The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-23
NEW ORLEANS IN THE FIGHT.
The Cruisers Fart in the Attack on
SantiagO's Forts.


Corporal of Marines John Grogan Of the
cruiser New Orleans attached to Admiral
SIMPSONS squadron. arrived in Savannah
yesterday from Key West and registered
at the Palmetto House. He leaves to-
night by the steamer Nacoochee for his
home in, New York, where he viii remain
until he RECEIVERS from an Illness, which ac-
counts for his furlough.
While he has been in some pretty hot
engagements in bombardins the forts
around Santiago. son the corporal has not
met with the hardships of the men on the
vessels that engaged Admiral Cervera' 5
squadron. Al The time Of this engage
ment the New Orleans was at Key West
where she went for repairs to her steam
steering gear
The New orleans is second-class
cruiser of $500 tons, about the size of the
Kansas city and makes twenty-five
knots. She was built at Newcastle-on-
Tyne, England for the Brazilian govern
mont, but not having been taken for some
reason, the United States bought her when
the present trouble with Spain arose. Pre-
viousiy she was called the Amazonas, but
her name was chana "a in April when this
government took her at Gravesend with
crew from the San Francisco, which
was ordered there from Lisbon, shortly
after the details for the purchase were ar
ranged.
'The crew on the san Francisco was d.
vided," said the corporal, "about half be-
lng detailed 10 the New Orleans, which il
was known would soon be in the hot-bed
Of whatever fighting there was around
CUBA. When what provisions ana other
things we needed We're had from tne San
Francisco, We parted with our shipmates
of years. and put out for Halifax. We
had about 100 men IN our crew, having
left the San Francisco with about the same
number. After coaling at Nova Scotia,
we went to New York and remained there
six weeks awaiting 10 start TO cuba, which
all expected momentarily. Our first stop
after finally leaving New York was at
Newport, where we got a fun sup
ply of toTpedoes for the two big White
head torpedo tubes, which We're a part of
her armament when the boat was bought
by the United States. We joined Commo-
dore Schley's squadron at Hampton Roads
after leaving Newport, and remained
there Two or three days after the balance
Of the squadron sailed"
The New Orleans proceeded TO Key West
on her way to rejoin the squadron, but
there received orders TO join Admiral
Sampson at Havana. For some time she
did scout and patrol duty, but was soon
sent back to Key West 20 convoy the col
her Sterling with coal to Commodore
Schley's squadron at Santiago.
"As luck had IT, we reached the com
modore about the time he intended TO
commence the first bombardment of the
surrounding forts" the corporal said. 1T
was simply case Of showing up in time
to be useful, or at least we are bold
enough TO think so, and for several hours
we poured a stream of steel and fire
against the heavy walls. During the first
engagement, about $50 rounds were fired
from the guns of the main battery. while
from the second battery some 300 shots
were sent. From all the other vessels the
same thing was in progress, ana il seem
ed that mountains of adamant could not
nave stood against ii. We participated
IN three different bombardments, after
which we We're sent to Slboney to aid in
Ianding Gen. Skaters army, which had
already embarked from Tampa"
The corporal gives an interesting ac-
count OF the landing The life boats from
ai the warships We're sent to the trans
ports, and by this tedious process the men
were conveyed to land. But while this
progressed there was a laundering. deafen-
ing roar from the warships as they steadi-
" shelled the surrounding hills from which
spanish sharpshooters eudeayored to pet
i'm some effectual work. The corporal
sad the tremendous firing from the ships
was enough to initiate even those regulars
INTO hercer warfare than they had ever
seen. Undaunted in their efforts, with an
eye single to nothing save the taking of
Sahtlago' the men continued their work
until The last was safely ashore.
Il was at Siboney that the steam steering
gear of the New Orleans broke. and she
pun out after the troops debarked for Kev
West, where the trouble was remedied
der other equipment needing attention re-
eeived it while there. In point of arma-
ment she is well equipped. having s,v e.
inch rapid-fire guns, four 4.7-inch rapid-
ire, six 6-pounders. four machine guns.
after the pattern of the Calling. and two
Whitehead torpedo tubes.