The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-06-21
CAPTURES WARSH|PS.
WITH STEAM LAUNCH
BOatswain's Attack Makes
Mexicans Surrender
HAD ONE SMALL GUN
But He Put a Shell Across Bow of
Triton and Made Her Heave To.
Incident a Feature of Vera
Cruz Blockade

To the annals of deeds of daring on the
sea should be added the story of the cap
ture of the Mexican man of war and
truck ship Triton, says James b. Wood,
writing from Vera Cruz for the Chicago
Daily News. In the stories that have
been told and on the official records the
Triton was brought to grief by the At
lantic fleet. From eyewitnesses 1t is
learned that the Triton was overhauled
brought to and forced to surrender with
its crew and 200 soldiers by Chief Boats
vain John Davis bobbing over the waves
In a dimutive steam launch armed with
one-pounder on its bow. After that the
subdued Triton with its meek warriors
and protesting commander was encircled
by the fleet and its capture became OF IN
ternational Importance.
1t was near IL a. M, April ", when
strange craft was sighted in the dis
fance by lookouts of the fleet. No colors
were flying at bow or stern, but 1t was
steadily making for the harbor Of Vera
Cruz.
The feet lay outside, awaiting the next
move in the war, which seemingly mad
started In its circle were refuge ships
crowded with those who had left the be-
leaguered city to escape the firing.
Warning From Mexican Boat
On the outfnost line was Ell Gobernor,
a. Mexican craft, which had steamed
from the harbor that morning. Glasses
of its lookout scanned the approaching
craft In vain. 1t gave no answer to Sig
mails asking its business. Boldly 1t came
on until abreast of the anchored Eli Go
bernor From the latters deck 1T was
hailed in Spanish and the word that the
hated Americans were taking Vera Cruz
was told.
Looks like a Mexican man of war;"
said the officer of the day to Captain
JAYNE of the American man of war New
Jersey.
1T seems crowded with soldiers, sir
reported the lookout, squirting one eye
and looking again through his spyglass,
But the Triton waited no longer. The
warning from the friendly decks of Ell
Gubernor was enough. The propellers
churned the sea into foam as the crew
tried to stop the boats Roadway. The
signals from the American men of war
to lie to were not needed. Farther out
on the line was the New Jersey.
Mr.. Davis, see if you can take that
ship" ordered Captain Jayne.
The chief boatswain had been standing
respectfully within speaking distance of
the captain on the after deck. Nothing
seemed more desirable to him than a
chance for a fight. So far the trouble in
Mexico had seemed rather tame, accord
quiet enough to make a man weary of the
navy.
In the Spanish war Davis was one of
those in the party under Lieutenant Com
mander Anderson, now captain of the bat
tleship Nebraska, who worked two and a
half hours under Spanish fire to cut the
cables at Cienfuegos. Some of the strands
led to Havana and others to mines. While
the sharp-shooters, hidden out of reach
of the man of war, popped away the
landing party dragged the bottom, twice
landed on the beach and finally pulled
up the heavy cables and chopped them
apart. Some were carried back dead,
and Davis on returning found time to
have four bullets picked from various
parts of his body. Anderson was adj
vanoed for extraordinary heroism.
Triton Fast Slipping Away
But the Triton had almost recovered
from its mistake in slipping into the
clutches of the fleet. Slowing it was
coming around and the voluble Mexicans
on Ell Gobernor were frantically shout
ing encouragement.
AYE, aye, sir" said Davis, saluting the
captain and disappearing down the gang
way.
"At the foot was the ships launch, No.
g. That morning Chief Gunner Stein
brenner had mounted the one-pounder on
its bow. The oilcloth tarpaulin had been
taken of and it stock slick and glsten-
ing in the sun. Davis took stand at its
side.
Make for that strange steamer" ne
said to the coxswain-
The little steamer snorted and was off
But the Triton had been busy. It's nose
was almost around and pointed out to sea
again. From the deck Captain Jayne
saw the situation and ordered the crew
20 quarters. A gun was trained on the