The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-06-10
TORPEDO BOAT ESCAPED.
The New York and New Orleans
Failed to Sink Spanish Craft.

OFF SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Satur-
day, June 4, = p. m. (via Kingston, ia
maica, Monday, June q, 3 a. M
Copyright 1898, by the Associated
Press. 1.-The firing by the New York
and New Orleans, briefly reported last
night, was directed against a Spanish
torpedo boat destroyer, probably the
FurOr or the Pluton. The character
Of the enemy was not definitely known
until the next day, when the torpedo
boat Porter found two loaded torpe-
does floating off shore Neither of
them had been discharged. One sank,
but the other was hauled on board the
Porter. 1t exactly fitted the descrip-
ton of the torpedoes carried by the
Pluton and Furor.
1t is believed the torpedo boat de-
stroyer escaped. She was seen by the
New Orleans when too far away to dc
any damage, and the heavy fire must
have driven her back. When the New
York arrived she would have time to
stink along the shore and back into the
.harbor.
The daring attempt of the Spaniards,
which was fortunately frustrated by
the vigilance of the New Orleans look
out, is the first instance of it's kind
since the beginning of the war AS
seen from the flagship, the scene was
brilliantly dramatic. The New York
was lying several miles to the east of
MORO Castle. The New Orleans was
on the starboard and close in shore,
ready to pounce upon any craft which
might attempt to steal out under the
shadowing hills. Shortly after 10
o'clock the New Orleans flashed her
private signal. 1t was answered by
the flagship, and in few minutes COL
ored lights sprang up in the darkness
from the New Orleans deck They
signified that the enemy was in sight.
A little later she burned another COL
ored light. This meant that a hostile
torpedo boat was approaching, al
though, later, Captain Folger of the
New Orleans, was not certain whether
this was correct.
Instantly the semicircle of blockad-
ing ships flashed night signals. For
six or seven miles. east and west of
the harbor, they twShkled brilliantly in
the darkness and then went out ST.
multaneously a flash of fire opened
from the New Orleans sides.
On board the flagship men and Off
cers-scrambled out of their hunks and
hammocks in response to the call.
General quarters They stood in
groups on deck and around the guns
watching the short sharp flames which
showed the activity of the New Or
leans. The flagship was then too far
away to hear the sound. The New
Orleans kept her brilliant searchlights
playing in all directions, and other
ships near her cid the same.
On the decks of the New York the
marines were crouched down peering
into the darkness. with their rifles on
their knees, watching for the sailors
most dreaded enemy, the torpedo boat.
The lookouts were in every conceiy-
able spot, and guns were trained in the
direction where the New Orleans SEEM
ed to be firing. Every now and again
sparks and red fire flew up in the dis
lance. like the explosion of shells. MANY
persons then thought they were ex-
ploding on the torpedo boat, but to-day
it is believed that they found their
mark on shore.
The moon. which had been hidden be-
hind the clouds, came out at about IL
o'clock. The New York was then
steaming at full speed toward the
shore to head off, if possible, the re-