Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-06-01
FIRST FIGHT WITH CERYERA.


New York, June IA dispatch to the
World from Port Antonio, Jamaica
says:
The first engaE cement between Com
modore Schley's squadron and the
Spanish ships of Cervera took place
Sunday night 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 I'm
der Captain Phillips 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 hnr-
Dor. 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 In
slant the men who had been sleeping
at the loaded guns were aroused ana
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 ana 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 of shore. The call
to general quarters was sounded in
each of them In the belief that all of
cervera's fleet was coming out in
desperate effort to escape.
Search lights were played on the
waters by all Of the ships, The Texas
and the Brooklyn poured such a furi-
Gus shower Of small shells at the tor
pedp 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
was struck as they retreated quickly
and they made small. targets in the
uncertain twilight
The Spanish did not discharge tor
pedoes, though they got within 500
yards of the Texas.
The greatest vigilance is maintained
at night on the American fleet to pre-
vent Sucn attacks as these.
Schley's ships have made examina-
tions OF the batteries and the channel
revealing much stronger guns ana
mines than We're supposed to exist.
Four rows OF mines have been laid
across the narrow entrance of the har-
Dor
Early this morning the Marblehead
ventured to within two miles of the
harhor and positively recognized the
cruiser Crostobal Colon and two cruis-
ors of the Vi2caya type and the dis
muntled cruiser Reina Mercedes. upon
which guns have been mounted, making
her n floating fort.
This leaves only two ships of the
Cape Verde squadron unaccuunted for.
but Commodore Schley is sure they
are further up the bay.
All the ships We're originally in such
n position in the harhor that they
could not be seen from the outside, but
on the appearance Of the American
wnrships they betrayed their presence.
moving across the entranc to sweep
It 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
relieved today by the arrival of two
oilers conveyed by the New Orleans.
the sea was ms smooth as glass. The
Iowa and Brooklyn conled in full view
Of the guns OF the batteries. The
other ships had already Coued.
The officers and men OF the fleet arc
affected by the intense heat Every
aperture IL closed at night to prevent
the egress Of light
officers and men sleep in the dark
democratic fashion.