The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-10
TORPEDO BOAT
WAS NOT SUNK
She Probably Escaped
Warships' Fire.
DANGEROUSMACHlNES
Two of Her Torpedoes Were Found
Two of Her TorpedOes Were Found
Floating After the Attack,
GRAPHIC STORY OF THE AFFAIR.
Ira Ship Had Struck One of the FLOAT
ing Torpedoes She Would have
Been Destroycd-The Mcrrimac
Blockade is Not Sufficient TO
Keep Torpedo Boats from
Passing Out Harbor.

OFF SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Saturday,
June AZ z. NJ. via Kingston. Jamaica
Monday, June c. Z. M.-The firing by
the New York and New Orleans, briefly
reported last night was directed against
a Spanish torpedo boat destroyer, PROB
ably the Furor or the Pluton.
The character OF the enemy was not
definitely known until the torpedo boat
Porter found two loaded torpedoes hoat-
ING of shore Neither OF them had been
discharged One sank. but the other
was hauled on board the Porter IL
exactly fitted the description Of the tor
pedoes carried by the Pluton and Fur
or. 1t is believed the torpedo boat de-
stroyer escaped. She was seen by the
New Orleans when too far away 10 do
any damage, and the heavy hre must
have driven her back.
When the New York arrived she would
have had time 10 stink along the shore
and back into the harbor
The daring attempt OF the Spaniards
which was fortunately frustrated by the
vigllence Of the New Orleans lookout, is
the first instance OF its kind since the
beginning of tho war. It Illustrated now
hard IL il to hit a small object at night.
NEW ORLEANS SIGNALLED.
leans flashed her inrivate signal IL was
answered by the flagship and In few
seconds colOred lights sprang up into the
darkness from the New orleans deck.
They signihed that the enemy was in
sight A little later she burned another
cOlored light This meant that q hostile
torpedo boat was approaching. though
later Captain Folger. OF the New Or
leans asked was this correct.
IL 10 CQu1f-gfrp1a hlOpk0dfnR
ships flashed night signals. For six or
seven miles east and west OF the harbor
they twinkled brilliantly in the darkness
and then went out. simultaneously,
flashes OF fire shot from .he New Or
leans side The New Orleans kept her
brilliant search-llghts playing in ali di-
rections and the other ships near her
did the same.
on THE WATCH.
on tho decks OF the New York the
marines were cTouched down, peering
into the darkness with the rifles on their
knees, watching for the sailors most
dreaded enemy-the torpedo boat. The
lookouts were in every conceivable spot,
and guns were trained in the direction
where the New Orleans seemed to be
firing.
Every now and again sparks and red
fire flew up in the distance. marking tho
explosion OF shells. Many persons then
thought they were exploding on tor
pedo boat but to-day IL Is believed that
they found their mark on shore.
The moon, which had been hidden be-
hind the clouds, came out NJ about IL
O'Clock. The New York was then steam
ing at full steam toward the shore TO
head of. II possible. the retreat OF the
enemy into the harbor.
The evolutions had to be carried on
with great care TO avoid getting In line
Of the fire Of the American ships. The
search-lights played frequently and pri-
yate signals burned brightly.
TOEPEDO-BOAT REPORTED.
A dim object like a small boat envel-
oped I'm smoke was seen on the port side
from the signal bridge, and Ensign MUS
tin roported TO Captain Chadwick: "A
torpedo boat one point forward on the
mort beam sir: headed this way" Cap
tain Chadwick. with Rear-Admral Samp-
son. was on the forward bridge.
before shot was fired from the flag
shin this curious. lurking object disap-
peared It must have been TWO or
three miles away from the New YORK and
tho same distance from the New Or
ie,ns The Oregan. grim and big. cross
ed the New York's bows i'm the direction
the torpedo boat was reported. The
boat was still headed for shore. When
a mile away and close 10 MORO Castle.
an object was seen against the Gins. IL
WAS thought TO be a torpedo boat ana
the New Yorl's forward S-inch guns
beloved out making a hideous noise In
the quiet night. On shore, Few sparks
showed close 10 a dark object where the
shells struck. The 4-inch and 6-pounder
guns followed suit and FOR few minutes
"a charm fire was kent no.
| The boom OF the OregOn's big guns
was twice heard to the eastward. Cease
firing" was then sounded. The search
lights failed 10 reveal the presence or the
enemy and nothing but the bare coast
| could be seen.
BACK TO HER STATION.
After careful 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 Folger reported that he had
sighted a small steamer. perhaps gun
boat. that she had failed 20 answer the
| nrivate signal and that he had fired on
| her.
| beach or had been destroyed, he could
| not tell which.
That ended the night attack and the
first experience here with torpedo boats
in naval warfare.
| THE TORPEDOES FOUND.
II was not until the Porter, this after
| noon. found the torpedoes, that the dan
ger OF last nights affair was fully real
| tied.
The Porter was steaming two miles
| from shore and well TO the eastward OF
| MORO Castle when two torpedoes were
seen floating on the water Ensign Gil
| lis Jumped overheard and swan around
| them. He tried 10 unscrew the war nose
but the torpedo itself turned too easily
| IN the water He returned 10 the Por-
| ter and Commander Fremont finally got
one OF the torpedoes safely on board the
| other sank as he was getting IT In.
! Commander Fremont then brought the
| torpedo alongside the New York.
VALUABLE FIND.
| II was a l4-inch Whitehead Of modern
make and worth about $500 II was In
perfect condition and had any OF our
ships struck II while II hoated II would
have exploded and perhaps sunk the
ship Therefore. the find was not only
valuable. hut most fortunate.
A curious fact is that the torpedo