Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1898-06-20
TERRIBLE DESTRUCTION.
Awful Havoc Wrought by American
Gunners the Santiago
Fortifications

LESS, OFF SANTIAGO DE CUBA, June Is,
via Kingston, Jamaica, June 20.-A
careful inspection of the fortifss;ations
along the crest of the hills defending
Santiago harbor since the bombardment
Thursday morning shows that the
American gunners spread wreck and
ruin everywhere. Some of the batteries
were demolished beyond repair. The
yultures, which circled on level wings
over the hills as thick as swallows
around chimney for hours after the
firing ceased, furnished gruesome evil
dence of the fatality among the Spanish
soldiers. Hundreds of troops could be
seen from the ships digging in mounds
OF earth piled up by the explosions of
the projectiles from the heavy guns for
bodies. while their heads were famed
by the wings of the black scavengers of
the battlefield
There were two spots, one on the east
and the other on the west of the harbor
entrance, which were denuded of the
foliage. The hilltops seem literally
blown away. These marked the places
where the 200 pound charges of gun
cotton, blown by the Vesuvius, landed
But the most ominous token of death
few from Moro castle. The saffron
flag OF Spain was half-masted for sew
eral hours. The significance of this is
not known. 1t is not customary to half
mast flags, but possibly some Spanish
leader was killed by the heavy fire of
our guns, though some officers of the
squadron believe that the flag was half
masted as notification to the Ameri-
cans that Lieutenant Hobson and his
brave men were dead. 1t such is the
case they must have been wantonly
murdered. The Spanish might seek to
lay their death to the bombardment,
bar lot shot from the American ships
struck the fortress.
Eeither Admiral Sampson nor Com
nlol(re 5chley believe that Lieutenant
isooaon aud party have been killed. We
have prisoners taken at Guantanamo, III
GLIDING lieutenant, besides number
in III" united States for reprisals or ex-
change.
lnere was evident Generalization
all.e,iig the Spanish troops during the
fona bardment. Officers could be seen
with drawn swords driving the men to
the guns, but even then they could not
be forced to stay so long as our guns
were directed at them. The 10 minutes
might work of the Vesuvius had shat
tered their nerves.
1t is believed by some that the 13-inch
projectile fired from the Texas. which
was reported to have exploded the pow
der magazine in one of the western bat
teries, did not fall in the battery, but
went beyond and blew up one of the
ships in the harbor.
A dramatic incident of the lombard
ment was the act of a Spanish officer
who bravely ran along the parapet
under heavy fire encouraging his mer
to stand by their guns. Shot and shell
rained about him and after one terrific
explosion he was seen no more and the
parapet had disappeared. He could not
have escaped death
From the foretop of the Brooklyn
1900 yards distant, the men in the
grounds could be noticed, but minute
later dust and flying debris would take
their places and when the smoke cleared
away only spot Of red earth could b,
seen-guns and gunners had beer
swept away. 1t was the most deadly
and destructive bombardment of TIN
war thus far. Scarcely a shot from tn,
big guns of the squadron went astray
The aim of our gunners was superb ant
not only were the coast forts annihll
ated, but the batteries on Cayo Smitl
up the harbor were destroyed.
The horizon is eagerly and impatient
ly scanned for glimpse of the long eS
pected transports. The delay in thei
arrival is inexplicable, as much favor
able weather is be ing lost and the hui
ricane season is due in less than
days. Meanwhile from Kingston an,
Port Antony came reports that larg
quantities of supplies are being smue
gled into Cuba.
Rear Admiral Sampson is In dali
communication with the Cubans unde
Colonel Cebraro, wi45 are investin
Santiago on the land side and are cor