The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-11-09

Just as our line got fairly engaged a dis
tracing element appeared A small steam
launch with awnings spread and big Spanish
ensign streaming astern advanced from the
cove hind Sangley Point, crossed the bows
of the Olympia and then turned toward the
shore as if to lie in wait for that formidable
antagonist. There could be but one interpreta-
tion into this movement. This torpedo
boat and she had TO be treated as such. Sec
ondary batteries began to pick up her range and
their shells were soon yelling the target in
spray and smoke. a few rounds were fired
from even the main batteries, while the ma
rnes did all that may be accomplished with
Springfelds at 1900 yards range; yet the reclI-
less craft still loated, though longer able
to steam disposed to use any weapon. She
drifted ashore under the guns at Sangley
Point where she continued to draw the fire
from the six-pounders, in spite of the keen
monstrance from high authorities, until the
action over.
1t seems proved that the launch was no
deadly microbe, but only a humble market
boat manned by Filipinos and bound to Manila
by the direction of English family residing
at the Canacao littorat. The Oriental manner OF
executing the domestic routine amid the shock
and thunder of battle eliminates the heroic
from an action of amazing rashness-
After reducing this alarm to its lowest terms
it becomes necessary to strike out all rumors
of a second mythical torpedo-boat No respon-
sible witness has been found to locate or de-
scribe this appartion, although some fell into
the natural error of a duplication of the legend.
Perhaps the erasing angel should also blot
out the report of submarine mines exploded
ahead of the Olympia before the ships opened
fire. Such an explosion, miles ahead of our ad-
vance, should indicate nothing but panic.
Against testimony Of many sincere eye-wit-
nesses stands the statement of Captain Concha,
commanding the Don Juan de Austria May
l. This intelligent and disinterested observer
denies the existence of any submarine mines
or the presence of any improvised torpedo-boat
off Cavite. This statement leaves some of
face to face with illusions of vision or mem
ory.
Lieutenant Calkins is now In charge of
the photographic office in this city. His
attention was called to the letter of the
admiral yesterday, but he would lct d-s-
| cuss the subject.
MY article for the Institute was not
submitted as finally correct" he said.
''It was simply my own impressions and
what 1 had heard of the operations. 1
saw the boat spoken of. and 7 learned
afterward what it was. The admiral does
not say it was torpedo-boat, or that
/ either of them was a torpedo-boat; he
| says two boats were there with the ap-
parent intention of using torpedoes.
thought 1 saw mines exploded before we
went into action, but 1 afterward learned
there were no mines, and 1 gave my
reason for my belief in what I wrote.
'I saw the last number of the Institute
and read the admiraPs letter, but that is
all I know of the affair. What { wrote I
wrote in good faith. AS I say it does
not purport to be absolutely correct. 1t
is a record Of what 1 saw and what l
learned. but it is not official. nor do 1
wish to contradict any statements made
in the official report"