The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-16

ot sSir EuBoeats a10 ocSSssSsa1zs an SNp.o-
sion Of shell In the air like { spark OF are
could ne discerned with the aid of glasses.
The fash OF the Spanisrt's guns was plain
ily visible reports of the same being dun
burg burst In the rigging of the Alfonso
and some of II came down. but II was Of
course impossible TO know whether any ia
taiities occurred. The American fire was
much more accurate than the Spanish. as
every shell of the latter fell short of it's
purpose. The Spaniards were a mile of
Moro. and our ships were fully four miles
further out when flames leaped from the
batteries of the Santa Clara forts and
cloud of smoke drifted UP the coast. Half
a minute later duh. heavy roar of a heavy
gun came. like a deep dispason of an or
gan on the high treble of smaller guns. 1t
was from one of the is-inch krupp guns
mounted there and a S5o-pound proiectile
plunged into the water half a mile inside
of the American line. throwing up tower
OF white spray. 1t ricocheted and struck
again half mile outside. The mask was
now off.
Maddened by the failure Of their plot. the
Spaniards continued to fire at intervals OF
about ten minutes In all thirteen shots
were fired. but not one struck within a0O
yards OF one of our ships.
As soon as the battery opened. Conn
mander Lilly signaled and his feet stood of
shore. Capt. Mckenzie. on the bridge OF
the yIcksburg. watched the fall of the
shells. but he considered it useless to waste
ammunition at that distance. He appeased
the desire OF the men az the guns however.
by letting go final broadside at the Span
ish ships. In the chance hope OF making
them pay for their daring before they
gained the harbor. but they steamed In uil-
der Moro's guns untouched. and as they
disappeared. fired several shots. Several
shots were sent after them at that moment
by the Annapolis. which dropped inside
the harbor, probably creating CONSERVATION
among the scores of gunooats on the water
front.
At the close of the action, just at sun
down. the Associated Press dispatch boat
Kate Spencer ran up alongside of the
vicksburg Her men, many Of them strip
ped to their trousers and pistol BELTS were
stirl at the guns. The officers received the
news of SIMPSONS capture OF San Juan
with cheers that reached the Mayflower
quarter OF mile Off. bringing her crew to
her side Commander Mckenzie thinks. as
do others of the fleet. that the Alfonso had
been stripped OF her guns. and those used
today were only temporarily mounted. II
1t was the Alfonso Mi. she must have
found new boilers. since lately she was
helpless cripple in the Havana haroor
From the action Of the Krupp guns. 1t Is
evident that the Spaniards have no cordite
and are using ordinary cocoa powder.
The Spanish Version OF the Affair
MADRID, May 15.-The impartial today
publishes dispatch from Havana giving
another extraordinary Spanish version of
a war episode. 1t says:
ION Friday the gunboats Conde de
yenadito and Neuva Espana steamed out
of the harbor and attacked an American
squadron OF two cruisers and five auxiliary
cruisers which were outside The Span
cans eight, the latter apparently retreat
ing damaged Three crowded tugs fol-
lowed the gunboats, the people on board
cheering them"
1t would seem possible that the facts
upon which the Imparciars dispatch Is
based are to be found in the dispatch
from the Associated Press dispatch boat
Kate Spencer, filed at Key West today.
and sent out early this morning. Two
Spanish ships did steam out OF Havana
harbor and tried TO draw some OF our ves-
sells under the guns OF the heavy Span
ish batteries. The ruse was unsuccessful,
though the Santa Clara battery sent some
badly aimed shells at our ships. which re-
piled, driving the two Spaniards back into
Havana. The American report. however.
SAYS the Spanish vessels engaged were the
Alfonso XII. and the Legasepi a cruiser
and a gunboat. which have been blockaded
IN Havana harbor.