The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1898-05-06
bomhardnAnt At MAtanxas Proves
the Efficisncy Of ths
e MAmaPlcan Navy. T

uiscoxeCtu< eAactly Al0; Quaiily ana lOCa-
his three ships good TARGET bra ctie e incl..
dentaily he had put the fear of American
guns into Spanish hearts. :, III:
IT would have been perfectly feasible
Tor these three ships, unaided, to have
steamed past the Notifications right into
Matanzas and taken it or shelled ii at
pleasure. The only risk run would have
was not wanted, luckily for it, After sat
isfying himself that his object had been
accomplished Admiral Sampson headed
back for Havana.
The Puritan and Cincinnati were left
to look after ,Matanzas, and they will
see to it that Matanzas is not the scene.
Of much fortified tion work in the future.
The readiness to assume this task can
be judged from the fact that shortly
after the signal "Cease firing had been
given Capt: Chester asked permission to-
reopen. This was refused, Admiral
Sampson evidently. thinking that Matan-
zas had had enough for one afternoon. ~
During the bombardment the New
York's engines. at, intervals went slowly
astern' keeping steady range of Of 1000
Quintas da Recreo, the machinery work
ing perfectly, not only in the engine room
but throughout the whole ship, This is
especially true of the electric ammuni-
ton hoists and turret training gear, two
of the most essential parts of ships
equipment during action.
Net Many Lessons Learned.
From the naval point of view few if
any lessons were learned from the bonn
bardment, though the range at which the
shooting was carried on was satisfac-
tory test of craftsmanship The distance.
however, prevented the staff from ascer-
tanning the effect of the heavy explosive
projectiles on the earthworks. Quintas
da Recreo appeared to be an old-style of
fort, low and lying near the waters edge.
The battery was probably behind re-
centlyconstructed sand work.
From the lay point of view the bonn
bardment appeared to demonstrate several
things. 1t proved that the officers, from
fectly cool in the face Of danger and ac-
ton, that they have supercontrol over the
men at the most exciting and trying mo-
ments, and that the latter are as steady
and courageous when the guns roar and
the shells whistle as when they muster
to morning and evening quarters in time
of peace. 49,
In the second place, the bombardment
gave an excellent though frightful illus
tration of a warship's death-dealing pow
ers. Had single ship been in place
where the shells fell, it seems as if she
would have been blown to bits before she
could have returned the fire:
When a 1O,0OO-ton ship, usually as
steady as a rock, shakes and trembles like
bolts start from their sockets and window
panes and woodwork are shattered: when
the roar peals up from port and star
board and you feel your feet leaving the
deck and your glasses jumping around
your. forehead, while binding, blacken-
ing smoke hides everything from sight,
then it is you first realize the terrible pow
er of a modern warship's batteries.
Scenes of Intense Interest.
Scenes of intense interest occurred on
the fagship's deck during the lombard
ment The center of attraction, natural
II, was about the forward bridge, where
down, his long glass in hand, pausing
now and then to watch the effect of the
shots, impassive as if at sub-caliber tar
get practice, off the Dry Tortugas.
Capt. Chadwick was at his side, in the
dual capacity of chief-of-staff and cap
tain-of-ship, equally calm and giving or
ders continuously regarding the direction
of the fire and the handling Of the ship.
Lieut.. Stanton, assistant .chief~of staff;
Lieut.. Com. Potter, executive officer of
the ship, and Lieut.. j. Roller, the navi-
gator, were all on the bridge and as busy
a S they could be.
Three men were at the wheel and the
usual staff lookouts and signal boys were
in their places. The coming tower, with
it's heavily protected sides, was without
any occupant.
The whistling of few shells could not
drive the men who directed the fighting
squadron from their unprotected point of
vantage. Directly beneath that bridge
on the zsuperstructure, just aft of and
slightly above the forward turret, stood
Chaplain Royce, ready to give the last
consolation: The chaplain and three doc
tors were the only persons on board who
sincerely hoped they would have no work
to do.
Near the chaplain stood Richard Hard
ing Davis. representative of the London
Times: Ralph D. Paine, representing the
PHILADELPHIA Press; and the: correspond
ent of the Associated press All others
on board were at their regular stations,
! directing the gun crews, rushing up am
munition from below, or standing patient
~ in their engine-room waiting to back
or go ahead as the telegraph signafled. s.
,.. Jaosies Worked Hard.
The way the jackies worked at. their
guns was splendid. Many of them were
out in their bare tattooed arms. The
perspiration, ran. down their faces, and
mixing with the gunpowder, made grim
streaks of black over their skins. When
"Cease firing sounded disappointment
was written visibly on all their faces.
The decks were quickly swept. the
shrouds reefed, the guns cooled and washed
I Stars and Stripes Forever" there were
few signs to show that the flagship New
York had been into action for the. first
time in her career =. x
i About 5000 shots were fred during the
bombardment, 1O4 of which were from
the New, York. The cruiser Cincinnati
did wonderfully quick and rapid work
with her batteries. The monitor Puritan
ers, but, taking careful aim with her IL
inch monster at Quintas da Recreo.
l. To those on board the flagship. who had
never before been on Warship when
she was firing both batteries at once, and
had never heard the shells whistle, through
the air, the experience was not so bad as
ANTICIPATED: The noise. of the, guns dead
+ ened its effect. and, taken all in all, the
shock Of the broadside was not so great as
/ had been expected o:.,,..t.. .>.~s,,..
+ Town 1. No Daager.'
The town of Matanzas at no time was
in danger from our FIRE. 1t lies we'll to
the south. of Punta Gorda. If the Span.
iards had any killed i must have: been in
the. Notifications. Several persons on
board believe the Spanish loss was severe,
| and advance more or less plausible thee.
RES. Rear-Admiral Sampson and Capt.
Chadwick venture no. statement on the
subject. $5s&e u - - 49, s54*s&
q The most characteristic incident of the
bombardment of Matanzas, and one that
will 60 down in history as an instance OF
| Yankee pluck, occurred in sick bay" on
the flagship. Ill sailors were lying, there,
listening to the shots, all eager TO- get on
i5deck. 1assaSf.A;
Suddenly, as if moved by common i'm.
pulse, four Of them eprang from their
cots. One had malaria: two had the
grippe and another high fever; but their
ailments were forgotten as they rushed on,
to their gun divisions and took their usu.
be allowed to stay. they we're ordered ID
backfto the sick hay, It is hardly nee,
Eeseary to say that these four splendid
specimens of tsthe ma behind the gun
were not reported for breach Of discipline
I It was reported to the flagship on its
return to the Havana station that two
/ or,,I ~ r,,v,