The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-08-19
FIRED ON THE FLEET.
Havana Batteries De.
| liver a Parting Shot.
SAN FRANCISCO WAS STRUCK

Large Hole Torn in the Cruisers Stern
No One Aboard Ship Was Hurt
American Vessels Steamed Out of
Range as Rapidly Possible.
Key West, Fla, Aug. 16.--The flag
ship San Francisco, the monitor Mian-
tonomoh, and the auxiliary yacht Sill
via, were fired upon by the Havana
batteries shortly before O'Clock yester-
day morning. One 10 and two l2-inch
,hells struck the San Francisco's stern
as she turned to get away out of range,
and tore hole about foot in diam
eter, completely wrecking Commodore
Howell's quarters and smashing his
bookcases into fragments. No one was
injured, and, being under orders not to
attack the batteries. the ships departed
as fast as their engines would carry
them.
The flagship and the Silvia lay
| parallel to each other, not more than
a mile from Moro castle, and separ-
ated from each other by three eighths
of mile. The Miantonomoh lay about
three-quarters of mile to the rear OF
the others. All were within range of
| the Spanish batteries, and the tempta-
| tion was too strong for the Spanish to
resist.
The first glimmer of dawn was break,
ing through the eastern skies when,
without an instant's warning, the look.
out on the flagship saw a jet of smoke
puff from one of Morro's big guns. AL
most before he could pull himself to-
| gether sufficiently to make a report OF
the incident, 10 and 12-lnch shells weIe
screaming all around. The Spaniards
had the range, and apparently were
grimly in earnest in their last efforts
to wreck injury on their too mighty
enemy. Shells fell between the Sar
Francisco and the Silvia. Some fel
short, few went over them. Tht
flagship signalled the Silvia to get ou
of range without delay, and both ships
swung around and made for the sea.
It was then that the she'll struck the
San FraEcisco's stern. Commodore
| Howell was on deck with Captain
Leary when the shell struck. Witt
the utmost speed the feet moved ou
about three miles. Here the men OF
the flagship patched up the ragged rag hol
in the vessels stern. All the shelH
fred at the vessel fell around the ships
One OF the silvia's rnerl stood calma.
on the deck Of the yacht, watch =
hsl,d. ana eeunted IT,
Moro castle fred seve raj of the mis-
siles, but how many IS not known
The others came from two sand bat
teries near Moro. The firing lastet
90 minutes.
The one-sided engagement had scarce
ly ended when the men of the Silvi
were treated to another surprise. TIL
little yacht gunboat is manned by tn
New York naval militia. Her crev
had barely recovered from the excite
ment when the flagship called the yes
sci over. and Captain Bellers was give
a packet of private documents. whic
he was ordered to take into Havan
under flag of truce. The white fla
was hoisted over the Silvia, and slI
started towards the guns which ha
just given her such noisy greeting. A
the Silvia approached to within mil
of Moro, the character of the flag float
ing from her foremas: was discerne
and the castle signalled:
"What is your purpose?
To this the Silvia answered: "W
have papers to deliver
Moro did not resume the converse
ton and for some little time the gur
boat rocked on the waters almost unde
the still-smoking cannon OF the enemy
Presently. however, Spanish gunbos
drew ont Of the harbor and came clo'
to the Silvia. 1t was the Martin
Pinzon, and carried much strongt
battery than the American ship. III
customary formal salutations We're g.
changed, and Lieutenant William I
Ford, the executive officer of the Silvia
J boarded the Pinzon and delivered tt
documents.
The ceremony occupied no mo
time than the physical act involves
The American officer returned to Ii
, ship, and the vessels went On their r
spective ways.