing powers. Had n single ship bee.
N the place where the shells fell. I
GEMS as If she would have been blow |
% bits before she could have returned
ne fire. When ten thousand ton ship |
.isually ms steady as n rock, shakes an,
.rembles like frightened child; whci |
.lrmly II tied bolts start frou
their sockets and window pane
md wood work are shattered
and starboard and you feel your feet |
leaving the deck and your glasses !
jumping around your forehead. Will |
a binding, blackenlng smoke hides
Everything from sight then 1t Is you
first realize the terrible power OF a
modern warships batteries.
Scenes of intense interest occurred
IN the ilagship's deck during the bonn
bardmcnt. The center of attraction
naturally was about the forward bridg,
where Rear Admiral Sampson paced
up ana down, his long glass in hand, |
pausiDg now and then to watch the
effect OF the shots. impnsslve as II AT
target practice off the Dry Tortugas
captain Chadwick was at his side, III
he dual capacity of chief of staff, and
living orders continuously regarding
the direction OF the fire and the hand
ling of the ship. Lieutenant Stanton,
assistant chief Of stan. Lieutenant
Commander Potter executive officer of
the ship, and Lieutenant j, Roller, the
navigator all were on the bridge and
as busy as they could be. Three men
We're at the wheel and the usual staff
lookout and signal boys were in their
places.
The coming tower with its heavily
protective sides was without an occu-
pant. The whistling OF few shells
could not drive the men who direct the
lighting squadron from their unpro
tected point OF vantage. Directly be-
meath the bridge on the superstructure,
just aft of and slightly above the
forward turret, stood Chaplain Royce.
ready to give the last consolation. The
chaplain and three doctors We're the
only persons on board who sincerely
hoped they would have no work TO
do.
Near the chaplain stood Richard
Harding Davis. representing the Lon
don Times, Ralph II. ID. Paine, repre-
| senting the Philadelphia Press and the
| correspondent of the Associated Press.
All Others on board were at their regu-
lar stations, directing the gun crews,
| rushing up ammunition from below or
standing patiently in their engine room
waiting to back on or go ahead as the
telegraph signalled.
The way the jackies worked at their
guns was splendid, Many of them were
stripped to the waist.
The muscles stood out on their bare
tattooed arms. The Precipitation ran
down their faces, and, mixing with the
gun powder. made grim streaks of black
| over their skins When cease firing"
sounded, disappointment was written
visiby on their faces, But the decks
We're quickly swept, the shrouds re-
hooked. the guns cooled and washed.
and at dinner. when the band played
The Stars and Stripes Forever. there
were few signs to show that the flag
ship New York had been into action
for the first time in her career. About
800 shots were fired during the bonn
bardment, 10i of which were from the
New York. The cruiser Cincinnati did
wonderfully quick and rapid work with
her batteries. The Monitor Puritan
probably fired fewer shots than the
others, apparently not using her rapid
fire guns. but taking careful aim with
her twelve-inch monster at Quintas da
| Recico.
Those on board the flagship who had
| never been on warship when she fired
| both batteries at once. and who had
never heard the shells whistle. thought
/ the experience was not so bad as an
ticpated. The noise of the guns deaf
ened some slightly, but the timely ap-
]
its effect, and taken all in all the shock
of the broadside was not so great as
had been expected.
The town Of Matanzas at no time was
in danger from our fire. 1t lies wen TO
the south of Punta Gorda. II the Span
iards had any killed It must have been
in the Notifications. Several persons on
board believe the Spanish loss was
severe and advance more or less plaus-
ible theories. but Admiral Sampson or
Captain Chadwick venture no explana-
| tion on the subject.
The characteristic Incident of the
bombardment of Matanzas and one that
VIII go down in history as an instance
of Yankee pluck occurred In the sick
bay ON the flagship Eleven sailors
were lying there, listening to the
| shots, all eager to get on deck. Sud-
| denly as II moved by a common i'm
| pulse, four OF them sprang from their
cots. One had malaria. two had grippe
and another high fever, but their all
ments were rgotten as they rushed
| out to their gun divisions and took
their usual stations.
Despite their entrea to be allowed
to stay thev were or back to the
sick bay. 1t hardly sary to say
that those four splendid specimens of
"the man behind the gun" We're not re-
ported for breach of discipline.
1t was reported to the flagship on Its
| return to the Havana station that two
torpedo gunhoats had endeavored to
run the blockade during the day and
had been forced back into Havana by
| the Wilmington and the Iowa. sharp
| lookout was kept throughout the night
lest these tiny craft should try to repeat
attempt.
The torpedo boat Wlnsow arrived
| from Key West last night and Major
Meade. of the marines, was put on
| board the flagship, The Winslow pro-
ceeded to her station. The night was
quiet and no incident OF interest oc-
| Cured.
| SPANISH FLEET STRENGTHENED.
Another Ship at the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. s