The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-11
ERICSSON'S GREAT WORK.
She Tt Was Who Laid Low the Proud
VizcaVa.

New York, July IA Herald dispatch
from Portsmouth, n. H, says: Out of
the many deeds of daring of that never
to-be-forgotten day off Santiago, the ad-
ventures and exploits of the little torpedo
The Ericsson was off Siboney when the
SpaniardS made their desperate SOrtie and
the TORPEDO BOAT Went racing gown In, fIie
coast line steering stTalght t3r me I T9i
ana. eastward guard of the bloe eia Ing
entrance of Santiago harbor in order to
block the return of the flying fugitiveS
in case their flight was baked and they
attempted to return.
Through the smoke of their bow guns
the Ericsson darted, plunging into the
swirling clouds of the smoke enshrouded
hull doomed through the mist OF pursuing
shells and through the Whirling white
glimpse was had of the flag of Spain, al
most riddled but still flying.
over went the helm Of the torpedo boat,
long looked for opportunity to sink an en-
emy's ship at last was at hand. Nearer
the smoke. At last the mark was fair.
Wait for the next roll, to plant the split
ting mine Wen under her a .!,T belt 7I,
goes over. hold on, SIR The quick hail
from forward as the order to fire was
she has hauled down her. colors.'' And
so it was. Cut to pieces by shells, her
had struck her flag. Blindiy CROPPING.
she found a ledge on which to rest her
struction a moment before, came near to
rescue. Many OF the VlzSeaya, 5 men W I9i
the Ericsson to range near the Vizcaya
and rescue the survivors of the now fierce
In prompt obedience, the Ericsson ran
close to the burning hulk as the heat
would permit. A horrible sight was was
Ericsson lay, frightful wounds had been
gaping orifices the crew. of the Ericsson
could the men of the Nlzcaya 5
force being burned alive in the flames
of the Shell-WTecked compartment. 1t
has been since learned that they had been
battened down and had no means Of
But that was not all the horror. Swing
ing from boat falls were dozens of men
who apparently could not swim and who
had been driven to those scOrchtng threads
of life by the fierce heat of the burning
nearer for fear of being dashed to pieces
against the wreck Her men shouted to
stand that efforts would be made to save
them. and not until a number of the
EricssOn's men made lines fast around
their bodies and flung themselves into the
sea did the Spanfards Sc emto understand
baHied on board the Ericsson. but the ma
jOrity were drowned. The engines of the
ho1Irs fer she had Struck they were
FAITHFULLY throbbing at their useless task
Her guns, too. had been left loaded and
one by one these doomed requiem over
In ali the Ericsson picked up nearly a
hundred survivors, among them the Viz
caya's commander. Captain Eulate of
Competitor fame, he being the officer who
ordered the execution of the captives of
that vessel All of the survivors were
barefooted and scantily clad and this add
ed to the terror of the CHASTITY tragedy.
The steel decks of torpedo boat are I'M
comfortably hot and the barefoOted Span
iards were compelled to execute con-
tinual dance on the heated plates to pre-
vent the sOles of their feet from blister
ing. Many of them were frightfully
wounded.
The padre of the vizcaya was asked by
Lieutenant Usher to lend a hand in help
ing the wounded. but he was unconcerned
about their suffering. Turning a deaf
ear he seated himself on q chest The
chest happened to be needed for a wound
ed man who was writhing on the heated
deck but the padre refused to surrender
it. Usher motioned to his muscular young
executive. Ensign Edo, and the padre va :
Gated the chest Immediately and with
some loss of dignity.