The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-06-11
he FOUND THEM
Portion Of Spanish Fleet is in
SANTIAGO HaTl0T.
FORTlFICATIONS BOMBARDED
Daring Torpedo Rush-The Troops
in Tampa-Transpor Due
Next Week.
BOMBARDED

NEW YORK, May 31.-A special
from Port Antonio, Jamaica, says:
The first engagement between Com
modore SchIey's squadron and the
Spanish ships of Cervera took place
Sunday night about midnight.
Two torpedo boats made a desperate
effort to destroy the American ships.
They were stopped in the nick of time,
owing to the vigilance of the men
under Captain Philip, of the Texas.
The torpedo boats had cleared the
harbor and were creeping along in the
shadow of Moro and the mountain
at the entrance Of the harbor. They
had travelled two miles to the west
ward when the officer on the deck
Of the Texas sighted them Through
his night glass. Two of the search
| lights of the Texas were turned on
them, and the next instant the men
who had been sleeping at the loaded
guns were aroused and at work.
The flashing of the lights told the
| Spaniards that they were discovered,
and they made quick rush with all
speed on toward the Brooklyn and the
Texas. Before their bows had swung
around the crews of the port batteries
were pumping steel at them. Rapid
fire guns were used. The din of the
guns of the Texas alarmed the whole
fleet. The machine guns of the Brook
| lyn were at work a few seconds after
| the Texas had started in.
The other ships were lying further
off shore. A call to general quarters
was sounded on each of them in the
| belief that all Of Cervera's fleet was
coming out in a desperate effort to es-
cape. SearchIights were placed on the
water by all of the ships
The Texas and Brooklyn poured such
a furious shower of small shells at the
torpedo boats that the latter were fore
ed to turn about and seek safety in the
harbor. What damage they sustained
is unknown. The torpedo boats took
shelter under the forts, and no attempt
to pursue them was made. 1t is
thought that neither of them was
struck, as they retreated quickly and
made small targets in the uncertain
twilight.
The Spaniards did not discharge tor
pedoes, though they got within 500
yards Of the Texas. MARKHAM
SANTIAGO BOMBARDED.
NEW YORK, June 1.-An Evening
Journal special from Cape Haytien
says:
The torpedo boat Porter arrived at
Mole st. Nicolas at 1 o'clock this
morning with dispatches for Washing
ton City. She left Immediately but
before going to sea the following story
of the bombardment of Santiago was
obtained:
The American squadron, augmented
by the torpedo boat Porter, an auXi-
Iiary cruiser and the protected cruiser
New Orleans, approached the entrance
to the Harbor of Santiago at about
1870, the Iowa leading.
Inside Of the entrance to the harbor
was seen one warship Of Cervera's
fleet, stripped for action.
AS the American feet drew near the
New Orleans was detached and steam
ed forward ahead of the Iowa, Texas
and Massachusetts. One Of the forts
| opened fire on her and she replied,
the other ships directing their fire at
the battery on Punta Gorda, within the
harbor and to the westward of the
position occupied by the Spanish ship.
The latter replied to the fire and i'm
mediately became the target for all
the American ships engaged in the
battle. She retired behind the protect
ing headlands and was not seen again
during the engagement.
The Iowa was directed by Capt.
Fighting Bob" Evans.
The Massachusetts, Texas and New