Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-11
TORPEDO RUSE.
A DARING SPANISH ATTACK FOR
TUNATELY PREVENTED.
DID BOAT ESCAPE OR SINK?
Probabilities Favor Her Having Got
Back Into Santiago Harbor-Peril
of Big wsrships from Craft of Her
Kind.

| copyrighted, 1885, by the Associated
Press)
OFF SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Saturday.
June 4. p. NJ, via KINGSTON. ia
| MAlCA, Monday. June 6. 2 p. M.-The
hring by the New York and New Orleans,
briefly reported last night. was directed
against Spanish torpedo boat DESTROYER,
probably the Furor or the Pluton. The
character OF the enemy was not definitely
known until the torpedo-boat Porter found
TWO loaded torpedoes floating off-shore.
Neither Of them had been discharged. One
sank, but the other was hauled on board
the Porter. 1t exastly fitted the descrlp-
ton OF the torpedoes carried by the Plu-
ton and Furor. 1t is believed the torpedo
ooat-destroyer escaped She was seen by
the New Orleans when too far away TO do
any damage, and the heavy fire must
have driven her back When the New
York arrived she would have had time to
stink along the shore ard back into the
harbor.
The daring attempt Of the Spaniards,
which was fortunately frustrated by tie
vigilance Of the New Orleans's lookout,
is the first instance of its kind since the
beginning OF the war. 1t illustrates how
hard II is TO hit a small object at night.
Shortly after 10 o'clock the New Or
leans flashed her private signal. 1t was
answered by the flagship, and in few Sc
conds colored lights sprang up into the
darkness from the New Orledns's deck.
They signified that the enemy was in
sight. little later the ship burned an
other colored light. This meant that a
hostile torpedo-boat was approaching In
stantly the semi-oircle of blockading ships
flashed night signals. For six or seven
miles east and west of the harbor they
twinkled brilliantly in the darkness, and
then went out. simultaneously, flashes
of fire shot from the New Orieans's side
The New Orleans kept her brilliant
search-lights playing in all directions, and
the other ships near her did the same.
SAILORS MOST DREADED ENEMY.
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. Look
outs were in every conceivable spot, and
guns were trained in the direction where
the New Orleans seemed TO be firing.
Every now and then sparks and red fire
flew up In the distance, marking the cx-
plosion of shells. Many persons then
thought they were exploding on n tor
pedo-boat, nut to-day it is believed that
they found their mark on shore. The
noon, watch had been hidden behind re
clouds, came out about II o'c.ock The
New York was tren steamilg at fall
speed toward the shore, TO head off, II
possible, tie retreat of the enemy into tie
harbor.
The evoutions had TO be carried on
with great care to avoid getting into
the line of fire of the American ships.
The searchlights played frequently, and
private signals burned brightly. A dim
object, like a small boat enveloped in
smoke, was seen on the port side from
the signal bridge, and Ensign Muslin re-
ported to Captain Chadwick: "a torpedo
boat one point forward on the port beam,
sir; headed this way" Captain Chadwick,
with Rear-Admiral Sampson. was on the
forward bridge. Before shot was fired
from the flagship. this curious, lurking
object disappeared. 1t must have been
two or three miles away from the New
York, and the same distance from the
New Orleans. The oregon. grim and big,
crossed the New York.s bows in the di-
rection the torpedo-boat was reported.
The boat was still headed for shore.
BIG GUNS BELOW.
a
Castle an object was seen against the
cliffs. 1t was thought TO be torpedo
boat, and the New Yorks forward S-inch
guns beloved out, making a hideous
noise in the quiet night. on shore a few
sparks close TO a dark object showed
where the shells struck The 4-inch and
6-poLnder guns followed suit, and for a
few minutes a sharp fire was kept up.
Tie boom of the Oregons big guns was
twice heard to the eastward. Cease |
trng! was then sounded. The search
lights failed to reveal the presence of |
the enemy, and nothing but the bare |
coast could be seen.
After a careful search the New York |
steamed back to her station, and the men |
went back to their hammocks There |
hal been no firing from the forts.
CaTtain Fc,ger reported that ne had |
sighted small steamer, perhaps a gum |
boat; that she hcu failed to answer the |
private signal. and that he had frAl on |
her. He believed she had escaped along |
the beach, or had been destroyed-he |
could not tell which.
That ended the night attack. and the
nrst experience mere with Iorpedo-poaIS |
In naval warfare.
TORPEDOES FOUND.
1t was not until the Porter. this after
HOOIl, lOuHu the lOIptuOeS lHdl the udnBer
of last nights affair was fully realized.
The Porter was steaming two miles from
shore and well TO the eastward of MORO
Castle, when two torpedoes were seen
floating on the water. Ensign ellis |
jumped overheard and swan around |
them. He tried TO unscrew the war-nose,
but the torpedo itself turned too easily |
in the water. He returned to the Porter,
and Commander Fremont finally got one
~ H. IL
other sank as he was getting it in. Com
mander Fremont then brought the tor
pedo alongside the New York. 1t was a
l4-inch Whitehead, of modern make, and
worth about $500. 1t was in perfect
and had any OF our ships struck
1t while it floated. ii would have exploded,
and perhaps sunk the ship. Therefore
the find was not only valuable but most
&C. L., @Iot 81. IL |