The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-10-01
For the Democratic Advocate.
A Close Call for 1.-THE New York
and "The Porter
AN INCIDENT IN THE SPANISH WAR.

During Harry Huber's recent visit to his father
and family among other incidents OF ms expert
ences in the Spanish war that he reiatea was tLle
following (briefed and taken from the New York
Herald of Sunday last) The Herads correspon-
dent was pledged to secrecy so long as active oper'
atiOnS against the Spanish continued Hence us
appearance now and the reason also that no state
ment was made i'll our newspaper from our sailor
boy. 1t may also be proper to say that Harry Was Vas
remarked that "had there been no recognition ten
seconds more would have settled the tate OF DOM
ships
To show how seriously sailors are impressed, in
this connection may be proper to say that on the
night preceding the bombardment OF the san Juan
forts in view of the fact that for some OF them AT
least it might be their last night, each mess
seriously discussed the matter and arranged that
the survivors should advise the relatives OF tne
dead take charge of their effects, and II possible,
have their bodies buried ashore: =.
The story as given by the Herald appeared in
print for the first time remarked on Sunday last
it was told everywhere i'll the heet. III was StlHieu
however a the time lest brave men should be CEN
Sured Now it may be 5oid ireey ana Di or il bn
who obeys orders and all of the men on ms snip
had orders TO keep silent and, as he SAD, we
showed our drill by doing So"
tappears that While off Santiago harb0r watch
ing for Cervera's fleet the New York was some
distance from her blockading station The meet,
on the night in question, displayed no lights ex-
cept an occasional electric signal. The night was
intensely dark. CcrveraS fleet, sampson expected.
might ma Ike Il dash at any moment for the open
sea- The torpedo boat Porter, under command OF
Lieutenant John c. Fremont, was on scout duty.
1t was the torpedo boats special business 10 pre-
vent any Spanish vessel from creeping upon ehS
blockading squadron unaWaTes and when Satlstled
that it was All enemy's ship to blow her up.
During the blockade the American ships recoS-
niZed each other in two ways--one being the posi-
ton in which vessel appeared, when should De
her night blockading station, ana the other Delhs
an Ardois electric signal, which was changed from
night to night on the night i'll question all hands
on the torpedo boat were suddenly called to quar-
tiers by the firing OF the one rnea e How
a strange ship-preSumably Spanlard Inc shoI
was meant to ascertain the fact The Porter was
RAPIDLY nearing the stranger. The commander OF
the torpedO boat took his position in the coming
or lookout tower. The strange ship toward when
she steering was then fourth OF mlie away:
When hal that distance had been covered the n9ht
fleet signal was flashed by Fremont 10 wnlch tnefe
was no reply, The stranger, dark ana unheedlhS,
moved slowly westward, and no response came 10
indicate that the torpedo boats signal had been
observed Saving that the silent ship wasa Spanard
it was uncomfortable us there was no doubt OF the
signal having been seen. Every Oflcerand seaman
on the Porter knew that IL score of men at least
from every ship i'll sampson squadron was on inc
lookout for signals.
masts fighting top and tunnels make her partlcu-
larly distinctive besides she is the only ship Ill the
navy that has two bridges. But SO intense was the
darkness and the Porter approaching her mead
on" these distinguishing features of the hagshlp
were not observable. Beside this the noise OF the
blowers on the torpedo boat ana the rushng OF tIie
waters as she swept toward the big ship rendered
response to hail probably lnaudlble. so close
were the vessels that our young toWnSlnan saiu ne
could have pitched biscuit onto the Porters deck
The Henld's correspondent does not re late the
situation on the New York at this time. Harry
says that Immediately upon the observance OF the
POrters signals every man rushed 10 MS gun anu
long before the Porter was i'll haing distance every
battery trained on her. All that was necessary
was the order to fire on board the Porter the torpe
do was in the tube ready by II single touch on the
button to send it through the hull of the flagship on
board of which were COS men. At each gun stood
a white iacketed boy, waiting the order to press
the trigger To make assurance doubly sure Fire.
mont again called what ship is thatY' No answer
ut the highest pitch of his voice. Immediately the
gun was fired almost under the port quarter OF the
New York For either ship. or both, there was
now no escape. A torpedo fired at this distance
meant certain destruction to the big ship and there
is no question that the batteries of the New York
broadside which would have been simultaneous
with that of the torpedo, would have swamped the
Porter Another hail came from Fremont, ana TINS
was answered by the New York sending from her
forward fighting topa shell the top of the Por
ter, which it was afterwards learned was done
without orders. For moment it flashed through
Fremont'S mind as it did through the signal OF
ticers on the New York, that the enemy might be
attempting to use the American signals. AT That
crucial moment Fremont hailed again. He was SO
close to the big cruiser that 1t was Impossible not
to be heard, "What-ship-is-t THAT lmmedi-
ately there came back the relieving answer. "This
is the New York;
The Porter's commander spoke again and this
time there was no menace in his voice. Us mat tnat
Captain Chadwick" Yes" answered the New
Then came the explanation of the misunderstdnd-
ing of signals without which ten seconds more
Would nave swept INTO eternity over seven hun
dred of the boys that helped to free America of the
last veStige of Spanish misrule
The Herald's article was the first newspaper
notice concerning the affair. The men on both
ships RETAINED from allowing its publication and
it not for the breaking of secrecy by the cor
respondent on the Porter this statement would
not have been made The boys on the New York
told in confidence their experiences, on turloughh;
and there they preferred it to sleep. Yet it is well
that it were told, for higher and surely than
the courage which animates man in open fight by
day, is that spirit which babe men wait, and which
averted national calamity that dark night off the
Cuban coast.