The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-28
CAUGHT A
TORPEDO,
Young ellis Jumped From Porter
and Seized Engine Of Des-
truction--Act Of Heroism.

Tho Now York Posts CORES pondcnt
with Admiral SIMPSONS feet or Santi-
ago, writing under tho date CT Juno
II, says:
Among tho rnccIcbrated acts OF cour-
ago in tho naval campaign, ono perform
ed by the young executive officer Of tho
torpedo boat Porter. who is the SON Of
Admiral ellis, takes my fancy. Oas
dark night. as you have heard, Admiral
Ccrvcra sent n destroyer ont from tho
harbor Of Santiago to torpedo two or
three of our ships of war. Whether tao
destroyer ever got back to Ccrvera is
not certainly known, but next morning
some of the German torpcdocs were still
floating around aitnlessly among the
American ficot-
Nosing along under steam for three
knots. rolling in tho sea like cork
cigar, the Porter sighted one CT these
much feared engines, and 'it was COM
ing straight for my little brute, " says
Captain Fremont in telling tho story.
1--WE must capture that, said to
Gillis, pressing tho indicator for more
steam.
" Yes, sir ho answered 'I'll get it
for you
"Do you know Gillis? Hash { any
head at ull--nothing in his composition
but plain nerve. have to watch him
all the timo or I'd lose him and the
Porter and myself. tco. and I don't
want to do that, because like him, and
I'm responsible for the preservation Of
the Porter, aud, Furthermore, have a
happy home But this time he was too
quick for me. The torpedo was coming
slowly. II 1t touched our side, there
would be nothing more for any of us
except bed under water
He had his shoes of before knew
il, and his coat, and said: Don't do
il, Gillis. She's got her war nose on.
"'I'll unscrew II, sir, said the boy,
and over the side he went, threw his
arms around the torpedo, headed it
away from us, and then bcgun feeling
for its business end"
It happored that this torpedo had no
business end, no tip containing the
Illuminating charge "a fact which shows
how careless Spnniards arc and why
they arc Ineffective in war;. and tho
aircock opening just then tho torpedo
dived from Gillis' arms TO the bottom.
Not many n1inrtcs aftcrward the look
out reported another torpedo, aud this
one, alivo, war nose and oil, was ''pow-
er bucklcd, I" or skiddcd, aboard, under
the captain's directions, and it now lies
by tho port rail OF the torpedo boat Por-
ter, most interesting prixc, and worth
to officers and crew Just %, 600 CT the
governments Is money.
This war has been disappointing thus
far to those curious patriots who de-
mandcd 1t fer the sake OF what IL would
teach about modern armor plates. pro-
jectileg. the respective values Of heavy
and light armament, about eand and
concrete compared with masonry, and
dynamite cruisers and war balloons
and box Kites Yesterday tho vcsuvius
succeeded in throwing dynamite into
Santiago hartor from those fixed guns
OF hers that arc aimed by tho ships
helm. and aside from tho interest this
feat no doubt excited "in tho states"
she surprised herself by making tho dy-
namitc explode. She Is likely now to
take up the plan Of mapping the cham
ncl and whenever submarine mino is
anchored drop dynamite shell there to
destroy it. Except ono other successful
experiment made in actual service this
has been the novelty of tho campaign.
The other successful experiment is tho
practicability Of coaling warships at
sea. AS write, collier has arrived
from Pensacola, aud In a swelling sea
that tips dishes from our table, shc has
steamed alongside tho Iowa. put cnor-
NOUS Tenders between, tied up and is
now traasicrr:a: coal 10 the battlcship's =
bankers With MS much facility as il sho
vcro coal wharf. Throo days ago the
flagship New Work, in hbavy weather,
coalcd from vessel alongside at tho
ratio Of e8J tons day, managing it
without tic slightest mishap by casing
off tho bowlincs and keeping 10th ships
moving ahead. At Gnsntanarao bny wo
have seen 1t demonstrated that .hc POS
session OF islands for coaling stations ;s
not everywhere imperative. OF what
uso was koy West, zoo miles away,
wien all warshirs were needed all tho
tinic on their stations? Tho thing TO Ga
was to seize from the enemy naval
base nearer 10 hand, ore already sup
piled with coal, IL possible. bet IL not,
n barber OF sriull bay whcro our own
collicrs couid deliver their cargocs to
tic Operating 1cot Sowo took Guauts.
nemo lay, short 40 miles distant. and
the coaliuy station problem took Oh q
great simplicity.
what do you think cf this:" one CT
tho rlost intelligent aud best known
| officers i'm tho navy war axlscsl.