The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-02
TORPEDO BOATS REFUSED.
SchIey's Fleet Saved by the Vigilance
of the Men on the TeXns.

Sch1ey's Fleet Saved by the Vigilance
of the Men on the Texas.
NEW YORK, June IA 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 about mid
night. The 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 Captain
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 of the harbor.
They had Travelled two miles to the west
ward, when the officer of the deck on the
Texas sighted them through his night glass
es Two of the searchlghts 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.
1.-THE flashing of the lights told the Span
iards that they were discovered, and they
made quick rush with all speed on toward
the Brooklyn and 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
Brooklyn were at work few seconds after
the. Texas had started in. The other ships
were lying further off shore. The call to
general quarters was sounded on each of
them in the belief that all of Cervera S
fleet was coming out in desperate effort to
escape. Searchlights were played on the
waters by all of the ships. The Texas and
the Brooklyn poured such furious shower
of small shell at the torpedo boats that the
latter were. forced to turn about and seek
safety in the harbOr. What damage they
sustained is unknown The torpedo boats
took shelter under the forts and no attempt
to pursue them was made. 1t is thought
that neither OF them struck, as they
retreated quickly and they made small tar
gets in the uncertain twilight, The Span
iards did not discharge torpedoes though
they got within 500 yards of the Texas The
greatest vigilance is maintained at night on
the American fleet to prevent just such at
tacks as this one was.
Schleys ships have made examinations of
the batteries and the channel, revealing
much stronger guns and mines than were
supposed to exist. Four rows of mines have
been laid across the narrow channel of the
harbor. Early this morning the Marblehead
yentured to within two miles of the harbor
and positively recognized the cruiser Cristo-
bal Colon and two cruisers of the Vizcaya
type and the dismantled cruiser Reina Mer-
cedeS, upon which guns have been mounted.
making her floating fort. This leaves only
two ships of the Cape Verde squadron I'M
accounted 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 1t with broadsides.
Anxiety over the coal problem was al
layed to-day 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 bat
teries The other ships had already coaled
1.-The officers and men of the fleet are
affected by the intense heat Every aper-
ture is closed at night to prevent the egress
of light. officers and men sleep in the dark
democratic fashion,