Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, MAY 21, 1901. A CELEBRATED WARSHIP.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 21 May 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, MAY 21, 1901. A CELEBRATED WARSHIP.

i Oue cable messages to-day tell us that those who dwell in the larger centres of population in this colony will have an opportunity of seeing and inspecting one of the modern battle ships of 1 the American Navy, and one too that has a creditable record. The “Brooklyn,” -which represented the “ Stars and Stripes ” at the opening of the Australian Parliament, is announced to arrive in New Zealand waters in a few days and will visit the chief ports. The Brooklyn is one of the best ships in the American Navy. Her tonnage is 9215 tons, and her engines 16,000 horse-power. Her speed is over 21 knots an hour, and she carries several 8-inch guns and a number of 5-ineh quick firers. Her complement is 568 men, including sixty-eight marines. Apart from her nationality and her curious appearance, she possesses an unusual interest to people in these colonies as she affords them an opportunity of inspecting a vessel that took a prominent part in the most recent naval engagement. During the Ameri-can-Spanish war the Brooklyn carried the flag of Commodore Schley, and was one of the fleet engaged in the smashing of Cervera’s squadron off Santiago on July 3rd, 1838, when, with a fine disregard for numerical odds and a justifiable confidence in American gunners, her commander singled out for attack the Marie Teresa and Vizcaya together. An eleven-inch shell fired from the Teresa at the Brooklyn was the first shot of the action, and in a few moments the smoke of the three vessels mingled, and their guns boomed out in one undistinguishable roar. Then the Vizcaya was seen to heel round suddenly to ram, and the Brooklyn guessing the intention, swung swiftly round to the westward, raking her opponent as she passed, and coming up on the port bow of the Vizcaya and Teresa. The onrush of the Oregon to aid the flagship was described afterwards as “ one of the most magnificent spec tacles of the day, but she had hardly begun to join in too attack, when a thin curl of smoke rising slowly from the Teresa’s 'poop showed that the' beginning of the end was come.” The Brooklyn was struck thirty-six times during the action, and bears the scars of battle, but suffered a loss of only one killed and one wounded.