The Portland daily press., 1898-06-07
WAS TERROR DESTROYED.
Good Reason to Think SDaniard Was
Sunk.

Key West, Fla, June 6.-s.5s
An auxiliary cruiser of the United s+a+a.
feet, which left Santiago de Cuba a. 49,
O'Clock on Saturday morning. oan,, =,
here this afternoon for coal. sba baa
been in Santiago waters since Wednosdam
morning, but was with the other shirs, -
the squadron only part of that time I'D
saw nothing in the nature of 49,.
b oardment.
The Reports, however, that on Friday
night, when about mile from shore.
what was thought to be Spanish tornedn
boat was sighted. headed for the crnisar
Three or four ships Immediately made 81
heavy fire upon her and when the srnors
cleared away the torpedo boat had Olsen.
peared, having apparently put back into
the harbor. Apart from the sinking Bot
the Merrimac in the channel off Santiapo
de Cuba, by Lieut.. Hohson, and his Gal.
liant companions. this torpedo attack was
the only occurrence coming within the
knowledge Of the officers of the cruiser.
The latter say the sllnken collier
effeotually blocks the channel. Their
version of the affair is similar to the re.
ports on the subject cabled to the Associ-
ated Press.
During Captain Ovideo's visit to the
flagship New York, he expressed his ad-
miration for the daring OF the Americans
on the Merrimao and said he never had
seen anything to equal 1t. All Of the
u-n 1f1j n
planned, and oil they needed was money
and clothing. which was sent to them.
The American officers who saw the
Merrimao's perilous adventure, say 1t is
wonder any one on board escaped. The
Spaniards evidently sighted the Merrimac
and permitted her to pass the first line OF
their batteries. At the second Ii ne all the
Spanish guns opened on her and it seemed
as though thousands of projectiles werf
hurled at the collier.
The night was dark, this American
officers also say, and d launch from the
feet went into the harbor entrance after
the Merrimac, hoping to pick up Lieut..
Hobson and his men. But at day break
she had not done so and, being discovered
the Spaniards opened fire on the launch
which had narrow escape, but succeeded
in joining the feet.
While off Santiago de Cuba, the officers
here today, recognized the Spanish cruiser
Cristobal Colon, and they also saw two
other ships of identical appearance in the
harbor of Santiago de Cuba.
SINKING OF TORPEDO CRAFT.
Strong Suspicion That spaniards Havs
Lost Boat.
On Board the A ssooiated Press Despatch
Boat Dauntless off Santiago de Cuba
June s, via Kingston, Ja., June 6, 10 a
Sp anish torpedo boat destroyer on Fri
day night has not been absolutely con
firmed. At ten O'Clock Friday night the
cruiser New Orleans discovered what ap
peared to be a torpedo boa5 destroyer clost
to the shore and signalled the flagship
New York that it was evident q nigh
torpedo attack was to be made. Both
the New York and New Orleans opened
fire and the shells bust around the darf
object. Finally thirteen inch shell from
the Massachusetts, (not the Oregon as hrs
reported) was fired and exploded, and the
searehligbts of the vessels were turned OF
the spot where the supposed destroyer hae
been sighted, but not a trace Of the boa
could be found, and it is believed OF
board the New York that she was sunk.
The first assumption was that the yes
sci was the Terror; but is believed now
that it was the Pluton or the Furor, af
the Terror is not understood to have been
at Santiago. On Saturday two Schwar 2
kopf torpedoes we're found floating two
miles south Of Ell Moro. This is the class
of torpedos used by the Spanish and one
of the two found had only the practice
head. -.'
Many officers of the feet believe tina {
darkened railway train that was moving
along the shore was the real object of the
mbardment instead of destroyer. M
Wreckage has been found, no dead bodies
have been noticed and it is possible tha
the torpedoes were some of those fired a
the collier Merrimac when Lieut.. Hobsor
sank her, which subsequently doated out
side of the harbor.
Admiral Sampson is determined not tx
allow the Spanish to remove the Merrl
mac from the spot where she lies. Oh
Saturday it was reported that the Span
iards were working at the hull and tn,
American fleet formed in line of battle
with orders to lombard. 1t turned gu
that the Spaniards were not so engaged
and the feet withdrew.
Admiral Sampson has given orders tina
Ell Moro, where the heroes of the Merri
mac are imprisoned, should be spared il
the firing.
Admiral Cervera's polite assurance
were accompanied by the statement tina
Lieut.. Hobson and his men were confinet
there. This placing Of prisoners in TIN
direct line of fire is denounced by tn
American officers as a thirteenth centur.