New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-30

or shelled 1t at pleasure. The only risk run
would have been from mines.
After satisfying himself that his object had
been accomplished. Admiral Sampson headed
back for Havana. The Puritan and the Gin
cinnati were left to look out for Matanzas and
they will take care that it Is not the scene OF
much work on Notifications in the near future.
The readiness to assume this task can be judged
from the fact that shortly after the signal.
Cease firing" had been given. Captain Chester
asked permission to reopen. This refused.
Admiral Sampson evidently thinking Matanzas
had mad enough for one afternoon
PERFECT MACHINE
During the bombardment the NETWORKS en-
Cines at intervals went slowly astern. keeping q
steady range Of four housand yards Punta
Gorda and seven thousand Quintas da
4 Recreo. The machinery worked perfectly. not
only In the engine-room but throughout the
whole ship This is especially true of the cleo
trio ammunition hosts and turret training gear.
two of the most essential parts Of ships
equipment during action.
From a naval point OF view few n any. lessons
We're learned from the bombardment. though
the range at which the shooting was carried
was satisfactory test of craftsmanship. The
distance however. prevented the staff from
asCertaining the effect Of the heavy explosive
| projecties on the earthworks Quintas da
ReCreo appeared to he old style OF fort low.
and lying near the waters edge. The battery
was probably behind a recently constructed
sandwork.
BRAVE AND STEADY.
From the lay point of view the bombardment
appeared to demonstrate several things It
proved that the officers from Admiral Sampson
down are perfectly cool in the face Of danger
superb control over their men at exciting and
trying moments. and that the latter as
steady and courageous whea the guns roar and
tho shells whistle when they muster to morn
ms and evening quarters in times Of peace. All
these qualities are taken for granted by any
naval officer They the postulates Of his
discipline He would he surprised IL It were
otherwise
In the second place the bomhardment gave
an excellent. though at the same time fright
full. illustration Of warship's death-dealing
powers Tremendous broadsides poured without
cessation on the little streak 81 earthworks.
Had n single ship been in the place where the
shells fell II seems as If she would have been
blown 10 bits before she could have returned
the fire When n 10000-tOn ship usually as
steady "a q rock shakes and trembles like a
frightened child. when firmly fitted bolts start
from their sockets and vindow-panes and wood
work sre shattered. when the roar peals up
from port and starboard. and YOU feel your feet
leaving the deck and your glasses jumping
around your forehead. while binding. black
ening smoke hides everything from sight. then II
is that YOU first realize the terrihl" power or
modern warships batteries
SCENES on THE NETWORK.
Scenes Of intense human interest occurred IN
! the nagships deck during the bomhardment.
The centre Of attraction. naturally. the for
ward bridge where Admiral Sampson paced up
and down his long glass in hand. pausing now
and then TO watch the effect Of the shots. i'm
passive as II at sub-calibre target practice of
the Dry Tortugas Captain Chadwick wa. at
| his side in the dual capacity OF chief Of stan
and captain Of the ship. equally calm. and Civ
ing orders continuously regarding the direction
Of the fire and the handling OF the ship. Lieu
tenant Stanton assistant chief of staff. Lieuten-
| ant Commander Potter. executive officer NJ the
| ship and Lieutenant J. Roller the navigator
| all were the bridge. and "a busy as they
| could be Three men at the wheel. and
! the usual aff Of ookouts and signal boys were
! in their places The conninC-tover. with ITS
! heavily protected sides. was without an occu-
| pant The whistng Of n few shells could not
drive tho men " no direct tho lighting squadron
!
Directly beneath the bridge the super
! structure just aft and slightly above the FOR
/ ward turret. stood Chaplain Royce The chap
! lain and the three doctors were tho only per
sons on board who sincerely hoped they would
! have no work &c DO All others were AT their
regular stations. directing tho gun crews rush
Ing UP ammunition from below or standing
! patiently in the engine-rooni. waiting to back
or GO ahead. the telegraph signallei
THE MEN AT THE GUNS
! The way the "jackles' worked at their guns
| was splendid Many OF them were stripped TO
| the waist The muscles stood out on their bare
I tattooed arms. The Precipitation ran down their
| faces, and mixing with the gunpowder. made
| grim streaks Of black over their skins When
! Cease firing" sounded disappointment was
written visby on all their faces But the
| decks were quickly swept. the shrouds rehooked
| the guns cooled and washed. and at dinner
| when the band played The Stars and Stripes
! Forever" Their were few signs 20 show that the
| flagship New-York had been into action for the
| first time in her career
About three hundred shots fired during
the bombardment. 10i OF which were from the
| New-York The total cost OF the bombardment
was about $500. expended entirely in ammu-
milton. The cruiser Cincinnati did wonderfully
| quick and rapid work with her batteries The
monitor Puritan probably fired fewer shots than
the others. apparently not using her rapid
| guns but taking careful aim with her l2-inch
| monster at Quintas da Recreo.
| To those on board the flagship who had never
before been n warship when she was firing
both batteries at once and who had never heard
the shells whistle through the air, the expert
ence was not bad IA was anticipated The
noise OF the guns deafened some slightly. but a
timely application Of wool 10 the ears deadened
its effect considerably. Taken all In ALL the
! shock Of the broadside was not great as had