Evening star., 1898-04-29

| from the eact that shortly after the signal
| Cease firing had been given Captain
| Chester asked permission to reopen. This
was refused, Admiral Sampson evidently
| thinking that MatanZas had had enough
| for one afternoon. During the lombard
| n.ent the New York's engines at intervals
| went slowly astern, keeping steady range
| of 4,G0O yards on Punta Gorda and 1900 on
Quintas da RecreO. the machinery working
! perfectly, not only in the engine room, but
| throughout the whole ship. This is espe-
| cially true of the electric ammunition
hcists and turret training gear. two Of the
E;oSt essential Iarts of ships equipment
| during action.
From the naval point of view, few If any
| lessons were 1earred from the lombard
nent. though the range at which the shoot
Ing was carried On was a satisfactory test
| of craftsmanship. The distance. however,
| prevented the staff from ascertaining the
effect of the heavy explosive projectiles on
the earthworks. Quintas da Recreo ap-
neared to be an old-style of fort how and
! lying near the waters edge. The battery
was probably behind a recently constructed
sandwork
Some Points Demonstrated.
From the lay point of view the lombard
ment appeared to demonstrate several
things. 1t proved that the officers, from
Rear Admiral Sampson down, are perfectly
cool in the face of danger and action, and
that they have superior control over the
uleu dt tle HOSt eXC1t1nS ana trying mo-
ments, and that the latter as steady
and courageous when the guns roar and
the shells whistle as when they muster at
morning and evening quarters in time of
peace. All these qualities are taken for
granted by any naval officer. They are
the postulates Of his discipline. He would
be surprised IL 1t were otherwise.
In the second place the bombardment
gave an excellent, though at the same time
frightful illustration of a warships
death-dealing powers The tremendous
broadsides poured without cessation on the
little streak of earthworks would, had
single ship been in the place where the
shells fell, have blown her to bits before
she could have returned the fire. When
1O,OOO-ton ship, usually as steady as
rock, shakes and trembles like a frightened
child; when firmly-fitted bolts start from
their sockets and window panes and wood
work are shattered; when the roar peals
up from port and starboard and you feel
your feet leaving the deck and your glasses
jumping around your forehead, while
binding, blackening smoke hides every
thing from sight, then it Is you first realize
the terrible power of a modern warships
batteries.
Scenes on the New York.
The scenes of intense interest occurred on
the fagships deck during the lombard
ment. The center OF attraction naturally was
about the forward bridge where Rear Ad-
miral Sampson paced up and down, his long
glass in hand, pausing now and then to
watch the effect of the shots, impassive as
If at sub-caliber target practice off the Dry
Tortugas. Capt. Chadwick was at his side,
in the dual capacity Of chief of staff and
captain Of ship. equally calm, and giving
orders continuously regarding the direction
of the fire and the handling Of the ship.
Lieut.. Stanton, assistant chief of staff;
Lieut.. Commander Potter, executive officer
of the ship, and Lieut.. ]. Roller the navi-
gator ali were on the bridge and as busy
as they could be.
Three men were at the wheel and the
usual staff of lookouts and signal boys were
In their places. The coming tower, with
its heavily protected sides, was without an
occupant. The whistling of a few shells
could not drive the men who direct the
fighting squadron from their unprotected
point Of vantage.
NOn-COm batnnts Who Were There.
Directly beneath the bridge on the su-
perstructure, just aft Of and slightly above
the forward turret, stood Chaplain Royce,
ready to give the last consolation. The
chaplain and the three doctors were the
only persons on board who sincerely hoped
they would have no work to do.
Near the chaplain stood Richard Hard
ing Davis, representing the London Times;
Ralph D. Paine. representing the Philadel-
phia Press, and the correspondent of the
Associated Press All others on board were
at their regular stations. directing the gun
crews, rushing up ammunition from below
or standing patiently in the engine room
waiting to back or go ahead, as the tele-
graph SiRnaled
The way the bluejackets worked at their
guns was splendid. Many Of them were
stripped to the waist. The muscles stood
out on their bare, tattooed arms. The per-
spiratiOn ran down their faces, and mix
ing with the gunpowder, made grim streaks
of black over their skins. When cease
firing sounded disappointment was writ
ten visibly on all their faces. But the
rQ ink INy xynFNf fhA
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 flagship New York
had been into action for the first time in
her career.
Three Hundred Shots Fired.
About 800 shots were fired during the
tombardment, 104 Of which were from the
New York The cruiser Cincinr att did WON
derfully quick and rapid work with her
batteries. The monitor Puritan probably
fired fewer shots than the others, apparent
ly not using her rapid fire guns, but TAX
Ing careful aim with her Pinch monsters
at Quintas da Recereo.
Tc those on board the flagship who had
rever before been on a warship when she
was firing both batteries at once and who
had never heard the shells whistle the
experience was not bad as anticipated
The noise Of the guns deafened some
Sit,htIy, Dul q tlAuciy dppICdtlOn Oh wool
to the ears deadened Its effect, and, taken
all in ell. the shock of the broadside was
not SO great as had been expected.
The town OF MataEzas at no time was in
danger from our fire. 1t lies well to the
south of Punta Gorda. II the Spaniards
had any killed, 1t must have been In the
fortifications. Several persons on board
believe the Spanish logs was severe and
advance more or less plausible theories
Rear Admiral Sampson and Captain Chad
wick venture no statement on the sub
ject. --...--
Instance of Pluck.
The most characteristic incident of the
bomeardment of Matanzas and one that
will go down in history as an instance of
Yankee pluck. occurred in the sick bay on
the flagship. Ill sailors were lying there
listening TO the shcts all eager to get on
deck. Suddenly, as II moved by common
impulse, four Of them sprang from their
cots. One had malaria, two had grip and
another q high fever; but their ailments
we're forgotten as they rushed out to their
gun divisions and took their usual stations
Despite their entreaties to be allowed to
stay they were ordered back to the sick
bay. to which they sorrowfully returned
1t is hardly necessary to say that these
~ sstho