The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1909-11-11

INK men was Public opinion should be suspended until
further report"
The Maine was sent to Havana harbor on a pecul.
arly delicate mission In reality the vessel there to
protect American residents against the Spauards the
city who were becoming ugly. II necessary, how
ever that Capt Sgsbce should make 1t appear that the
visit of the Maine entirely friendly After the
Maine destroyed the commander of the ship instead
OF losing time in attempting cast the blame for the
disaster upon others than himself and instead Of follow
Ing what would seem to be the natural Of max.
ing II appear that 1t Spanish act of troachery,
wrote the words which made him famous and gave
every chance for the cause Of the explosion to be
tracedtO his negligence, to that of his officers.
If such prove be the casc-ln his
1t is always tremendous misfortune for naval Off
Ger to lose his ship matter what the cause 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 shot and
shell that II handled by somebody else the vessel might
have survived the conflict
II undoubtedly was sad blow to Capt Sigsbce when
war was declared against Spain that he not given
command of n baeship The naval department how.
ever did the best thing that it could do for him
in ordering him to the deck of the St Paul which
a transatlantic liner. fast and mounting fairly heavy
guns and which had been pressed into the service
scout cruiser
1t fell to Capt sigsbecs lot however. to command
his shin in one of the notable engagements OF the
Spanish war 1t is very possible that as much glory
came to Slrsbce from this encounter came to the com
mander OF any battleship which was engaged in the
fight OF santngo harbor with Ceryeras Spanish squad
The 81 Paul had an encounter with the Spanish tor.
pcdo boat Terror. The fight of tremendous impor.
lance and OF supreme interest to the naval authorities
of the world for It the first time practically that a
torpedo boat this kind. and Of which much
1ected went battle against practically uuarmored
vessel but vessel carrying seryiceable and crew
of expert gunners.
The St Paul in the vicinity of San Juan Porto
Rico June 90 1893. II there In the hope of dscov.
cring certain Spanish menofwar which were thought
to be in the vicinity. little past the twenty
pot pf tha Pan prtIua
leaving the harbor of San Juan Instantly the of
the st Paul called to quarters Capt Sigsbee TAX
ing the bridge The cruiser turned be the lnfanta
Isabel, n Spanish man-ofwar
The St Paul prepared to meet the Spanard but the
enemy persisted keeping under the protection OF the
shore batteries though Sigsbee his vessel in so
close that she exposed for long time to the mis-
siles of the eight and 10 inch guns of the Spanish
II the Spanards had been better marksmen II might
have Jared Ill with the St Paul but Sigsbee knew with
whom he had deal and he took chances does every
brave commander
While attempting to draw the Infanta Isabel into
hattie the captain of the American ship the torpedo
nat destroyer Terror out OF the harbor under full
.usla and head for his ship The Terror was making
:. .L ter the ST. Paul with the intention Of sending