Evening journal., 1898-08-16
NAVAL BATTLE
Gushing and Gwin Tackle
Three Spanish Gunboats.
CALLED OFF BY THE STRANGER
Auxiliary Yacht Brought News of Peace
PluclSy wsrk of the Torpedo
Boats In tile Last Days
of the War.

pluclxy WsrIS of the Torpedo
Boats In tile Last Days
of the War.
KEY WEST, Aug. 16.-To the torpedo
boat Gushing, commanded by Lieuten-
ant Albert Gleayes, will doubtless go
the distinction Of having had the last
naval engagement Of the Spanish
American war. Had the peace nego-
tiations been protracted a little longer
the Gushing would unquestionably have
ended the conflict by gloriously aveng-
ing its beginning, when Ensign Baeley
and his four comrades Of the Winslow
were killed at Cardenas. AT the very
moment the orders for raising the
blockade reached the Gushing she was
making for the three Spanish gunboats
which had wrecked her sister boat in
tent on sinking them or herself going
down in the effort. They were the Ii
gero. Alberta and Antonio Lopez.
A Few days previously the Cush ng
destroyed six small sloops and two
masted schooner. the Triumpho.
After some brief service at the very
opening Of the war the Cushings ma
chinery was disabled and. although she
was entirely repaired within six weeks,
she was kept here until a week ago
much 10 the chaErn OF Lieutenant
Gleaves and despite his urgent appeals
for active service. Eventually Commo-
dore Howell allowed the Cushing TO go
to the blockade, and on Aug. 4 she went
over TO Sagua la Grande with orders
to stop the inside ,rahic In the shallow
water behind the Feys, where the gum
boats could net enter.
Reaching Carderas the next day, she
was joined by the torpedo boat Mckee
under Lieutenant Kneppes, and both
proceeded to Sar1a. Learning that
there were two eunhoats in that harbor,
the Cushing and Mckee cleared for ac-
tion and went in to see if any steamers
were anchored inside. AS they got un-
der way the converted yacht viking.
with the senior officer Of that blockad-
ing station on board, came up and halt
ed tho two torpedo boats. which We're
obliged to return and anchor under the
! lighthouse.
That night. however the Viking left.
and Lieutenant Gleaves. being then the
ranking officer, took the Cushing and
| Mckee across the shoals to the Boca
/ Cristo channel. and there captured six
small cargo boats OF about four tons
each, which were lying at anchor and
/ had been abandoned by their crews.
This was done in fun view OF the gun
boats. which from a distance Of two
miles contented themselves with firing
on the torpedo boats without coming
out. The shots were not returned.
The sloops. not being worth towing to
Key West, were burned the next day
On the sth the Siren arrived with the
| torpedo boats Gwin and Rodgers and
assumed command of the blockade al
that Port.
The Gushing again asked permission
TO go in and engage the gunboats. bu
was again refused and was ordered
with the Gwin. to Cardenas to proven
inland traffic between that place ans
Santa Clara. They left the next morn
ing, and. after chasing and holding M
the hospital ship Solace, the American
schooner Dellie. which, with the consent
Of the authorities. was carrying a Cubar
expedition: the Mangrove and the
schooner Anna f. Krause. from Balti.
more for Galveston. all or any OF which
It was hoped might be a ship Of the
enemy and offer dght, they put into
Cardenas hay last Thursday Here tn,
two masted schooner Triumpho wa.
sighted at anchor on the east side o.
Hijo key, about a mile distant Tn,
torpedo boats could not enter the shal
low water, so a cutting out expedition
composed Of a boat from each Of tn,
torpedo boats. both commanded by Ca
det David Boyd Of the Cushing, who 4
a survivor Of the Maine, was sent in
AS they approached the schooner he
crew abandoned her. She was anchore,
on a lee shore. and a fresh wind mad
IL impossible to get her Off. 50 Cade
Boyd. acting under orders set fire 4
and destroyed her.
on Friday both Of the dauntless littl
fighters again went into the bay. far
ther to the westward, and found a fey
sloops standing out, all the other yes
sells having scurrisd back toward tn
town. The Gwin gave chase to on
sloop and after firing many shells how
her to. The Cushing was meanwhil
chasing a second vessel. but the latte
had two big a lead, and, abandoninl
the pursuit. the Cushing went to tn
Gwin's assistance. The latters priz
had six Spaniards on board. and tn
two torpedo boats were about 20 toy
her out when the three Spanish gun
boats which wrecked the Winsow wer
seen getting under way. A good fgh
was promised. and to save time tn
sloop was abandoned, the spaHiards o
board Of her showering blessings ol
their magnanimous captors. The deck
OF the torpedo boats were again cleare
for action. and. although the contes
would have been an unequal one, tn
Spanish boats carrying stronger bat
= teries, all was ready for the daring at
tempt. when the auxiliary yacht stran
ger appeared with the news that peac
had been restored and the blociSad
raised. and the boats we're ordered I'm
= mediately back to Key West
nr.......s..,t. 90 xt-...hs.