The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-08-16
JACK TARs WERE EAGER.
The Bearer OF Good Tidings Dashed
Hopes OF Americans.
DECKS CLEARED FOR ACTION.


commanded by Lieutenant Albert
Gleaves. will doubtless go the distinc-
tion OF having had the last naval en-
gagement Of the Spanish American war.
Had the peace negotiations been pro-
tracted little longer, the Gushing would
unquestSonably have ended, the conflict
by avenging its beginning. when Ensign
Bagley and his four comrades OF the
Winslow were killed at Cardenas. At
the very moment the orders for raising
the blockade reachsd the Cushing she
was making in for the three Spanish
gunboats which had wrecked her sister
ship. intent on sinking them. or herself
going down In the effort They were the
Ligero. Alerta and Antonio Lopez. A
few days previously the Cushing de-
ftroyed six small sloops and two
masted schooner, the Triumpho OF 20
tons.
After brief, service at the opening of
the war. the Cushing's machinery was
disabled and. although she was entirely
repaired within six weeks. she was kept
here until week ago. much TO the
chagrin OF Lieutenant Gleaves and de-
spite his urgent appeals for active serv-
Ice. Eventually. Commodore Howell al
lowed the Gushing to go to the blockade,
and on Aug. she went over TO Sagua
Va Grande with orders to stop the inside
trafiic In the shallow water behind the
keys. where the gunboats could moi
enter.
Reaching Cardenas the next day, she
was Joined by the Mckee. under Lieu
tenant Kneppes. and both proceeded to
Sagua. Learning that there were two
gupboats in that harbor. the Cushing
and Mckee cleared for action and went
in to see II any steamers were anchored
inside. AS they got under way the con-
verted yacht Viking. with the senior Of
ficer Of that blockading station on board,
came up and halted the two torpedo
boats, which. were obliged tc return and
anchor under the lighthouse.
That night, however the Viking left,
and Lieutenant Gleaves, being then the
ranking officer, took the Cushing and
Mckee across the shoals TO the Boca
Criste channel. and there captured six
small cargo boats OF about four tons
each which were lying at anchor and had
been abandoned by their crews. This
was done in full view of the gunboats
which, from a distance of two miles,
contented themselves with firing on the
torpedo boats without coming out. The
shots were not returned. The sloops.
not being worth towing to Key West,
were burned the next day.
On the Sth the Siren arrived with the
torpedo boats Gwin and Rogers and as
sumed command OF the blockading at
that port. The commander OF the Cush-
ing again asked permission to go in and
engage the gunboats. but was again re-
fused, and was ordered. with the Gwin,
to Cardenas to prevent inland traffic
between that place and Santa Clara.
They left the next morning. and. after
chasing and holding up the hospital ship
Solace, the American schooner Dellie,
which. with the consent OF the authori-
ties. was carrying Cuban expedition;
the Mangrove and the Anna e. Krauss
from Baltimore for Galveston, all or any
OF which IL was hoped might be ship of
the enemy and offer fight. they put into
Cardenas bay last Thursday. Here the
was sighted at anchor on the
east side OF Hijo key. The torpedo boats
could not enter the shallow water, so
cutting out expedition. composed OF
boat from each Of the torpedo boats.
both commanded by Cadet David Boyd |
n the Gushing, who is survivor Of the !
Maine. was sent in. As they approached |
the schooner her Drew abandoned her.
She was anchored on lee shore and a |
fresh wind made 1t impossible to get her |
off, 80 Cadet Boyd. acting under orders,
set fire to and destroyed her.
On Friday both of the little fighters
again went into the bay. further to the |
westward. and found few sloops stand |
ing out. ali the other vessels having |
back toward the town. The |
Gwin gave chase TO one sloop and, after |
fring many shells. hove her 10. The |
Cushing was met chasing n second ves-
'el. but the latter had too big lead and. |
ABANDONING the pursuit. the Cushing |
vent to the Gwin's assistance. The lat
er's prize had six Spaniards on board. |
md the two torpedo boats were about |
% tow her out when the three Spanish
yunboats which wrecked the Winslow
we're seen getting under way. A good
light was promised. and to save time the
'ioop was abandoned. the Spaniards on
'oard Of her showering blessings on their
nagnanimous captors. The decks of
he torpedo boats were again cleared for
ction and. although the contest would
ave betn an unequal one. the Spanish
'oats carrying stronger batteries. all
vas ready for the daring attempt when
he auxiliary yacht Stranger appeared
With the news that peace had been re-
tored and the blockade raised, and the
oats were ordered Immediately back