The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1909-11-20
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Ing Public opinion should be suspended until
further report"
The Maine was sent to Havana harbor on pecul.
fary delicate mission In reality the vessel there to
protect American residents against the Spaniards in the
city, who were becoming ugly. 1t necessary how
ever that Capt Sgsbee should make it that the
visit Of the Maine entirely friendly. After the
Maine destroyed the commander of the ship instead
of losing time in attempting to cast the blame for the
disaster upon others than himself and instead Of follow
ing what would be the natural course of max
ing 1t appear that it Spanish Of treachery,
wrote the words which made him famous, and gave
every chance for the Of the explosion to be
traced-to his negligence, to that of his officers
II such to be the casen his efforts to avert war;
1t Is always a 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 enemy shot and
she'll that handled by somebody else the vessel might
have survived the conflict
1t undoubtedly was a sad blow to Capt sigsbee when
war declared against Spain that he was not given
command of battleship The naval department how
did the next best thing that 1t could do for him
IN ordering him to the deck of the St Paul. which
transatlantic liner, fast and mounting fairly heavy
and which had been pressed into the service as
scout cruiser.
1t fell to Capt sigsbee's lot. however. to command
his ship in of the most notable engagements Of the
sgsbee from this encounter came to the COM
mander of any batteship which was engaged in the
light on Santiago harbor with Cerveras Spanish squad
The st. Paul had an encounter with the Spanish tor
pedo boat Terror The fight was of tremendous impor
lance of supreme interest to the naval authorities
the world the first time practically that
torpedo boat of this kind, and Of which much
pscted into battle against practically unarmored
vessel but vessel carrying servceabe guns and crew
OF expert gunners.
The st. Paul was in the vicinity Of San Juan Porto
Rico a. 1893 II there In the hope of dscov
sring certain Spanish men-ofwar which were thought
60 be in the vicinity little past on the twenty
second Lieut. Patterson Of the st. Paul saw cruiser
leaving the harbor San Instantly the men of
che st. Paul called to quarters, Capt Sgsbee TAX
ing the bridge The cruiser turned out to be the nfanta
Isabel. Spanish manofwar.
The st. Paul prepared meet the Spaniard, but the
enemy persisted 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-
ses Of the eight and 10 inch Of the Spanish fort
II the Spaniards had been better marksmen It might
have Jared III with the st. Paul. but Sigsbee knew with
whom he had to deal and he took chances does every
brave commander.
while attempting to draw the Infanta Isabel into
battle The captain Of the American ship saw the torpedo
boAf destroyer Terror out Of the harbor under full
1toom ara hoad for hs ship. The Terror was making
(aen tof Ne D. Paul with the intention Of sending