New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-14
STRUCK THE SAN FRANCISCO.
SHELL FROM HAVANA BATTERY RI'INS
THE QUARTERS OF COMMO-
DORE HOWELL.

Key West Fla, Aug 13.--The flagship san
auxiliary yacht Sylvia were fired upon by the
Havana batteries shortly before O'Clock yes
terday morning. one 10-nch or Pinch shell
struck the San Francscos stern as she turned
10 get out Of range, and tore hole about a foot
in diameter completely wrecking Commodore
Howells quarters and smashing his bookcase
into fragments. Nobody was injured and be-
ing under orders not to attack the batteries
the ships retreated.
The flagship and the Sylvia lay parallel to
each other not more than a mile from Moro
Castle and separated from each other by a
distance Of between three-eighths and one-quar-
ter of a mile The Miantonomoh lay about
three-quarters OF a mile to the Of the
others All were within range of the Spanish
batteries, and the temptation too strong TO
be resisted
wARsHiPs CLOSE TO SHORE.
While the warships Of the Havana bockading
squadron have been keeping al distance OF
six miles more during daylight. they have
been accustomed tO drawing in much closer at
night. MORO Castle light has burned steadily
each night. serving a good beacon for the
American ships.
on Thursday evening the warships OF the
squadron Immediately off Havana We're the San
Francisco. the Sylvia and the Miantonomoh and
with nghtfall they drew closer to the shore
than ever before. and took positions as stated
All night the ships rolled at their stations with
lights out according To the blockade orders
Another twelve hours OF dreary duty had passed
with the same unvarying monotony, and what
happened soon afterward was unexpected
il was unwecOme
The first glimmcr of dawn breaking
through the eastern skies when. without ap in
stants warning the lookout on the flagship
saw tot Of smoke puff from one Of Morro's big
guns Almost before he could pull himself to-
gether sufficiently to make a report of the incl
dent 10 and T. inch shells were screaming al!
around the ship.
SHELLS FALL THlCklY.
The Spaniards had the range exceliently, and
apparently were grimly in earnest in their last
efforts to wreak injury on their too mighty
enemy IL was. however. almost az futile an
effort as in every preceding struggle Shells
fell between the san Francisco and Sylvia. some
fell short and few went over them. The nag
ship sgnaed To the Sylvia to get out OF range
without delay and both ships swung around
and made for
1t was then that the shell struck the san
Francscos stern and sent its fragments into
the after-cabin. wrecking Commodore Howelis :
library The Commodore was on deck with
Captain Leary. when the shell struck.
The Miantonomoh was in less danger than the
other two chips. being further out 10 sea. but
when the firing began they all moved out about
three miles Here the men on the flagship
were speedily put to work patching the ragged
hole which a shell had torn in the San Fran
cisco's stern. The damage was found TO be
,rifing.
All the shells fired at the vessels were from 10
inch or 12-inch guns. and there were exactly
twenty-five in number. AS they fell around the
ships one OF the Sylvia's men stood calmly on the
deck OF the yacht. watch in hand. and counted
,heu Morro Castle fired several of the missiles.
bu, how many is not known The others came
from two sand batteries east of MORO.
FIRE NOT RETURNED
The firing lasted twenty minutes No al
teIppt was made to return the fire. the blockad-
ing squadron being under specific orders not TO
make any sort Of demonstration partaking Of
the nature of an attack against Havana. Even
il such had not been the case. II would nave
been almost suicidal for the three ships one OF
them a Yacht to have faced such odds as The
land batteries offered. The big turret guns OF
the Miantonomoh and the san Trandscos
main battery Of 6-inch guns could have done
much damage but the Spaniards had the range.
and "a a,ternp, To combat the almost impreg
nable fortihcations OF Havana would have been
hopeless.
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