Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1898-08-18
A PARTING Shot
The Havana Batteries
Opened Fire on
the Fleet.
SAN FRANCISCO WAS STRUCK
Large Hole Torn in the Cruisers stern
No One Aboard Ship Was Hurt
American Vessels Steamed Out Of
Range ns Rapidly ms Possible.

American Vessels Steamed Out Of
Range ma Rapidly ms Possible.
Key West, Fla, Aug. l6.-The flag
ship San Francisco, the monitor Mian-
tonomoh, and the auxiliary yacht Sill
via. were fred upon by the Havana
batteries shortly before 5o'elock yestcr-
day morning. One 10 and two l2-inch
shells struck the San Francisco's stern
as she turned to get away ont OF range,
and tore hole about foot in diam
eter, completely wrecking Commodore
Howell's quarters and smashing his
bookcases into fragments. No one was
injured, and, being under orders not to
attack the batteries. the ships departed
as fast as their engines would carry
them.
Tho flagship and the Silvia lay
parallel to each other, not more than
mile from. Moro castle, and separ-
ated from each other by three-eighths
OF mile. The Miantonomoh lay about
three-quartcrs Of mile to the rear OF
the others. All were within range OF
the Spanish batteries, and the tempta-
tion was too strong for the Spanish to
resist.
The first glimmer of dawn was break
ing through the eastern skies when,
| without an instant's warning, the look
out on the flagship saw jet OF smoke
puff from one Of Morro's big guns. AL
most before he could pull himself to-
gether sufficiently to make report OF
the incident, 10 and l2inch shells were
screaming all around. The Spaniards
had the range, and apparently we're
grimly in earnest in their last efforts
to wreck injury on their too mighty
enemy. Shells fell between the San
Francisco and the Silvia. Some fell
short, q few went over them. The
flagship signalled the Silvia to get out
of range without delay, and both ships
swung around and made for the sea.
II was then that the shell struck the
San FIaEcisco's stern. Commodore
Howell was on deck with Captain
Leary when the shell struck. With
the utmost speed the feet moved out
about three miles. Here the men on
the flagship patched up the ragged hole
in the vessels stern. All the shells
fred at the vessel fell around the ships.
One OF the Silvia's men stood calmly
on the deck of the yacht, watch in
hand. and counted them.
Moro castle fired several OF the mis-
siles, but how many is not known.
The others came from two sand bat.
teries near Moro. The firing lasted
30 minutes.
The one-sided engagement had scarce
ly ended when the men Of the Silvia
were treated to another surprise. The
little yacht gunboat is manned by the
, New York naval militia. Her crew
had barely recovered from the excite
ment when the flagship called tho yes
sell over. and Captain Bellers was giver
q packet OF private documents, which
, he was ordered to take into Hayan'
|, under flag Of truce. The white hal
was hoisted over the Silvia. and she
started towards the guns which haC
lust given her such noisy greeting. Al
the Silvia approached to within mill
3 of Moro, the character OF the flag float
ing from her foremas. was discernet
: and the castle signalled;
"What is your purpose?"
Z To this the Silvia answered; wv
t have papers TO deliver.
0 Moro did not resume the converse
K tion and for some little time the gun
F. boat rocked ON the waters almost undo
8 the still-smoking cannon Of the enemy
Presently. however, Spanish gunboa
a drew out Of the harbor and came clos
Z to the Silvia. 1t was the Martin
! Pinzon, and carried much stronge
battery than the American ship. Th
4 customary formal salutations We're eS
|, changed, and Lieutenant William g
Z Ford, the executive officer OF the Silvia
boarded the Pinzon and delivered til
documents.
The ceremony occupied no NOR
9 time than the physical aot involved
u Tho American officer returned to hi
i ship, and the vessels went on their re
: speotive ways.