Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-03-25
SAN MARCOS
SUNKEN WRECK


Old eattIeship-over a Third
Of Shots Hit.
On Board the Torpedo Beat String
ham, Lower Chesapeake Bay, March
23.-The San Marcos, formerly the
battlesrip Texas, was sunk by broad
sides from the battleship New Hamp-
shire after day of target practice.
Not since the Atlantic feet returned
from its wcrld-encircling cruise had
Chesapeake bay seen more impos-
ing naval pageant In addition to the
thirteen battleships of the feet there
were f1otillas of torpedo-boat destroy
ers, torpedo beats and submarines. A
feet of GOLFERS, repair ships, monitors
end several small cruisers made up
the remainder of the force that wit
messed the beginning of the end of the
San Marcos.
The broadsides were delivered at a
varying distance of from six to seven
aid one-half miles. More than one
third OF all the shots were said to
have gone true, although nothing OF
fetal was given cut.
Ideal weather greeted the fleet,
when long before dawn five observing
officers from each of the thirteen bat
tleships left in launches for the New
Hampshire.
In Distress After Seventh voIIey.
A half hour after the sun had risen
three sighting shots were fired. All
fell short. Then came twenty vel
legs S.
All OF the broadsides were deliver
ed against the San Marcos while the
attacking vessel was steaming back
and forth along the line at approx
mateliy te1-knot speed. There was
no slowing down or firing on the turn.
After the seventh broadside the
Texas plainly was In distress. The
two naval tugs that lay alongside the
monitor Tallahassee, on which were
stationed the naval observers, raced
to her assistance. The shells pre-
sumably had set the vessel afire, for
hose was run over the side and the
engines were set to work pumping.
The San Marcos also had been driv-
en- out Of broadsde range by the
force of the New Hampshire's shells
and the tugs Strengthened her out fer
her further ordeal. Twice afterward
shells set the hulk afire.
Secretary Meyer. whose private
yacht Dolphin was anchored near
made several trips to the shattered
old ship during pauses in the firing.
Nineteenth voiiey Decisive.
What was practically the finishing
blow came on the nineteenth broad
side, when four twelve-inch and four
eight-inch shells were hurled at her
just as the sun was setting. The
shots poured so thick around her that
IL was impossible to determine how
many of the eight struck the vessel
A crashing of steel against the war
ships side just at the water line was
followed by a great cloud of flying
splinters of armor and a burst OF
smoke
by that time the San Marcos was
listed far to port Her big turret gun
that faced the enemy" was detected
until it looked despairingly into the
waters Of the bay.
Arrangements were begun at once
to prepare the old warship in readi-
ness for further tests.
Upon the conclusion of the exami-
nation by the expert observers as to
the effect of the fire against the San
Marcos, a report will be made to Sec
rotary Meyer
Admiral Schroeder, in command of
the feet, declined fatty to discuss the
effect Of the shell fire on the armor
the chickens and cats within the tur-
rets.
Enthusiastic Over Workmanship.
The Secretary Of the Navy and
members Of his Official party. who
observed the sinking OF the antigua
ted battleship San Marcos in the mud
OF Chesapeake bay, while at the mer
cy of the experimental fire of the for.
midable modern battleship New Hang
shire, returned to Washington yester
day
Naval officers generally were en-.
thusiastic over the showing in marks
manship made by the gunners of the
New Hampshire. Officials of the de-
partment are awaiting with consider
able interest reports in regard to the
exact effect of modern projectiles lev
eled at modern armor at long range
These are not yet available and will
not be made until after detailed ex
animation OF the sunken ship.
The "spotting" practice, an essential
part of the test demonstrated, naval
officers say, the splendid accuracy OF