Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-09
ENGAGEMENT OFF HAVANA.
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starhoard quarter. About three miles
east Of the entrance of the harbor she
came over on the port tack. A light
haze frnged the horizon and she was
not discovered until three miles off
shore. when the Mayfower made her
out and signalied the Vicksburg and
Morrill,
Capt Smith of the Morrill, and Com
mander Lilly of the Vicksburg, imme-
diately clapped on all steam and start
ed in pursuit
The schooner Immediately put about
and ran for Moro Castle before the
wind. On doing SO, she would, accord
ing to the well conceived Spanish plot,
lead the two American warships direct
~ under the guns of the Santa Clara
batteries.
The works are short mile west Of
Moro and are a part of the defences
of the harbor There are two batteries.
one at the shore which has been re-
Gently thrown up. of sand and mortar
with wide embrasures for S-inch guns,
and the other on the crest Of the rocky
eminence which juts out into the water
of the gulf at the point. The upper bat
tery mounts modern 10-inch and Pinch
pet in front of which are 20 feet of
earthwork and a betting OF railroad
iron.
This battery is considered the most
formidable of HaVana's defences eX-
cept MORO Castle. 1t is masked and
has not been absolutely located by the
American warships. 1t is probably due
to the fact that the Spaniards did not
desire TO expose its position that the
Vicksburg and Morrill, are now atloat
The Morrill, and Vicksburg We're about
six miles from the schooner when the
chase began. They steamed after her
at full speed, the Morrill, leading until
within mile and a half of the Santa
Clara batteries. Commander Smith of
the Vicksburg was the first to realize
the danger into which the reckless pur-
suit had led them. He concluded it was
time to haul off and sent shot across
the bow of the schooner
The Spanish skipper instantly brought
his vessel about. but while she was
still rolling in the trough of the sea
with her sails Tapping. an S-inch sharp
mel shell came hurting through the air
from the waiter battery, mile and a
half away. 1t passed over the Morrill,
between the pilot house and the smoke
stack and exploded less than 50 feet on
the port quarter. The small shot rat
tied against her side. 1t was a close
call. Two more shots followed in quick
succession. both sharpnel. one burst
close under the Starboard quarter.
filling the engine room with the smoke
of the exploding shell and the other,
like the first, passed over and exploded
just beyond. The Spanish gunners had
the range, and their time fuses were
accurately set.
The crews of both ships We're at their
guns Lieut. Craig, who was in Charg
of the bow 4-inch rapid fire gun of the
Morrill,. asked for and obtained permits
sion to return the fire. At the first shot
the Vicksburg. which was in the wake
of the Morrill,. slightly in shore. sheared
off and passed to WindWard under the
MorrlTs stern. In the meantime Capt
Smith also put his helm to port and
was none too soon for as the Morril
stood off solid S-inch shot grazed hei
starboard quarter and kicked up tons
of water as il struck a wave 100 yards
beyond.
Captain Smith sail afterward that thi,
was undoubtedly an S-inch armor-piercina
projectile. and that it would have passe(
through the Morrill's boilers had he no
changed her course in the nick of time.
All the guns of the water battery were
now at work. one OF them cut the ia
cobs ladder of the Vicksburg adrft an,
another carried away "A portion of tn
rigging. AS the Morrill, and the Nicks
burg steamed away. their aft guns wer
used, but only a few shots Were fired
The Morril's 6-inch gun was elevated 70
1000 yards and repeatedly struck tn
earthwork.
The Vcksburg fired but three shot
from her 6-pounder. The Spaniards con
tinued to fire shot and shell for 20 min
utes. but none of the latter shots cam
within 100 yards Some were Wild tina
they aroused the American Jacks I
jeers The Spaniards only ceased firm
when the Morrill, and Nicksburg wer
completely out of range.
If the Spanish gunncrs had been suffer
ing from strabismus, their practice coul
not have been worse. But the officers
the Morrill, and Ncksburg frankly adm
their own recklessuesS and the mario
escape Of their vessels from destruction
They are firmly convinced that the Pun
suit of the schooner was a neatly planne
trick which almost proved successful.
any one of the shots had struck the thi
skin of either vessel, it would have offere
no more resistance than a piece of papt
60 rifle ball.
The accurate range of the first fe