Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-07-20
Sturdy Torpedo Boat Porter
at New York City.
Ensign Tells of Their Experiences at
Bombardment Of San Juan.
One Of Trophies $4,000 Torpedo Fired at Mer.
rimac When Entering Santiago.


she sailed out from the harbor she was
fresh from her trial tests. She sailed
away with Lieut.. j. G. Fremont in
command and she returned. toda,.,
with the same hands on the wheel and
unmarked by any missile Of war. The
little craft returned with dulled brass
ings, but with a fat log of things done.
worn as to her paint and parts. but
with record of good service and some
rcnoWn.
The little craft steered up the East
river, moused her way through the
narrow channel into the navy yard
and made fast after her long voyage
Lieut.. Fremont soon turned over the
care of his craft to Ensign /. Y. ellis
and made his way from the navy yard
to his home in Staten Island The
crew, not one Of whom is sick or all
Ing. We're at once busted in putting
the ship in shape.
NFllN Sfati as, ZIG 1 VI VI ~ do iiNSil
from dock and every fitting and every
appointment was in pink Of condition.
They were fresh painted. brightly pol
ished and everywhere about
her prevailed that scrupulous
neatness which caharacterizes that
naval craft. Today. her eansdes
showed the wear Of the waters
her metal work -2as furnished
with spray and usage. the rubber mat
ting on her deck had been trodden ana
tom. her machinery. though in order
showed service and the three one
FOUNDER guns on deck bore evidence
that they had been put TO the purpose
for which they We're constructed
y year ago, the Porter had in her
torpedo tubes three Withheld projee-
tiles and one as n reserve. today, when
she made her moorings at the navy
yard she had the same number and
the same ones. She has. however. ac-
luired new one. bringing home as
relic the is foot $4,000 torpedo Of Ger
man construction. which the men OF
the Porter recovered from the sea off
the south coast of Cuba. Il miles east
of Santiago on June last.
This projectiIc was fired by either
the Rcnia Mercedes pr by the Spanish
torpedo boat Pluton at the Merrimac
while Hohson was taking her into the
marrow neck of Santiago harbor. The
Mercedes and the Pluton each fired
torpedo at the Mcrrimac ana they
were born 10y the tide eastward along
the coast until. the Porter sighting
them, hauled one Of the two. but lost
the other
Ensign GMlls said. 1.-THE Porter has
proved herself in every emergency AMI in
Al wcathers. a s;aunch, swift, ana at all
times capable boat. our water tube boil
crs have given us our speed whenever
wanted. hut we came up here now for a
litla provisional attentinn-much less,
however. Nan might oe cAPt'''" 90 +"
vessel that has hcen s" long IN service
without docking or "Nerhani'AS.
The ensign then t'id the HOMO" 1''1 s'''N
Of the Porier's experience ~ H'h JUN
THE long neck al lihd Which t'''hVH ""'
to make the hIrhor OK sun juan Wis INV
most inoff"nsiVe DIT Of territory ma
could he imagined ana iecIln2 th'I""T"'S
safe. even with our oh'-tehlh "i an ~, -
In thickness outer Sk'h' we hia"c ui' "'''-
in 600 yards OF the heath'
when we h3u gotten WI'hiH ""''
seemed to be tempting pf"N'ihltH' At
seemed as though the entire flEe "p'nN'I
fire on Us at once heh y Is No''9''''' ("
that a bullet from Mdo7'' I"'' "''''
If properly directed 20 cled" 'Hi' 49,
hull, the effect OF smell 81 any ~
striking us may oe easily iih'Ri4'''
opened ire however vain our
and SO close were we TO the Sh'fe tH'I "'
could see the eifectS OF our Sh"'S' ''iu
are confident that inc hd'I'N "dS i'''"'
exceedingly unpleasant ana Hiu'h 'N'
valuable by the attentions OF 'ht ~
we were slShaHed 10 rei"t 10 7''''
quarters, however am maui ""' ""' ~