The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-06-02
TORPEDO BOAT ATTACK.
Spaniards Were Close Enough to De-
Stroy the Texas.


New York, June LA dispatch to the
World from Port Antonio, Jamaica,
says: The first engagement between
commodore Schley's squadron and the
Spanish ships of Cervera took place
Sunday night at about midnight. Two
torpedo boats made a desperate effort
TO destroy the American ships. They
were stopped in the nick of time owing
TO the vigilance of the men under Cap
tain Philip of the Texas.
The torpedo boats had cleared the
harbor and were creeping along in the
shadow of the Castle MORO and the
mountain at the entrance to the harbor
They had travelled two miles to the
westward, when the officer of the deck
on the Texas sighted them through his
night glasses. Two of the searchlights
OF the Texas were turned on them, and
the next instant the men who had been
sleeping at the loaded guns were
aroused and at work The flashing of
the lights told the Spaniards that they
were discovered, and they made a quick
rush with all speed on toward the
Brooklyn and the Texas. Before their
BOWS had swung around, the crews of
the port batteries of the Texas were
pumping steel at them. The rapid-fire
guns were used.
The din of the guns of the Texas
alarmed the whole fleet. The machine
guns of the Brooklyn were at work a
Few seconds after the Texas had started
IN. The other ships were lying further
on shore. The call to general quarters
was sounded on each of them, in the
belief that all of Cerveras fleet was
coming out in desperate effort to
escape.
Searchlights were played on the wa
tiers by all of the ships. The Texas and
the Brooklyn poured such a furious
shower of small shells at the torpedo
boats that the latter were forced to
turn about and seek safety in the har-
Dor. What damage they sustained is
not known. The torpedo boats took
shelter under the forts and no attempt
to pursue them was made. 1t is Thought
that neither of them was struck. as
they retreated quickly and they made
small targets in the uncertain twi
light
The Spaniards did not discharge tor
pedoes, though they got within 500
yards OF the Texas. The greatest Wig
nance is maintained at night on the
American fleet to prevent such attacLs
as these.
.'eii-ey ships have made examina-
lions of the batteries and the chanel.
revealing much stronger guns and
mines than were supposed TO exist.
-Four rows of mines have been laid
ho-
Early this morning the Marblehead
Yentured to within two miles of the
har0or, and positively recognized the
cruiser Cristobol Colon and two cruis-
ers of the Vizcaya type, and the dis
mantled cruiser Reina Mercedes. upon
which guns have been mounted, max |
ing her a floating fort.
This leaves only two ships of the |
Cape Verde squadron unaccounted for. |
but Commodore Schley is sure they are |
further up the bay.
All the ships were originally in such /
a position in the harbor that they could !
not be seen from the outside. but on |
the appearance of the American war |
ships they betrayed their presence. |
moving across the entrance to sweep il
with broadsides
Commodore Schley does not antici /
pate any attempt by Cervera to break !
out in the face of superior numbers and !
armament.
Anxiety over the coal problem was !
today by the arrival of two /
Golfers, conveyed by the New Orleans. |
The sea was smooth as glass. The |
Iowa and Brooklyn coaled in full view
Of the guns of the batteries. The other
ships had already coaled /
The officers and men of the fleet are
affected by the intense heat. Every /
aperture is closed at night, to prevent /
the egresS of light.