The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-30
HON NARSH|PS WORK
Behavior in Action Demon
Strated at MatanzaS.
FINE FIGHTING MACHINES
Under Perfect Control DiSCi-
pIine on Board Perfect.
FINE FIGHTING MACHINES

| havana, ApTll ., ~ q. III, htd ECy w c. L
April 2s-At 1O:15 p. m. when the bonn
bardment Of Matanzas was al its height
and after it had been in progress for l!
minutes. Read Admiral Sampson ordered
cease firing to be sounded. A few shots
rang out from the Cincinnati and Puritan
before they caught the signal. On shore
al Twas quiet. Not a soul could be seen
there and there was no more firing. The
earthworks a quarter hour before had
presented a fairly regular outline, but
now they had a jagged appearance. Big
gaps were plainly visible at Quintas da
Recreo, but there was not d sign Of life
there. Admiral Sampson had actually
stopped the work on Punta Gorda. He
had drawn the fire of the enemy and had
discovered exactly the quality and loca-
ton of their batteries, besides affording
his three ships good target practice.
Incidentally he had put the fear of
Americans into Spanish hearts. 1t would
have been perfectly feasible for these
three ships, unaided, to have steamed
past the Notifications right into Matanzas
and taken 1t or shelled 1t at pleasure.
The only risk run would have been from
mines However, Matanzas was not want
ed, luckily for 1t. After satisfying him
self that his object had been accomplished
| Admiral Sampson headed back for Ha-
vana
The Puritan and Cincinnati were left to
| look after Matanzas and they will see to
It that Mantazas is not the scene Of much
fertilization work In the future. The
readiness to assume this task can be
judged from the fact that shortly after
the signal cease firing had been given
| Captain Chester asekd permission to re-
open. This was refused. Admiral Samp-
son evidently thinking that Mantazas had
had enough for one afternoon.
During the bombardment the New
Yorks engines at intervals went slowly
astern. keeping a steady range of 1000
yards on Punta Gorda and 1000 on Quin-
tas de Recreo, the machinery working
perfectly not only in the engine room but
throughout the whole ship. This is es-
pecially true Of the electric ammunition
HOSTS and turret training gear. two OF
the most essential parts of the ships
equipment during action.
From the naval point Of view few If
any lessons were learned from the bonn
bardment, though the range at which the
shooting was carried on was a satisfac-
tory test Of craftsmanship. The distance.
however, prevented the staff from ascer-
tanning the effect Of the heavy explosive
pro1ectiles on the earthworks. Quintas
de Recreo appeared to be an old style of
fort, low and lying near the waters edge.
hot hoh habin5 n
Gently constructed sand work.
From the lay point Of view, the bonn
bradment appeared to demonstrate sew
eral things. 1t proved that the officers
from Rear Admiral Sampson down, are
perfectly cool in the face Of danger and
action, and that they have superior con-
troll over the men at the most exciting
and trying moments, and that the latter
are as seady and courageous when the
guns roar and the shells whistle as when
they muster to morning and evening quar-
tiers in time of peace. In the second
place, the bombardment gave an excel
lent, though at the same time frightful.
Illustration of a warship's death-dealing
powers Had a single ship been in the
place where the shells fell 1t seems as
If she would have been blown to bits be-
fore she could have returned the fire.
When a 10,0O0-ton ship, usually as steady
as a rock, shakes and trembles like a
frightened child; when firmly fitted bolts
start from their sockets and window
panes and wood work are shattered; when
the roar peals up the port and starboard
and you feel your feet leaving the deck
and your glasses jumping around your
forehead, while binding, blackening
smoke hides everything from sight then
it IS you first realize the terrible power
of a modern warship's batteries.
Scenes OF intense interest occurred on
the fiagship's deck during the lombard
ment The center of attraction naturally
was about the forward bridge, where
Rear Admiral Sampson paced up and
down, mis- long glass in his hand. pausing
now and then TO watch the effect of the
shots, impressive as If at sub-calibre tar
get practice off the Dry Tortugas. Captain
Chadwick was at his side, in the dual
capacity OF chief OF staff and captain of
ship equally calm and giving orders con-
tinuously regarding the direction of the
fire and the handling OF the ship. Lieu
tenant Stanton. assistant chief OF staff:
Lieutenant Commander Potter. executive
officer of the ship. and Lieutenant J. Roll
Ter. the navigator. all were on the bridge
and as busy as they could be. Three men
were at the wheel and the usual stan
lookouts and signal boys were in their
places. The coming tower, with its heav-
Uy protected sides. was without an occu-
pant. The whistling of few shells could
not drive the men who directed the fight
ing squadron from their unprotected point
OF vantage.
Directly beneath the bridge on the
superstructure. Just aft Of and slightly
above the forward turret stood Chaplain
Royce, ready to give the last consolation
TIE chaplain and the three doctors we're
the only persons on board who sincerely
hoped they would have TO work TO DO
Near the chaplain stood Richard Hard /
ing Davis, representing the London 1
Tines; Ralph J. Paine. representing the /
Philadelphia Press. and the correspondent /
ot the Associated Press AL others on 4
board we're q; their regular stations. /
directin the ggun crews. rushing up an 1
munitiou from below Or standing patiently 4
IT thei- engine room waiting % back or /
80 ahead as the telegraph s.gnaled-
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