Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-08-13
Life on the Observation-Disclosures from
Seaman'S Log book.

Seaman's Log book.
The Age is permitted to PRINT the
following interesting extracts from
the log OF r.. Charles O'Byrnc, ;
brother of Mrs. Elton A. Smith OF
this place, the latter having tire.
brothers III the service. He enlisted
in the United States navy in April
for three years and was assigned to
the monitor Amphitrite, on which
he is now officers clerk, starting IN
as general utility man. The Am.
phitritc first steamed to Key West,
thence on to the Havana blockade
and to Porto Rico, taking part in
the bombardment OF San Juan. The
following notes give an Interesting
inside view of life on fighting
ship, there being some exciting Incl
dents to vary the monotony of block
ade duty:
April 23.-Sighted Il nan-of-war
inshore but could not make out her
colors. All hands We're ordered to
their stations.
At the time quarters was sounded
| was IN the turret cleaning bright
work and when the crews came run
nlng to their stations at first thought
pictured the whole Spanish fleet
in battle array bearing down on us.
The suspect was too far inshore, out
of range of our guns, and it was USE
less to fire. The Cincinnati pursued
her and fired few shots at her but
she got away from us, running
to westward.
We learned this evening that all
the worry was caused bv an Italian
and that she went into Havana after
saluting the blockading fleet outside.
April "a Sighted small sloop
inshore which we boarded and took
two prisoner. of war, Lleuten-
ant Fernandez and his orderly.
These two are, | think, the first
prisoners taken by either side in this
war.
April 26-All night secondary
battery crews stood by their guns
and the whole ships company stood
Il voluntary watch. This was caused
by sighting lights which we sup
posed to be torpedo boats belonging
to the enemy. When daylight broke
we all heaved a sigh of sincere re-
lief.
1t is a blamed unpleasant thing to
have these sea terriers lowering
about you on Il dark night, knowing
that, should they make a dash and
escape your sight until they were in
range to let go torpedo, and it
strike YOU, there would be strangers
at some station in eternity.
April 81 Meandered up and
down the Cuban coast in the same
old rut.
May Things commence to
look as if the scrap we long for is
about to heave in sight. We have
just received from the ships doctor
instructions in "thc first aid to the
wounded" and ships carpenters are
clearing away all possible wood
work.
May Id, 4.3o a. m. - General
quarters sounded. At this tine we
could just make out thu headlanIs of !
San Juan indistinctly.
SIS IL. m.-lowa opened the hat
tie Ut San Juan. The bombardm rnt !
continued two hours and45 minutes. !
The craftsmanship of the Spaniards .
was something worth travelling miles
to see. They are wonders. 1t is
for them to miss the !
ocean if they shoot ut Il ship Only /
one shot hit our fleet. That first !
hit about hal! mile away irun the
ship it hit and was not fired at tue
one It Landed on. This shot WAS
fired ut us, hi1 short, z glanced over
our after drc;> and landed ON the
New York, exploiting, killed one
man AMI wnun'lcI three others.
This accident to the New York aud
one man killed ON our ship com.
pletcs the fleets list of killed and
The man killed aboard MS was
gunner's mate, third class, Errick-
son. His position was No. 5 (valve-
man) on left gun in after turret
hold a similar position on right gun
in forward turret. lie was work
ing in the relief valve, which is sit
uated close up and right under the
gun, when the gun was fired, and
between the conclusion and heat lies
the cause Of his death.
| got my nose opened and ear
split in very nearly tine sam. man.
ner. / was trying to clear the wire
cable to the right anmunitio hoist,
which was jammed, when the lett
gun was fired and lost my balance
and fell from the valve platform,
my head against the side of
the turret.
[ have slept on deck with the
stars and clouds a, Il ceiling ever
since hostllities opened aud have
felt no i'll effects. The nights down
this way are glorious-not warm,
not too cool, but just right tor the
dreamer or the sleeper.