Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1909-11-11

torpedo into her and sinking her, to keep company with
Sigsbees last vessel, the Maine. AS a naval writer has
put it, "at last the much boosted torpedo boat was upon
trial under battle conditions"
The captain of the st. Paul held his fire until the
rushlng enemy, presenting only a small target, had
reached a distance of about 5,4OO yards and then there
followed one of the finest exhibitions of American marks
manship that naval history shows. The distance was
great, but from the deck of the st. Paul it would seem
that the projectiles were falling close to the supposedly
deadly torpedo boat foe.
Capt. Sigsbee in his official report told the subsequent
story thus:
Suddenly the Terror headed up into the wind, broad.
side to the st. Paul, as if injured, but kept up a fire
from her battery, her shot falling short. l was looking
at her from the upper bridge with binocular glasses of
great power, and at this time l saw a shell explode.
apparently against her hull, abaft the after smokestack.
she Immediately turned with port helm and stood
in for the harbor at considerable speed, her behavior Civ.
ing evidence of damage. Instead Of standing in through
the channel close to the Moro, whence she had issued
to begin her attack, she fell a long distance to leeward.
When down toward Cabras island she rounded to and
stood southeastward toward the harbor, apparently not
under good management. The Spanish cruiser showed
concern by standing in after her"
The Spanards were compelled to send the Terror
aground to prevent her from sinking. 1t was found that
three shells had struck her, killing and wounding many
of her crew and efectually putting her out of action.
The Infanta Isabel and another Spanish cruiser stayed
under the protection of the batteries, refusing to answer
Sigsbee's challenge to battle.
1t is probable that every American naval officer will
admit that Rear Admiral Charles Edgar Clark has had
d . Ndi1Cu q SulCEl Va q VA LdH WHO ever ITOQ
the quarter deck. 1t seems lkely-in fact, a search Of
the records shows nothing to the contrary-that Admiral
Clark is the only sailor Of the navy who ever fought
North American Indians. The admirals mastery sailing
of the Oregon around the Horn, his magnificent handling
Of the same ship in the battle with the Spaniards Oft
Santiago and divers other things which the old sailor
has done well, have so made his latter service to shine
that his early exploits, though bright enough in them
selves, have been Swallowed by contrast.
Precious few people know that when Clark was a
youngster in the service he was thrown by force of the
waves and circumstances into contact with warnke In
dams of the northwest coast. Old settlers who dwell at
the end Of the Lewis and Clark trail will tell you to-day
that Lieut.. Clark in the trying situation Of being sur.
rounded by 400 savage reds, each one bent on taking his
sailor scalp, conducted himself in a manner worthy Of
Carson, Bridger or any other Of the old plainsmen, path.
finders and Indian fighters.
Early in July, 1858. Clark was the fifth officer in rank
on board the old warship Suwanee, a battle-scarred vet
eran vessel of the civil war days. The Suwanee struck
a storm off Vancouver island and 1t was one of the
worst storms that the supposedly gentle Pacific ever
allowed itself to be stirred to. Everything that seaman
ship knew how to do was done to save the ship, but
there are storms that laugh at seamanship.
AT the end the Suwanee was on the rocks off the
northern end Of Vancouver island. Most Of the members