The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-10-01
For the Democratic Advocate.
A Close Call for 1.-The New York
and "The Porter
AN INCIDENT IN THE SPANISH WAR

During Harry Huber's recent visit to his father
and family among other I'M, incidents OF -, ms expert err
following (briefed and taken from the New York
Herald of Sunday last) The Heralds correspon-
dent was pledged to secrecy long as active oper
ations against the Spanish continued. Hence its
appearance now, and the reason also that no state
ment was made W Os'r newspaper from our sailor
boy. It may also 9e proper to say that Harry was
on deck at the time II the threatened disaster. He
remarked that "l.iSd there been recognition ten
seconds more would have settled the fate OF both
ships
TO show how seriously sailors are impressed, in
this connection it may be proper to say That on the
night preceding the bombardment of the San Juan
forts in view of the fact that for some of them at
least it might be their last night each "mess'
seriously discussed the matter and arranged that
the survivors should advise the relatives of the
dead take charge of their effects and, II possible
have their bodies buried ashore.
The story given by the Herald appeared III
print for the first time remarked, on Sunday last
1t was told everywhere in the fleet 1t was stiffed
however at the time lest brave men should be cen
be praised. Harry said that the best sailor Is he
who obeys orders and all of the men on his ship
had orders to keep silent and, as he sald, we
showed our drill by doing So
1t appears that while off Santiago harbor watch
ing for Cervera's feet, the New York was some
distance from her blockading station. The feet,
on the night in question, displayed no lights ex-
cept an occasional electric signal. The night was
intensely dark. Cervera's feet, Sampson eX pected.
might make dash at any moment for the open
sea. The torpedo boat Porter, under command OF
Lieutenant John c. Fremont, was on scout duty.
1t was the torpedo boats special business to pre-
vent any Spanish vessel from creeping upon the
blockading squadron unawares and when SATISFIED
that it was an enemy IS ship to blow her up
During the blockade the American ships recog-
nized each other in two ways-one being the posi-
ton in which vessel appeared, which should De
her night blockading station, and the other being
Ardois electric signal, which was changed from
night to night On the night i'll question all hands
on the torpedo boat were suddenly called to quar-
tiers by the firing of the FOUNDER rifed gun on
her deck. The Porter had fired across the bow OF
a strange ship-presumably Spanlard The shot
was meant to ascertain the fact. The Porter was
rapidly nearing the stranger. The commander OF
the torpedo boat took his position in the coming
she was steering was then fourth OF mile away.
When half that distance had been covered the night
feet signal was flashed by Fremont to which there
was no reply The stranger, dark and unheedlng,
moved slowly westward, and no response came 10
indicate that the torpedo boats signal had been
observed Saving that the silent ship waSa Spaniard
n Ivas be ms there was no doubt of the
signal having been seem Every officer and seaman
on the Porter knew that a score of men at least
from every ship IN sampson s squadron was OH tne
lookout for signals.
masts fighting top and tunnels make her paTsl Gu
navy that has two bridges. But SO intense was the
darkness. and the Porter approaching her mead
on" these distinguishing features OF the nagsnlp
were not observable Beside this the noise OF the
blowers on the torpedo boat and the rushing OF the
waters she swept toward the big snip rendered a
response to a hail probably inaudible. So close
were the vessels that our young toWnslnan sald ne
could have pitched biscuit onto the Porters deck.
Inc HeTuIuS TTESpOnueul uOtS HOb lS thS
situation on the New York at this time Harry
says that Immediately upon the observance OF the
Porter's signals every man rushed to ms gun ana
long before the Porter in haiing distance every
battery was trained her. All that was necessary
was the order fire. On board the Porter the torpe
do was in the tube ready by a single touch on the
button to send il through the hull of the flagship on
board of which were 65S men. At each gun stood
a white jacketed boy, waiting the order to press
the trigger. To make assurance doubly sure Ere
mont again called, ''Whet ship is that?" No answer
came. Fire across her bow" cried out Fremont
~, ilnf 10
gun was fired almost under the port quarter OF the
New York. For either ship, or both, there was
now no escape; torpedo tired at TINS dls .i
meant certain destruction to the big ship and there
is no question that the batteries OF the New 1orks
broadSde, which would have been simultaneous
with that of the torpedo would have swamped the
Porter Another hail came from Fremont and this
was answered by the New York sending from her
forward fighting topa shell oyer the top OF the Por
ter, which it afterwards learned was done
without orders. For moment it flashed through
Fremonts mind, as it did through the signal Of
ficer's on the New York that the enemy might be
attempting to use the American signals At that
crucial moment Fremont hailed again. He was SO
close to the big cruiser that II was HI
ately there came back the relieving answer, 'Ihls
is the New York ~
The Porter's commander spoke again and this
time there was no menace in his voice. SIS that
Captain Chadwick" Yes" answered the New
York's Captain 'ts that the Porter?' eyes sir"
Then came the explanation of the misunderstdnd-
ing of signals without which ten seconds more
would have swept into eternity over seven nun
area OF Le boys Jnat nelpeu 10 Tree AuelIS VI thS
last vestige of Spanish misrule.
The Herald's article was the first newspaper
notice concerning the affair. The men on both
ships RETAINED from allowing its publication and
were it not for the breaking of secrecy by the cor
respondent on the Porter this statement would
not have been made The boys on the New York
told in confidence their experiences, on turlough;
and there they preferred it to sleep. Yet 1t is wen
that it were told for higher and rarer surely than
the courage which animates man in open fight by
day. is that spirit which babe men wait, ana when
ayerted a national calamity that dark night on the
Cuban coast.