The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-04
FIGHTING SCORPION.
Armoured Yachts Marines Constantly
Seeking Engagements.

Washington, July 4-The most heavily
armed of the yachts purchased on the rec
ommendatiOn of the naval auxiliary board
is the scorpion, formerly the Sovereign
She carries four 5-inch guns, six 6-pound-
ers and two machine guns Since her
arrival IN Cuban waters with the squad
ron she has passed through many expert
men on board of her.
First of all. perhaps should be mention
her his flagship for a quick trip to Key
West in the middle of May. Then she
was detailed from the squadron for special
duty, ana when she went to Cienfuegos
to report 1t was found that the squadron
had left that place and she returned to
From Key West she conveyed the Pan
Their and a supply ship TO Santiago Dur
ing the trip a large Warship was made out
astern in the first flush of daylight. The
was conveying, while they turned on
every ounce of steam they could. AS
- - .eitss q u AA-eeA
each other the scorpion prepared for ac-
ton, quickly and silently. In the dim light
portions, and there was general impress
sion on the American boat that she was
minent would be bound to end in the de-
struction of the converted yacht, but her
ton. The troopship and the supply ship
were slipping out Of sight, and the Scor-
pion would at least be able to effect a
delay. So her guns were loaded and
trained and their crews stood with the
close the breech-locks and fire the pieces,
alUnOuEh II should mean annlh1lat1On the
next instant Meanwhile the strangers
flag hung limp in the air. The fact that
it was not on the staff at the stern, but
high up in the battle position, was noted
in the momentous suspense as the ships
At 800 yards distance the order to fire
had almost 6een given when the quarter
sir!' altered the entire situation. The
scorpion turned, showing her own colOrS
gers stern, upon which her name,
Talbot, was made out, and then both ships
from each other. As Lieutenant Com
mander Mark has since expressed it:
They never knew how near we came to
sinking them"
Another experience Of this trip consist
ed of being run down by one of the ships
the Scorpion was conveying. The big
steamer was headed directly at the for
captain of the Scorpion rang four bells in
the engine room and threw the wheel hard
over, and his ship escaped with about 15
feet of it's stern rail torn out.
The three ships were spoken by two tor
pedo boats one day of the trip, and were
sighted by another converted yacht and
reported Spanish squadron, consist
ing OF a patleshlp, Two auXlllar1eS and two
Iorpeuo uesIroyers. Inc VesSeI making
this report has been Familiarity known as
the Owl since then, and the Scorpion is
now designated as the battleship,F
The first real engagement of any mag
was the bombardment of the Santiago for
tihcatiOnS on June 16. She was opposed
san Juan river; about three and half
miles east of the Moro. She silenced
the guns quickly, but her gun crews be-
came so excited when the order Cease
firingY was given they did not obey it.
The officers yelled themselves hoarse, but
the guns nunued to fire until each crew
had been informed separately that it must
quit, because there was nothing left to
shoot at. On the afternoon of the same
day the Scorpion asked permission to go
in again and look for more guns in the
same place. Permission was granted and
the boat went in, but her mornings work
had been so effective that she did not fire
a shot.
Since then the Scorpion has landed pro-
visions and ammunition and kept up COM
munication with the Cubans, as has been
told.