Evening journal., 1907-09-13
GUNBOAF WASP :
SAW WAR SERVICE
Missed the Engagement at
Santiago by Narrow
Margin

which is lying off Wilmington while |
Captain croghan IS recruiting men at
the Federal building for the naval SER
vice, played an important nart ia the
spanish American war. The WASP
conveyed the transport carrying the
First District columbia Regiment OF
Infantry from Key West TO the south
coast of Columbia, and had many in
teres,ing experiences.
Fate alone, it seems was all that
prevented the Wasp from being liter
Tally in the thick of the fight during
the memorable engagement Off San
tiago ilarhor. That the Wasp WAS
eager to sting the enemy, was evident
TO those Ia q position tp observe her
movements early in JULY 1898. stripped
land in war paint, the Wasp was truth
fully looking for the enemy" She
was at Key West when assigned as
convoy 20 the United States transport
Catania having on board the First Dis
trict of Columbia Volunteer (Regment
of Infantry Much to the disgust of
Everybody concerned, particularly the
officers and crew of the Wasp, the
lCatania broke a very important pump,
which delayed departure from Key
West for ihe lgQpt lully tWo DAYS lt
was exactly n o'clock the morning of
the 9Th of July that the start was
FINALLY made. Information that they
We're at least 90 get under way was
conveyed TO the thousand or more sol
diers aboard the Catania by means Of
a megaphone message from the com %
mandlng officer Of the Wasp. which
bristed with martial spirit and deter
, mination II was as tollQws; Ca
, tania, therel You will take position
, 500 yards off my port quarter. In case
/ of attack nave TO my disengaged side
, and make away as rapidly as pos
sible while I engage the enemy"
The situation at that moment might
/ be probably likened TO the self conf
! dence of a black and tan puppy re-
I garding a great Dane adult dog The
b. Wasp looked as small as a tug boa
alongside of the big troop ship, bu
I the spunlS and confidence suggested D,
Z the Ineganhone message quoted, was
a inspiring 10 the soldiers on board thl
Catania.
Soon after the start was made.
strange vessel was encountered heade,
for Key West and showing no colors
q Suggestion that il run up a flag no
a being complied with Instantly, the litil
q Wasp sent solid shot across the bow
o lof the stranger, who then lost no tim
n making plain that she was a Norwe
! gian craft and not a Spaniard
, A day or two later, while movinl
n along out of sight of land TO the Nortl
n of Cuba, the Wasp. ef sudden, crowd
h led on steam and raced off in the dl
Il lrection of the island. Military OH
ii lcers on board the Catania, with tn
"a aid of field glasses, soon made ou
n a battleship rapidly moving toward tn
"A Wasp The odds seemed to be, 6
,e course, a thousand 10 one against th
\ little craft, IN the event OF a nayi
IS engagement then and there, but th
IN Wasp rushed forward VITA a bravad
IL that was certainly unprecedented A
n the two vessels drew near together, tf
battleship ran up her Golors, whic
were seen to be the Stars and Stripe
The Wasp also made herself know
"a and then calmly returned TO her pc
~ sition as convoy Of the Catania Ha
the stranger proved TO have been
Spanish battieship. the Wasp, so III
observers of the occurrence declar
would have attacked here without hes
tation.
:. Not long after rounding Cape Nays
:" the commanding officer Of the Was
unable TO restrain himself longer, mad
an excuse 10 the slow moving Catani
y and dashed into Guantanamo HarbC
=, for news Those aboard the Was
~ feared they were missing somethin
- That night something happened TO q
- boiler of the Catania and the troo
= ship stopped It was about 230 o'cloC
p" in the morning. The soldiers aboaI
her were aroused by an inquiry, I
I. megaphone, apparently from the troue
81 OF the sea. plainly indicating exasRei
y, atom "Catania, therel how fast ca
y you go?"
~ The next morning, the 10th Of Jul
y, the Catania anchored at Siboney an
without waiting to say good bye, Il
Wasp speeded 20 join the feet at Sai
tiago. ten miles distant.
The doughty captain Of the Was
~ then was Lieutenant Aaron Ward, ~
W captain I'm the u. S. Navy and Con
= lmanding the U. S. S. Pennsylvania, no
!. on the Asiatic station.