The evening times., 1898-07-11
THE ER1cssox m ACTION.

Lively Experiences Of the Torpedo
boat In the Naval Battle.
Portsmouth. N. H.. July n.-Out of the
many scraps Of deeds of daring of that
never-fo-be-forgott day OF Santiago.
the adventures and exploits Of the little
torpedo boat Ericsson should be brought
to light.
The Ericsson was of Siboney when the
Spaniards made their desperate sortie.
and the torpedo boat went racing down
the coast line. steering straight for the
thick of the battle. The big battleship
Indiana, eastward Of the blockading
squadron, was heading straight for the
entrance of Santiago Harbor. in order
to block the return Of the flying fugitives
in case their flight was baiked and they
attempted to return. y
Through the SMOKE OF her great bow
guns the Ericsson, darted. plunging into
the swirfing cloud of the smoke-en-
shrouded fleets bitton the starbOard
bow huge hull loomed through a mist
If bursting Shells and through the
xhirling white glimpse was had Of the
flag of Spain. almost riddled, but still
flying.
Over went the helm of the torpedo boat.
around swung the. torpedo tubes. The
long -looked-for opportunity to sink an
enemy's ship at last was at hand. Near
err and nearer the great hull loOmed
through the smoke. fAt 1ast the mark was
fair. Wait for the next roll to plant the
splitting mine well under her armor belt.
Stand by" the order. There she goes
over. Hold on, sir the quick hail from
forward as the order to fire Is given.
She has hauled down her cOiors." -
And so it was. Cut to pieces by shells,
her decks a shambIe and on fire, the VIZ
caya had struck her flag Blindly cropping,
she found a ledge on which to rest her
keel, and the Ericsson, intent on her de-
structiOn moment before, came near to
rescue Many of the Vizcayas men were
then in the water. The flagship signaled
to the Ericsson to drop back and pick
them up. The swimmers were helped on
board. and then Captain Evans, of the
Iowa. signaled the Ericsson to range
near the Vizcaya and rescue the survivors
of the now fiercelyburning wreck
In prompt obedience the Ericsson ran
as close to the burning hulk as the heat
would permit. A horrible sight was there.
On the port beam. off which the Ericsson
lay. frightful wounds. had been torn In
the vessels side and through the gaping
orifices the crew of the Ericsson could
sec the men of the Vizcaya's ireroom
force being broiled alive in the fierce
flames of the shell-wrecked compartment.
1t has been since said that they had been
hattened down and had no means of
egress. .-. ., -
But that was not all the horror. Swing
| ing from the boat falls were dozens of
men who apparently could not swim
and who had been driven 10 those scorch-
| ing threads of life by the fierce heat OF
| the burning ship. The Erricson could ap-
proach no nearer for fear Of being DASH
| ed to pieces against the wreck. Her men
| shouted to the wretched victims to jump.
| but they would not or could not be made
! to understand that efforts would be made
| to save them. and not until number of
| the Ericsson's men made lines fast
around their bodies and flung themselves
| into the sea did the Spaniards seem TO
| understand.
One by ore they dropped OF. and some
| were hauled on board the rescuing craft,
| but the majority were drowned. The en-
| gines of the Vizcaya haG not been stop
| ped. and for hours after she had struck
| they were faithfully throbbing at their
| useless task. Her guns TOO. had been
| loaded. and one by one they doomed a
| requiem over the dying ship.
| In ALL the Ericsson picked up nearly a
| hundred survivors. among the the Viz
| caya's commander, Capt. Eulate, of
| Competitor fame. he being the officer who
| ordered the execution OF the captives OF
that vessel