The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-10
D MOI SINK THE
TORPEDO BOAT TERROR.
IFse Opinion in the Fleet Is That
4 hWas a Case Of Mistake.


c.~rsxa;sf, ise. by the Associated Press.
~ pnApD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
so.T pafygTLEss OFF SANTIAGO
ga June Z, : 3. IA. via Kingston,
= SIS a. n-FTiaay night 1; vas
800 thai a night attack on the Amer
=. ese. by one or both ~ the torpedo
1.ss-sssss xtsh the Spanish feet rad been
s~ss.-x.es hy the vigilance OF the New
go and shat The destroyers had been
- ara driven back into ;hs n8risor
= RS h8t Ore poured into them hy the
Is 9risans New York and Massachti-
80 II wAs this heavy firing which led
= a. rsgoss whIrh reached Port Antonia
s.,a.sxy thai the Spanish destroyer Ter
= ssa essn surrounded and sunk Friday
.ssas A. she waa trying - slip into San
4 ltsso barter.
- latssr report il now known "a have
l !. a ~ foundation. aad there is conflict
- avsrgsa aTuong the officers II the feet
i !. = .sefhsr tsse New Orleans had in re-
II So s,eg A torpedo boat. When The firing
80 begun 90 Eridsy night IL was dark
/ a. shs AFFECTS at watch the guns on our
a.. usrs directed seemed 10 be moving
/ - II sA8rs railroad line connects
/ ssnsisxo With cAyo Point. distance
= sftess miles. the site OF iron manufac-
lastss The track runs along the waters
/ xsxs and the trains which carry supplies
90 egobab.y war material. are only run
=, nish. aaa without lights.
T. 4 o5ss. BE that 81 the darkness fast
| .,aln nay have been mistaken. AZ one
ga tsss seek for a torpedo boat. But
i sss discovery by The Porter OF two torpe-
/ a. an Saturday afternoon floating In the
vaier two mites from shore tended TO
4 sxsngthen the theory 81 those who IN
sstea tsat a torpedo attack had been at
,.sssa8 The fprpedoes we're ~ the
u sshas.fssenf uattern, which are not used
sv asy sAina II they were discharged at
an q our vessels by one Of the destroy
era he spanlards must have had a bad
ea.s vi naFvals fright, as one had on oniy
p,asslse head. a blank cartridge
gsls fass leads 10 the belief that the tor
sseass picked up 10y the Porter were fired
Frsaas rornlug az the MsrriEiac when
A. vas discovered entering the neck Of
~ Aasaer, probably by the cruiser Ner-
ssssa sAieh nos lies a wreck of Tayo
swssA sAere the harbor neck hrosdens.
Aasr assg fred they may have drifted
~ xah BE tide.
saks fheary II confirmed, the moment
sv pahlr caused by the sudden appcar-
saH Of our SHIPS and Tie belief. which
arabahiy prevailed. that the whole Amerl-
a. aest was Attempting TO force an en-
rance, might account for a premature
ascbsrgs u the torpedo before the war
asAs was affixed With deliberate prepa-
s'loa fer q torpedo boat attack 81 would
Aaf4iy ba likely for any OF the war heads
20. 70 Re adjusted.
Of course Il Is possible there may have
sesa a torpedo boat attack on Friday. and
iAll ens of the reserve torpedoes got
ssgist or, II one Of the boats were sunk,
o. s1gpedo NAV have got loose from .ts
s'aori7gs as the ship plunged and went
sNs. The tofpedoeS were evidently set
e aaai. after bcing discharged.
3 olr navy al torpsi0eS are set 10 sink
sasa tAey have ran their course. Tho
ssaniafas may have reCkanei on keeping
As1 seost ia the hope that nne 81 cur
as woaId stumble or e n the dark and
Bare Tie fate - the Maine. King Yuen.
sss q The Cblasee ships at the battle OF
% faln. ls supposed by some naval ex-
ssr's 10 have been suak by floating tor
s@ia discharged EARLIER IN the action by
~ = hfr sister ships.
sasrp lookout Is maintained 10y the
sas!hg squadron so guarding against
a'shs torpedo attack and 6 has already
* % tT'ns by our ships upon each other.
= a hast twa oc-aSicus. During the
| &S week TOE bait.eshlp Texas fred upon
| e aaFo.chcad ard tnc Vixen. and both
/ Is sitter SHIPS haA narrow escapes only
l = Hash u their signal lights ana or ;ae
/ = Asea n question the fortunate had aim
9as saHasrs 8f the Texas saved them.
ssFsfal q she newspaper dispatch boats
- rather stirring rXpt eiencvs ~ A sim
- character L. sbaaid - sa'a that on
.s4Fa the New Ya-k asa the New Orleans
ar 90tie reHt@eet torpedo attack
"a 'sgslssi Friday a.gai.