The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-08-17
WAS JUST IN TIME
The News of Peace Saved Span.
ish Gunboats.
Crows of the Little Torpedo Boats Cush-
Ing and Gwin Take Part In what Is
Probably the Last Naval Engage
ment of the War with Spain.

Key West, Aug. 16.-To the torpedo
boat Cushing will doubtless go the
distinction of having had the last
naval engagement of the war. Had
the peace negotiations been protracted
little longer the Cushing would un-
questionably have ended the conflict
by avenging its beginning, when En-
sign Bagley and his four comrades
of the Winslow were killed at Carde-
mas. At the very moment the orders
for raising the blockade reached the
Gushing she was making in for the
three Spanish gunboats which had
wrecked her sister boat, intent on
sinking them or herself going down in
the effort. They were the Ligero,
Alerta and Antonio Lopez. A few
days before the Cushing destroyed six
small sloops and two-masted
cshooner, the Triumpho of 25 tons.
After some brief service at the open
ing of the war the Cushing's machin-
cry was disabled, and although she
was repaired within six weeks, she
was kept here until few days ago.
On August 4 she went over to Sagua
la Grand with orders to stop the in
side traffic in the shallow water be-
hind the keys, where the gunboats
could not enter. Reaching Cardenas
the next day, she was joined by the
torpedo boat Mckee and both pro-
ceeded to Sagua. Learning that there
were two gunboats in that harbor,
the Cushing ac Mckee cleared for
action and went in to see if any
steamers were anchored inside. AS
they got under way the converted
yacht Viking with the senior officer
of that blockading station on board,
came up and halted the two torpedo
boats, which were obliged to return to
anchor under the lighthouse. That
night, however, the Viking left and
Lieut.. Gleaves, being then the rank
| ing officer, took the Cushing and Nc
Kee across the shoals to the Boca
Cristo channel and captured six small
boats of about four tons each, which
had been abandoned by their crews.
This was done in full view of the
gunboats, which from a distance of
two miles contented themselves with
firing on the torpedo boats without
coming out. The shots were not re-
turned. The sloops were burned
The Cushing again asked permis-
sion to go in and engage the gun
boats, but was again refused and vas
ordered with the Gwin to Cardenas to
prevent inland traffic between that
place and Santa Clara. They put into
Cardenas bay last Thursday. Here
the schooner Triumpho was sighted
at anchor on the east side of Hijo Key
about a mile distant. The torpedo
boats could not enter the shallow
water, so cutting out expedition
composed of a boat from each of the
torpedo boats, both commanded by
Cadet Boyd, of the Cushing, who is {
survivor of the Maine, was sent in. As
they approached the schooner hel
crew abandoned her. She was an
chored on lee shore and a fresh
wind made IT Impossible 10 get nel
off, so Boyd set fire to her.
On Friday both of the little fighters
again went into the bay and found
few sloops standing out. The GwiI
gave chase to one sloop and, after fir
ing many shells, hove her to. Th'
prize had six Spaniards on board an
the two torpedo boats were about tt
tow her out when the three Spanish
gunboats which wrecked the Winslov
were seen getting under way. A gooC
fight was promised and the sloop was
abandoned. The decks of the torpedo
boat swere cleared for action wher
the yacht Stranger appeared witt
news that peace had been restored
and the boats were ordered back tC
Key West.