The evening times., 1898-08-26
YHB VBSUVIUS 1T Home
The Dynamite Cruiser at An
chor Off Tompkinsville.
DID GOOD WORK ATSANTIAGO
At One Tfne in Pursuit of the Phan-
tom Spanish Fleet Reported In b.
hama Channel - Her Effective
ssCOaEhs" at the Spanish Halter
ies-Engaged On Eight Occasions.

New York, Aug. 1.-As the Texas be-
fore had done, the dynamite gun vessel
vesuvius came into port yesterday aft
ernoon with her "'hoodoo'' wiped out at
Santiago. The word dynamite" is really
a misnomer. for the explosive which was
used with such good effect at Santiago
was wet gun cotton.
Soon after she had Joined the fleet on
Tompkinsville, 8. L., short distance be-
hind the Indiana, Lieut.. Commander
Pillsbury went to the flagship New York
to report to Admiral Sampson. The lat
ter was not on board. Many visitors to
the warships were attracted to the ves-
suvius during the afternoon. The three
rigid tubes in her forward deck received
much attention.
The Vesuvius put to sea from Key West
on June s In search of the phantom
Spanish fleet, which was reported max
ing its way to Havana. After three days
cruising in the old Bahama Channel or
ders were received to join Admiral Samp-
son OF Santiago. She arrived on the
morning of June 49, and her commander
as 1t was not desired that her arrival
should be known to the shore batteries.
Lieut.. Victor Blue. of the Suwanee. had
finished his reconnoitering trip for the
purpose of removing all doubt Of Cerve-
ra's whereabouts that day. and reported
| the two torpedo boat destroyers anchor
| ed In the channe. between the Socapa bat
| terry and Cayo Smith.
Admiral Sampson ordered the Vesuvius
| to huri her charges of gun cotton the
same night of her arrival. and steaming
to a range Of 200 yards about 10 o'clock
| she opened fire. Her first shot was d.
rected against the Spanish destroyers
over the battery to the west of Morro.
! A cOughlike sound was all that told OF
the discharge until report greater than
| that made by two 13-inch guns fired at
once shook the earth and made the pom
derous warships rock Two more follow
| ed at short intervals against the Socapa
| battery.
| A line of picket launches had been
drawn up OFF the entrance to the harbor
| to give warming to the fleet of any dash
by the Spanish destroyers. Those on the
| launches knew nothing of the Vesuvius
actions. and when the projectiles burst
with tremendous force within the harbor
and on the hill there was a great sour
rying and signaling by the launches. On
the other hand, the presence of the pick
cts was unknown on the gunboat. and
when her officers saw the quick move
ments she backed seaward at speed
that kept her quarterback submerged. She
did not dare to present her broadside te
the batteries in turning.
Twenty-six shots were fired in all be-
fore Santiago, three a night on sever
nights, and five on the night of July 4
when the Reina Mercedes and severa
Spanish gunboats were reported emerging
from the harbor. Most of the projectiles
were 1O-inch. containing 300 pounds of guT
cotton. The others used, S-inch, contained
100 pounds of the explosive. From one o.
the officers of the Spanish feet it wa:
learned that one explosion had killed &
large number of Spaniards, and had com
pletely wiped out a shore battery. Capt
Taylor. of the Indiana. told the men OF
the vesuvius that a projectile had mad'
hole in the battery east of Moro larg'
enough to put the gunboat through IT.
During the days the Vesuvius was of
Santiago. before Cervera's dash, she act
| ed as tender to the flagship New York
carrying messages for Sampson. The yes
sci was at Guantanamo coaling when th'
Spanish fleet was destroyed. but returned
the same night. Lieut.. Commander Pills
bury was put in charge of the wrecks
After two weeks of this service the vesse
returned to Guantanamo for repairs Il
her boiler tubes. which had been causin,
trouble for three months. The repair shil
Vulcan got them into temporary trim. an'
on the trip to this port she averaged abou
fourteen knots an hour.
During her stay at Guantanamo Lieut.
Commander Piilsbury planned expert
ments with 6-inch dummy projectiles TO
the attack against Havana. in which sh
was to take part. He believed he coul'
fire them at a range of three miles. ant
was about to begin practice when new
of the signing of the protocol was re
ceved.
The torpedo boat Mckee arrived yester
| day from Hampton Roads and proceeds
directly to the navy yard