The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-06-14
A DARING ATTEMPT
Spanish Torpedo Boat Steals
Out Of Santiago Harbor.
SIGNALS IN The NIGHT
SHELLS FROM THE NEW OR
LEANS ILLUMINE THE
DARKNESS.
TIE TORPEDO BOAT, HOWEVER, ESCAPED
Two Torpedoes Were Found, and one Was
Lifted on Board the New York--lt was
Worth About So, 500 Other
Torpedo Sunk.


(Copyright 1898 by Associated prcss.)
OF Santiago de Cuba, Saturday, june
4, > p. m., via Kingston, Jamaica, Mon
day. June So Il. m.-Thc firing by the
New York and New Orleans, briefly re-
ported last night was directed against Il
Spanish torpedo boat, probably the Fur
or or the pluton. The character Of the
enemy was not definitely known until the
torpedo boat Porter found two loaded
torpedoes floating off shore. Neither of
them had been discharged. One sank;
but the other was hauled on board the
Porter. 1t exactly fitted the description
of the torpedocs carried by the Pluton
and Furor. 1t is believed the torpedo
hoat destroyer escaped. She was seen
Ivy the New Orleans when too far away
to do any damage. and the heavy fire
must have driven her back. When the
New York arrived she would have had
time to stink along the shore and back
into the harbor.
The daring attempt of the Spaniards
which was fortunately frustrated by the
vigilance of the New Orleans lookout,
- the first instances of its kind since the
beginning of the war. 1t illustrated how
hard il is to hit Il small object ut night.
Shortly after 10 o'clock. the New Or
leans flashed her private signal. 1t WAS
answered by the flagship. and in Il few
seconds colored lights sprang up into the
darkness from the New Orleans deck.
They signitied that the enemy was in
sight. \ little later she burned another
coIored light. This meant that a hostile
torpedo boat WAS approaching. although.
later. Captain Folger, of the New Or
leans. was not certain whether this was
correct. Instantly. the Semi-circIc of
hl"ckading ships flashed night signals.
For six or seven miles. east and west
of the harhor. they twinkled brilliantly
in the darkness and then went ont. Sim
ultaneously. flashes of fire shot from the
New Orleans side.
The New Orleans kept her brilliant
searchliGhts playing in all directions and
other ships near her did the same.
On the decks of the New York, the
marines were crouching down. pecring
into the darkness with their rifles en-
their knees. watching for the sailors
most dreaded enemy, the torpedo boat.
The lookout were i'll every concciva-
bic spot, and guns were trained in the
direction where the New Orleans seem
ed to be firing. Every now and again
sparks and red fire flew up in the dis
tance, marking the explosion of shells.
Many persons then thought they were
exploding on Il torpedo boat. but, to-day
it is believed that they found their mark
on shore. The moon. which had been
hidden behind the clouds, came out ut
about II o'clock. The New York was
then steaming at full speed toward the
shore to head off. if possible, the retreat
Of the enemy into the harbor. The evo-
lUtion& hal to be carried on with great
care, to avoid getting in line of fire from
the other American ships. The search
lights played frequently and private sig
mails burned brightly.
\ dim object like q small BOAT envcl-
oped III smoke, was seen on the port hand
from the signal bridge and Ensign Mus
tin reported to Captain Chadwick: "A
torpedo boat one point forward on the
port beam. sir; headed this way
Capt. Chadwick, with Rear Admiral
Sampson, was on the forward bridge.
Before Il shot was fred from the flag
ship this curious lurking object disap-
pcarcd. II must have been two or three
miles away from the New York and the
Same distance from the New Orleans.
The Oregon. grim and big. crossed the
New Gork'S boats in the direction the
torpedo boat was reported. The boat
WAS still headed for shore. When Il mile
away and close to MORO Castle. an OBJ
jeCt was seen against the cliffs. 1t was
thought to lie a torpedo boat and the
New Works forward eight-inch guns
beloved out. making a hidcous noise in
the quiet night.
On shore a few sparks close to 4 dark
object showed where the shells struck.
The four inch and six FOUNDER guns
followed suit, and for Il few minutes Il
sharp fire was kept ~. The boom of
the Oregon's big gums was twice heard
to the eastward. Cease firing" was
then sounded. The searchlight> failed
To- reveal the presence of the enemy and
nothing but the bare coast could be seen.
After u carcful search the New York
steamed back To her station and the men
went back to their hammockS.
There had been no firing from the
forts.
Captain Folcer reported that he had
sighted u small steamer. perhaps Il gun
boat, and that she had failed to answer
the private signal and that he had fired
on her. He believed She had escaped
along TIA" beach. or had been destroyed
and could not tell which.
This ended the night attack and the
hrSt experience here with torpedo boats
in naval warfare.
Il was not until the Porter. this after
noon. found the torpedoes that the Ian
ger of last nights affair was fully real
izcd. The Porter was stcaming two miles
from shore and we'll to the eastward of
MORO Castle. when two torpedoes wcr,
seen floating on the water. Ensign Gil
lis jumped overheard and swan around
them. He tried to unScrew the war nose
hut the torpedo itself turned too easily
in the water. lie returned to the Porter
and Commander Fremont finally 90
one of the torpedoeS safely on hoard
1he ether sunk rs he WAS getting it in
Commander Fremont then brought tn,
torpedo alongside the New York. 1t Wi,
Il ll-ilch knothead Of modern make an,
worth about $500. 1t was in perfec
condition, and had any of our ship,