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On the same day as the
cable cutting mission at Cienfuegos in the south of Cuba, along
the Northern coastline a group of American warships entered the
harbor at Cardenas. The US Torpedo Boat Winslow was
sent to the docks in a reconnaissance of the harbor, when it was
taken under fire by the shore batteries. In a desperate
withdrawal, the Winslow's steam and hand steering gear
was shot away. Chief Machinist Hans Johnsen noted the
rapidly escaping steam and, despite the very real danger of a
horrible death from its intense heat, struggled to shut off and
contain the escaping steam.
On deck, the 25 men of the Winslow
did their best to return fire and also control their now
floundering torpedo boat. Chief Gunner's Mate George Brady
alternated between keeping his guns firing and risking his life
to attempt to repair the steering gear. Below deck, Chief
Machinist Thomas Cooney braved the menace wrought by enemy fire
to extinguish the fires near the boiler to keep the tubes from
burning out.
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U.S. Torpedo Boat Winslow
