The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-30
OUR SAILORS IN BATTLE.
While Shells Were Bursting Over
head One Played "A HarmOnica.

While Shells Were Bursting over
head One Played HarmOnica.
Key West Letter New York Evening Sun.
During the recent bombardment of San
Juan the monitor Terror lay for half an
hour within 600 yards of the shore, with
the shells of a dozen or more Spanish guns
whiTing about her, bursting overhead,
and sending great geysers squirting in the
air all around her. All the other vessels
of the squadron had moved out to sea,
and the little ironclad was alone banging
await at the batteries, which had concen-
trated their fire on her. A shell striking
the vessels open super-structure deck,
where the men were at work al the small
er gins would have caused havoc w lille
all this confusion of battle reigned a sailor
spied a harmonica lying on the deck close
to one of the turrets. The conclusion of
the guns had tumbled it from its hiding
place in the superstructure. The sailor
watched his chance, secured the musical
instrument, and went dancing to the up
per deck, playing a lively jig.
That's the kind of stuff our men are
made Of" said one of the Terror's officers
the other day, as he related the incident
LAS ] stood there figuring that the shells
were coming a little closer all the while,
thinking it was about time for one to
strike us, and wondering just what it
would do when it did, that fellow came
bowling by me blowing his mouth-organ
as coolly as though we were here in the
harbor. Shells didn't bother him."
But a little while before this tar Of the
Terror accompanied the music of the
Spanish shells with his harmonica the
Detroit lay in the mouth of the harbor,
right under MORO, defying its guns, and
pouring shot after shot against the fort.
~ hun r1rreaA
yards abaft the ship. A few minutes later
a second shot from the same gun fell lit
tie closer; a third was still nearer, and
the fourth narrowly missed striking the
mark.
The officer In charge of the 6-inch gun,
as he watched the shot creeping nearer
ana nearer. coolly remarked: Il tell you,
boys, that's good shooting. Do you see
how that fellow up there is getting closer
and closer to us? If he keeps up his good
work hen hit us. MS certainly good
shooting"
But the Spaniard failed to keep up his
good work.
From all. accounts the sailors do not
mind Spanish shells a bit They go into
the battle heart and soul They fight at
their guns as though the enemy were at
arms length, and the struggle were a per-
sonal one.
Give it to the Spaniards! That's
good UNI another in the same place'l
make EN- sickw That is the way they
talk in the thick of the fray.
But when it is all over and the music of
the shells and the crash of the guns are
but a memory, the officers, in the safety
of the Key West Hotel veranda, discuss
ing the fight, speak respectfully of S-inch
projecres.
Did 1 mind it?" said a lieutenant the
other night, speaking of a particular San
Juan she'll
"Weu, l was pretty busy at the time,
and couldn't give it much attention, but
it did seem to me as though it went within
about six inches of my head AS l look
back upon II now it seems that 1t might
have been at least twenty feet over me.
But - he bit viciously al his cigar, and
solemnly shook his head.
"Scared?" said the engineer of the Ter
ror, speaking of San Juan well, guess
l was 1t was awfully hot below, and we
couldn't see a thing, and the concussion
Of the guns and the knowledge that we
were IN rain of shells were mighty UNI
pleasant. The cat and 1 were very badly
frightened, I tell you. 1 guess the cat
was worse than 1. He mewed and 1
don't think l did. But then you know,
the cal and I were the only folks on board
| that minded it"
He had evidently forgotten the celebrat-
ed goat William Terror, who excited so
much interest Wnen the monitor was in
New York last winter. Billy is very young
| They can him an apprentice goat 1t was
his first time under fire, and he behaved
very badly. When the action opened he
was on the upper deck, and at the first
broadside became panic stricken. He tore
about the deck, beating furiously, and as
the hgnt grew hotter he grew more vio-
lent. a sailor had to carry him below.
and in the depths of the ship. alone and
uncontrolled, he trembled and bleated till
| the last gun was silent
The Detrot's goat was drawer. He had
a station on the gun deck. and while the
| firing VAS gong on and while the shells
were whirring over him, he remained abb
soiutey quiet But whenever there came
a luil ne Capered madly about the deck
kickirg aud bleating. There is a difference
of opinion as TO Why he, was so composed
during all the confusion His friends
among the crew say that he was interest
ed, and was watching the battle with
! critica eye, and tlIat mis- subsequent capers
were Dut an expression of satisfaction at
its sults. His detractors contend that
he was paralyzed with fear. and that when
! the nose ceased the spell was broken. and
| ne gaze vent TO his feelings of terror by
| his wild antics.
Inasmuch as goats have no particular du-
| ties assigned 10 them in action, these two
were 1T disadvantage. They had moth
! ing to occupy their minds but their trou-
| b,es
"Whan you are busy and have some
hing % think about. it isn't so bad" That
is The way an officer sums up the situa-
ion.