The Portland daily press., 1898-06-02

ly Escaped Being Riddled With Bull
let's.
Another practical demonstration of the
vigilance of the night watch at Portland
Head was given Tuesday night. The
gunners got in some unexpected practice
in the use of both the siege gun and their
smaller arms.
Their target was two mated schoon-
er, the d. ]. Melansen, whose home port
is at Nova Scotia. She had como all the
way from Porto Rico, bringing cargo
of molasses, and her master, Captain
Malensen, wasn't posted on the war. His
lack Of knowledge of the restrictive meas
ures enforced at the entrance to American
ports by night, and his failure to immedi-
ately size up the situation when the Port
land Head garrison ordered his vessel to
heave to, nearly cost him his life.
Shortly before ten o'clock the guard at
the Notifications sighted this schooner
and small coaster heading for the ships
passage. He reported the fact and the
usual preparation for stopping venture
some craft was made. the guuners be-
ing called to quarters and the 4-inch gun
given an airing.
First blank shot was fred, which
caused the smaller craft to heave to, but
it was not needed by the Nova Scotian.
Then 30-pound solid shot was sent
across the schooner's bow, and few
moments later second shot, then third
and fourth, but still her PROV pointed
shoreward.
The whole garrison was now astir and
in readiness for action. An order to open
fire with small arms was quickly obeyed
by squad Of rifiemen, whose vollsy
echoed across the bay. They fred about
one hundred shots, which brought.the in
trnder to terms, and she hove to and let
go her anchor of Cape Cottage shore.
One Of the big ten inch disappearing
guns was trained on her, and the men
were on the point Of blazing away with
it, when Capt. Harrison, the commanding
officer, appeared on the scene and ordered
| them to desist.
Communication passed between the
commanders Of Fort Preble and the Port
land Head garrison, and in few minutes
squad from the fort put out to the
schooner. She was boarded by an officer
who explained the situation to the
startled captain and inquired whether
anybody had been hurt or the vessel dam
aged by the shots from the garrison.
Captain Melansen replied that nobody
had been hit, though some of the bullets
had whistled dangerously close to their
heads. He said he didn't interpret the first
shot as being meant for him and that the
wind was SO light that he didn't have
time to heave to before the rifle volley
came.
In the morning the Nova Scotia schoon-
er came in and proceeded to her dock,
while the coaster which had been held up
outside continued on her way. Capt.
Melansen came ashore and talked good
naturedly with those who sought inter-
views with him.
1--WE left Humacoa, Porto Rico, thirty
two days ago, - said he. "Of course I
knew there was war between the United
States and Spain, but had no knowledge
| that the harbors were mined or that YES
sells were prohibited from making port at
night. We were off Half Way rock at
7S0. 1 saw the light go out at eight.
sAbout ten O'Clock we were making for
the harbor when there came a fash of
light from the high ground, and a report
Even then did not realize that it was
meant as signal for us to stop. In a
moment there came another and then an
other and we heard solid shot whistle by
our stern. I did not think the Spaniards
had captured the city, but did not know
what to make of 1t. There was not sign
of any patrol boat out there to warn us,
and had been away SO long that could
hardly be expected to know what was up.
Then there came an irregular voiley from
rifles, lasting some fifteen minutes, l
should Judge Bullets fairly tipped
through the air around us. One passed
within about foot Of the mate who was
at the wheel, while another came near
one of tn crew. The cook, colored lad,
was standing on the companionway stairs
when shot pinged by his face SO near he
felt the wind. He went below.
| "There was not wind enough for us to
put about and that is what strikes me as
funny. II there had been any sailors at
Portland Head they must have seen that
we could not come about in that almost
imperceptible breeze. If we had tried to
we would have surely gone ashore on the
rocks. Ali could do was to drop anchor,
which I did about one and one-half miles
north of Portland Head light"
Capt. MeIansen found two bullet holes
in the e-staysail and three in the main.
sail The schooner was also hit in several
other places, but no material damage had
been done. The gunners had evidently
not aimed to kill.
| 1t was learned yesterday that at Fort
Preble the men were in the canteen when
the firing was heard. They were called
to quarters and had everything in readi-
ness to participate in the gunnery in case
the intruding schooner got past Port
| land Head.
MAY GO TO SPURWINK.