The age-herald., 1898-06-10
NIGHT ATTACK
 ON THE FLEET Spanish Torpedo Destroyer Attempted to Sink an American Vessel. BELIEVED TO HAVE ESCAPED Two Loaded TorpedOeS Were Found Float
 ing Off the Shore.
VIGILANCE OF THE NEW ORLEANS
The Daring Attempt of the Spanards Was the First Instance of the Kind Since the Beginning of the War--Scene
 Brilliantly Dramatic.

I of Santiago de Cuba, Saturday June 4.- p. m. (via Kingston, Jamaica, Monday, June 6, a. m.-The firing of the New York and New Orleans, briefly reported last night, was directed against a Spanish torpedo boat destroyer. probably the Flu TOT or the Pluton. The character of the enemy was not definitely known until the next day, when the torpedo boat Porter found two loaded torpedoes floating off shore. Neither of them had been dis charged. One sank but the other was haul ed board the Porter. It exactly fitted the description of the torpedoes carried by the Pluton and Furor.
 It is believed that the torpedo destroyer escaped She was seen by the New Or leans when too far away to do any dabage and the heavy fire must have driven her back When the New York arrived she would have had time to sneak along the shore and back into the harbor.
 The daring attempt of the Spanards, which was fortunately frustrated by the vigilance of the New Orleans lookout, is the first instance of its kind since the be- ginning of the It illustrated how hard it is to hit small object at night.
 As seen from the flagship the scene was brilliantly darmatic The New York lying several miles ot the east of Moro castle. The New Orleans was on her star board hand, close in short, ready to bounce upon any craft which might attempt to steal out under the shadow of the hills.
 Shortly after 10 o'clock the New Orleans flashed her private signal. It was answered by the flagship, and in few seconds color ed lights sprang up into the darkness from the New Orleans deck. They sgnfed that the enemy was in sight. A little later she burned another colored light This meant that hostile torpedo boat was approach ing, although later Captain Folger of the New Orleans, was not certain whether this was correct.
 Night Signals Flashed
 Instantly the semi-circle of bockading ships flashed night signals. For six or seven miles east and west of the harbor they twinkled brilliantly in the darkness and then went out. Simultaneously flashes of fire shot from the New Orleans sides.
 On board the flagship men and officers had scrambled out of their hunks and ham mocks ilI response to the call to general quarters" They stood in groups on decks around the guns, watching the short, sharp flames which showed the activity of the New Orleans rapid-fire battery.
 The flagship was then too far away to hear the sound of the firing or see it's ob- ject The New Orleans kept her brilliant searchli9hts playing in all directions and other ships near her did the same.
 On the decks of the New York the ma rines were crouched down, peerng into the darkness, with their rifles their knees, watching for the sailors most dreaded en- emy-the torpedo boat.
 The lookouts were in every conceivable spot, and guns were trained in the direction where the New Orleans seemed to be fir ing Every now and then sparks and red fire flew up in the distance, marking the explosion of shells. Many persons then thought they were exploding on a torpedo boat, but today it Is believed that they found their marks on the shore. The moon, which had been hidden behind the clouds, out at about Il o'clock
 The New York was to steam with full speed toward the shore to head off, If pos sible the retreat of the enemy into the har- bor. The evolution had to be carried on with great care to avoid getting in line of fire from other American ships.
 The searchights played frequently and private signals burned brightly. dim ob- ject like small boat enveloped In smoke was seen on the port hand from the signal bridge and Ensign Muslin reported to Cap tain Chadwick: "A torpedo boat one point forward on the port beam sir, headed this way"
 Three Miles Away
 Captain Chadwick, with Rear Admiral Sampson was the forward bridge. Be- fore shot was fired from the flagship this curious looking object disapepared It must have been two three miles away from the New York and the same distance from the New Orleans.
 The Oregon, grim and big, crossed the New Yorks path in the direction the tor pedo was reported The torpedo boat was still headed for shore. When a mile away and close to Moro Castle an object was seen against the cliffs. It was thought to be torpedo boat and the New York's for ward S-inch guns beloved out, making a hideous noise In the quiet night lighting up the crowded decks and filling the air with bright yellow smoke. In h re few sparks close tu dark ob- jet showed where the shells strick. The four inch and six pounder guns followed su and for a few minutes a sharp fire was kept up The hooms of the Oregon's big guns were twice heard to the eastward. Cease firing was then sounded. The searchllghts failed to reveal the presence of the enemy, and nothing but the bare coast could be seen. Al CT a careful scar h the New York steamed back to her station and the men went back to their hammocks. There had been no firing from the forts, and accounts differ as to whether the tor pedo boat did or did not fire.
 At any rete no damage was done.
 Captain Foger reported that he had sighted a small steamer perhap' gunb at, that she had failed to answer She private sigr al and that he had fired upon her. He be ieved she had escaped along the beach or lad been destroyed. he could not tell which.
 Taat end d the night attack and the first expert nee here with torpedo boats in naval warfare.
 il was not until the Porter found the tor- pedoes that the danger of last nights af- fair was fully realized. The Porter was stoaming two miles from shore and well to the eastward of Moro Castle when two of the torpedoes were seen floating on the water He tried to unscrew the war nose, but the torpedo itself turned-too easily fn the water. He returned to the Porter and Commander Freemont finally got one of the torpedoes safely on board. The other sank as he was getting 1t In.
 Most Valuable Find
 Commander Fremont then brought the