The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1898-05-31
CARDENAS HARBOR
Ensign and Four Seamen
of WinSloW Killed.
Small American Fighting Boats
Made a Dashing Attack-Ran In
to a Fearful Fire.

below is the first publication here
of the first real fight in the Atlantic
KEY WEST, Fla, May 12.-Wher
the United States gunboat Hudson
came up 10 the government dock al
s o'clock this morning the bodies OF
hye dead men were lying on her after
deck. They were the remains Of En-
sign W Bagley and four members OF
the crew of the torpedo boat Winslow
who were killed in an engagement in
Cardenas harbor yesterday afternoon
The bodies were covered by the Stars
and Stripes.
The engagement took place inside
the harbor OF Cardenas. The gunboat
Wilmington. the torpedo boat Winslow
and the gunboat Hudson were the
only vessels engaged. They entered
the harbor for the purpose of attacking
some Spanish gunboats which were
known 10 be there. These latter, how
ever, We're not discovered by the Amer
lean force until the Spaniards opened
fire. The land batteries of Cardenas
supported the fire of the Spanish gun
boats. The engagement commenced at
2:05 p. m, and lasted for about an
hour.
The battle, while it lasted, was ter
rife. The Wilmington and the Hudson
were ahead and opened fire on the
Spanish boats which were lying at
the docks. The firing began at a range
Of $500 yards.
a few minutes later the Winslow
came up and also opened fire. In an
instant the entire attention of the
Spanish feet and land batteries was
directed upon her. From all sides
shot and shell seemed 10 pour in upon
the little torpedo boat.
The Wilmington and the Hudson
still kept up their fire, but they could
not turn aside the terrible storm of fire
and death pouring in upon the torpedo
boat.
The crew of the Winslow, however.
never faltered for a second. At 2:35
p. m. solid shot crashed into the
hull Of the Winslow and knocked out
her boiler. In an instant she began
10 roll and drift helplessly. Then
came a moment Of awful suspense. A
fierce cheer of triumph went up from
the Spaniards on the gunboats and in
the batteries, and again storm Of
fire was opened up on the helpless
boat.
The gunboat Hudson, which was ~
ing near by, started to the assistance
Of the Winslow. She ran alongside the
torpedo boat and tried to throw a
line TO the imperilled crew.
Up TO this time. with the exception
of the shot which disabled the boiler
of the Winslow. the firing of the Span
ish gunboats had been wild, but as
the Winslow lay rolling in the water
the range grew closer and shells began
10 explode all about her.
1t was difficult for the Hudson to get
near enough to throw line to the
Winslow's crew, so terrible was the
fire all about her.
Finally, after about twenty minutes.
the Hudson approached near enough to
throw line
Ensign Bagley and six men were
standing in a group on the deck Of
the Winslow.
sHeave her. Heave her" shouted
Bagley, as ne looked toward the COM
mander of the Hudson and called for
q line.
Don't miss it." shouted an officer
from the Hudson. and with a smile
Bagley called back: Let her come.
It's getting too hot here for comfort. :"
The line was thrown and, at the
same instant, a shell burst in the very
midst of the group of men on board
the Winslow.
Bagley was instantly killed and a
few others dropped about him. Half a
dozen more fell groaning on the blood
stained deck. One of the dead men
pitched headlong over the side of the
boat. but his feet caught in the iron
rail and the body was hauled back.
Bagley lay stretched on the deck,
with his face completely torn away
and the upper part of his body shat
tered.
It was a terrible moment. The tor
pedo boat, disabled and helpless. rolled
and swayed under the fury of the tire
from the Spanish gunboats. When the
shell burst in the group on board the
Winslow another wild shout OF
triumph went up from the Spanish
boats and batteries, and again a heavy
fire was opened on the torpedo boat
Finally the Hudson succeeded in get
ting a line on board the Winslow ant
was towing her out OF the deadly range
when the line parted and again botf
boats were at the mercy of the Spanish
fire
At $3.50 p. m, the Hudson managed
TO get another line on the deck of tht
Winslow. but there were only three
men left at that time to make it fast
The line was finally secured, and tn
Winslow was towed up to Pedras Isl
and. where she was anchored, viii
her dead and wounded on the deck.
The Spanish loss is not known bu
II must have been quite heavy. Shout
that Spaniards had been killed AM
wounded could be heard by the Amer
leans.