The suburban citizen., 1901-08-03

! the three small members of Uncle
Sans Mosquito Fleet were in column
formation, with the Hist in the lead
and the Hornet in the rear heading
for Manzanlllo. After steaming about
twenty-five miles and on approaching
Necuero Bay which lay on our right,
we discovered a Spanish gunboat lay
! ing at anchor behind n small island; (;
the Wampatuck, drawing too much
water to enter the bay, remained in
the channel to prevent an escape; the
Hist and Hornet headed into the bay
and uncovered the Spaniard, who, see
! ing that escape was impossible, boldly
| steamed out and gave us n running
| fight; but fortunately for us her shells
all passed over us. The Hist ground
| ed and thus interfered with the range
of the Hornet. We succeeded how
ever, in striking the plucl1y little Span.
lard several times, and in q crippled
condition she sought shelter behind a
small island on the opposite side Of
the bay, which, however, did not con-
ceal her, and the Hist having foated
by this time, and clearing the range
Of the Hornet, the latter vessel soon
landed n six pound shell fairly amid
ships, and the little Spaniard blew up.
The water being so shallow, it was
impossible for us to maneuvre with
ease, and no more Of the enemy at
this time being in sight our vessels
renewing their former position In col
umn. moved on towards Manzanllo,
everyone in our little feet Joyous that
in less time than it takes to tell it,
we had succeeded in destroying one
of the three or four gunboats which
we had expected TO encounter later.
This unexpected resistance proved to
be but the curtain raiser;" the bat
tie was yet TO come Perhaps during
the interval here. and before cur little
fleet reaches the Harbor OF Manzan-
lilo. it might be we'll for me to give
my readers an idea Of the armament Of
the three members Of the Mosquito
Fleet, the actions Of which am about
TO relate. The Hist mounted one three
pound rapid fire and four automatic
armed tug, mounted one siX-pound
rapid fire, and two thre2-pound rapid
fire guns. The Hornet "a well named
ship mounted four rapid 1re six
pound, two rapid fire one pound, two
automatic nm machine guns. and
ore 47 nm revolving cannon; thus it
viii be easily seen our armament was
light ard. had we any idea Of the
surprise that awaited us, no doubt
there would have been no battle of
MCnZanillo TO go down in history as
fought on that day. Our spDaaach
had evidently been wired or otherwise
signalled from Negueron, and on our
opening ManzanillO Harbor, which lay
on our right. instead of the three small
gunboats we had been looking for
much to our surprise we found
q crescent formation Of nine YES
sells stretched across the harbor close
in shore; a large torpedO boat on the
right in entering and a large gunboat
(the guardship Of the harbor) on the
left, with three smaller Gunboats be-
tween Them armed with four and six
inch and three and six pound rapid
fire AID machine guns; on the right Of
the Inc was danlled by a big smooth
bore gun On Ca.manaro Point, and on
the left by four large pontoons armed
with six inch smooth bore guns. To
tho rear TIE liue was supported by a
mortar battery OF six pieces, and a
/, 1,,t Of 4 AgT
tiliery pieces on the water front and
two forts on the hills, one to the right
and one to the left Of tho town, and
the shore for nearly two miles in
length was lined with soldiers who
kept up q fusiladc Of small arms DIR
ing the entire engagement when
within 1909 yards Of the large torpedo
boat the Spanish cunboats opened fire,
followed closely by the shore batteries.
Instantly we realized the oyerwhelr-
ing Cdds We had TO fgh.. but with the
courage and determination Of the true
American, the fire was Immediately
returned with every gun that could be
brought 10 bear The channel being
narrow, IT was not saf 10 turn around
for fear Of grounding, thus we were
obliged to fight our way directly
ccrCcs f. frCnt OK the enemies entire
line, and as they were Grng twenty
Shots TO our one, It seemed as II our
chances were slim OF ever escaping;
but II fate was to COON us, we were
determined to 90 some damage before
we went, and with careful and delib-
crate aim, we kept u C hot Ere, while
the air slrieked overhead, and tie
water around us boiled with the shells
Of the enemy. Our shells were begin
ming to take effect and they had dis
covered the fact that the Hornet was
doing the work, whereupon Their el-
tire fire was concentrated upon the
little craft TO destroy her, and soon
succeeded in landing a shell which
severed the main stcampipo cnd thus
rendered her unable for further move
ments. She was crippled and lying at
their mercy, the target Of over 1C0
guns, and enough shells were fred at
her alone in the space Of O few min
utes TO sink n hundred such craft;
many on board thought the ship in a
sinking condition, but not gun ceased
firing, the men remaining. at their sta