The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-06-09
SHOTS m THE DARK.
Story Now That the Spanish
Torpedo Boat Destroyer
Was Not Sunk.

Copyright, 1898, by the Associated Press.)
OFF SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Saturday,
| June 4, 1885, p. NJ, via Kingston, Ja-
maica, Monday, June g. 8 A. M.-The fir
ing by the New York and New Orleans,
briefly reported last night. was directed
against Spanish torpedo boat destroyer.
probably the Furor or Nthe Pluton. The
character of the enemy was not definite
| ly known until this afternoon, when the
| torpedo boat Porter found two loaded tor
pedoes floating off shore. Neither of
[ them had been discharged. One sank, but
the other was hauled on board the Porter.
1t exactly fitted the description of tie
| torpedoes carried by the Pluton and
Furor. 1t is believed the torpedo boat
destroyer escaped. She was seen by the
New Orleans when too far away to do
any damage, and the heavy fire must
have driven her back When the New
York arrived she would have had time
to sink along the shore and back into
| the harbor.
The daring attempt of the Spaniards,
which was fortunately frustrated by sne
vigilance of the New Orleans lookout, is
the first instance of it's kind since the be-
ginning of the war. 1t illustrates how
hard it is to hit a small INFECT at night.
AS seen from the flagship, the scene
was brilliantly dramatic. The New York
was lying several miles to the east of
Morro Castle. The New Orleans was on
her starboard hand, close in shore, ready
to pounce upon any craft which might
attempt to steal out under the shadow of
the hills.
Shortly after ten o'clock the New. Or
a.
answered by the flagship and in few
seconds colored lights sprang up into the
darkness from the New Orleans deck.
They signified that the enemy was in
sight A little later she burned another
co1ored light. This meant that a hos
tile torpedo boat was approaching, al
though later, Captain Folger of the New
Orleans, was not certain whether this
was correct. Instantly the semi-circle of
blockading ships flashed night signals.
For six or seven miles east and west o.
the harbor, they twinkled brilliantly in
the darkness and then went out. Stimuli
taneously, flashes of fire shot from Inc
New Orleans sides.
On board the flagship, men and officers
had scrambled out of their hunks and
hammocks, in response to the call to
| general quarters, They stood in groups
on deck, around the guns, disheveled and
anxious, watching the short. sharp flames
which showed the activity of the New
orleans rapid-fire battery.
The flagship was then too far away to
hear the sound of the firing or see its
object.
The New Orleans kept her brilliant
searchlights playing in all directions and
other ships near her did the same.
On the decks Of the New York the ma
rines were crouched down, peering into
the darkness, with their rifles ~ their
knees, watching for the sailc most
dreaded enemy, the torpedo at. The
lookouts were in every conce fable spot
and guns were trained in the direction
where the New Orleans seemed to be
firing. Every now and again sparks
and red fire flew up in the distance,
marking the explosion of shells. Many
persons then thought they were explod-
ing on a torpedo boat but today 1t is
believed that they found their mark on
shore. The moon, which had been hid
den behind the clouds, came out at about
II o'clock. The New York was \ then
steaming at full speed towards the
shore to head off, if possible, the re-
treat Of the enemy into the harbor-
The evolutions had to be carried on
with great care, to avoid getting in line
of fire from the other American ships
I The searchlights played frequently and
private signals burned brightly.
Al dim object like small boat en-
veloped in smoke was seen on the port
hand from the signal bridge and Ensign
Muslin reported to Captain Chadwick
IA torpedo boat one point forward on
the port beam, sir; headed this way.
Captain Chadwick, with Rear Admiral
Sampson, was on the forward bridge.
Before d shot was fired from the flag
ship this curious, lurking object disap-
peared. 1t must have been two or three
miles away from the New York and the
same distance from the New Orleans.
The Oregon, grim and big, dressed the
New York's bows in the direction of
where the torpedo boat was reported
The New York still headed right for the
Shore When about mile away and
close to Morro Castle, an object was seen
against the cliffs. It was thought to be
torpedo boat and the New York's for
ward 8-inch guns beloved out. making
hideous noise in the quiet night, lighting
up the crowded decks and filling the air
with bright yellow smoke
on shore, a few sparks close to a dark
object showed where the shells struck.
The 4-inch and 6-pounder guns followed
suit and after a few minutes sharp fire
was kept up. The boom Of the oregon.s
big guns was twice heard to the eastward
Cease firing was then sounded. The
searchlights failed to reveal the presence
of the enemy and nothing but the bare