The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-08-16
Peace Proclamation Spoiled Torpedo
Boat Plans.
CLEARED FOR ACTION
LITTLE CRAFT PREPARED TO
ATTACK SPAIN'S GUNBoATS.
Torpedo Boats Cushing and Gwin
Captured a Spanish Schooner,
When Three Spanish Gunboats
Came After Them-Just Ready to
Fight When Peace News Came.

Key West, Fla, Aug. Ito the tor
pedo boat Gushing, commanded by
Lieutenant Albert Gleaves, viii doubt
less go the distinction Of having had
the last naval engagement of the Span
ish-American war. Had the peace ne
gotiations been protracted little long
er the Cushing would unquestionabiy
have ended the conflict by gloriously
avenging its beginning, when Ensign
Bagley and his four comrades of the
WinSlow were killed at CardenaS. AT
the very moment orders for raising the
blockade reached the Gushing she was
making in for the three Spanish gum
boats which had wrecked her sister
boat. intent on sinking them or herself
going down in the effort. They were
the Ligero, Alerea and Antonio Lopez.
A few days before the Gushing de-
stroyed six small sloops and a two
masted schooner, the Triumpho, of %
tons.
After some brief service at the very
opening Of the war, the Cushing's ma
chinery was disabled and although she
was entirely repaired within six weeks,
she was kept here until a week ago.
Eventually Commodore Howell allowed
the Cushing to go to the blockade, and
on August 4 she went over to Sagua
Ia Grande, with orders to stop the in
the keys where the gunbeats could not
enter
Reaching Cardenas the next day she
was Joined by the torpedo boat Nc
Z, Zee, under Lieutenant Kneppes, and
STb.h proceeded to Sagua.
At night time the Gushing and Nc
Kee crossed the shoals to the Boca
Cristo 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 two
Spanish gunboats, which, from a dis
lance of two miles, contented them
selves with firing on the torpedo boats
without coming out. The shots were
not returned. The sloops, not being
worth towing to Key West, were burn
ed the next day.
On the Sth- the Siren arrived with
the torpedo boats Gwin and Rogers,
and assumed command of the block
aiding station. The Cushing asked per-
mission to go in and engage the gun
boats, but was refused and was or
dered. with the Gwin, to Cardenas, to
prevent inland traffic between that
place and Santa Clara.
They put into Cardenas bay last
Thursday, when the two-masted
schooner Triumpho. which had been
abandoned by her crew, was captured
and burned.
On Friday both of the dauntless lit
tie fighters went into the bay, further
20 the westward, and captured a Span
ish sloop, which had six Spaniards on
board. The torpedo boats were about
to tow her out when the three Span
ish gunboats which wrecked the Win
slow, were seen getting under way.
good fight was promised and to
save time, the sloop was abandoned,
the SpaniardS on board of her shower
captors The decks of the torpedo
boats were cleared for action and, al
though the contest would have been
an unequaIed one, the Spanish boats
carrying stronger batteries, all were
READY for the daring attempt when the
Auxiliary yacht Stranger appeared with
The news that peace had been restored,
the blockade raised and the boats were
ordered Immediately back to Key
West.