Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1909-11-11
l)

ing men was; Public opinion should be suspended until
further report"
The Maine sent to Havana harbor on a pecul-
arly delicate mission. In reality the vessel there to
protect American residents against the Spanards in the
CITY, who becoming ugly. 1t necessary how
ever that Capt Sigsbee should make appear that the
visit of the Maine entirely friendly. After the
Maine destroyed the commander the ship instead
of losing time in attempting to cast the blame for the
disaster others than himself, and instead of follow
ing what would seem to be the natural course of max
ing it appear that it Spanish act of treachery,
yrote the words which made him famous and gave
every chance for the cause of the explosion to be
Taced-to his negligence to that of his officers,
If such to be the casein his efforts to war;
1t is always tremendous misfortune for naval Off
to lose his ship matter what the There is
always feeling existing regardless of the odds against
which vessel has to contend whether of the fury of
the storm Of the overweight of the enemys
SHE'LL that if handled by somebody else the vessel might
have survived the conflict.
1t undoubtedly sad blow to Capt Sgsbee when
declared against Spain that he not given
command of a battleshp. The naval department how
ever did the next best thing that it could do for him
in ordering him to the deck of the ST. Paul. which
transatlantic liner fast and mounting fairly heavy
guns and which had been pressed into the service
scout cruiser.
1t fell to Capt sgsbee's lot, however to command
his ship in of the most notable engagements of the
Spanish war. 1t is very possible that much glory
Sgsbee from this encounter to the
mander of any battleship which engaged in the
fight off Santiago harbor with Cerveras Spanish squad
The ST. Paul had encounter with the Spanish tor
pedo boat Terror The fight of tremendous impor-
lance supreme interest to the naval authorities
of the world the first time practically that
torpedo boat of this kind, and of which much
peced into battle against practically unarmored
vessel but vessel carrying servceabe guns and
Of expert gunners
The ST. Paul was in the vicinity of San JUAN Porto
Rico June % 1t there in the hope of dscov
ering certain Spanish menof-war which were thought
to be in the vicinity A little past the twenty
second Lieut. Patterson of the st. Paul cruiser
leaving the harbor of San Juan Instantly the men of
the St Paul were called to quarters, Capt Sigsbee TAX
ing the bridge The cruiser turned out to be the nfanta
Isabel, Spanish man-ofWar
The St Paul prepared to meet the Spaniard, but the
enemy persisted in keeping under the protection of the
shore batteries though Sgsbee ran his vessel in so
close that she exposed for long time to the mis-
sies eight and 10 inch of the Spanish fort
II the Spaniards had been better marksmen it might
have Jared i'll with the ST. Paul. but Sigsbee knew with
whom to deal and he took chances does every
brave commander.
While attempting to draw the Infanta Isabel into
battle captain of the American ship the torpedo
boat destroyer Terror out of the harbor under full
steam and head for his ship. The Terror was making
a dash for the st. Paul with the intention of sending