Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-05-12
TO-DAY'S TELEGRAPHIC NEWS
A REVERSE an OARDENAs.
The Winslow Disabled and an Officer
and Four Men Killed.


and Four Men Killed.
KEY WEST, May 12.-When the
United States gunboat Hudson arrived
here at 3 o'clock this morning, the
bodies of FIVE dead men were lying on
her after deck. They were the remains
OF an officer and four members OF the
crew of the torpedo boat Winslow,
who were killed in an engagement in
Cardenas harbor yesterday afternoon.
and Stripes. The dead are Ensign
Worth Bagley John VaEveres, oilel;
Elijah B. Tunnel, cook George B.
Meek, fireman, and ]. Deniee, 6remen.
The woun1ed are: r. E. Cox, gunner's
mate; D. McKeown, quartermaster; j..
Patterson, fireman; F. Gray, and Lieut..
]. B. Bernadou. Ali arc slightly wound
ed except Patterson, whose condition is
serious. Ensign Bagley was appointed
from North Carolina September Z, 1891
The engagement took place inside the
harbor of Cardenas. The gunboat Viii
mington, the torpedo boat Winslow and
the gunboat Hudson entered the harbor
for the purpose of attacking some Span
ish gunboats which were known to be
there. These latter, however, were not
discovered until the Spaniards opened
fire from the land batteries, which sup
ported the fire of the Spanish gunboats.
The engagement commenced at 3:O5 p.
m. and lasted for about an hour. The
Wilmington and the Hudson were
ahead and opened fire on the Spanish
boats, which were lying at the docks.
The firing began at range OF 3,5OO
wards. A few minutes later the Wins
low came up and also opened fire. 10
an instant the entire attention of the
Spanish gunboats and land batteries
was directed upon her and from all sides
shot and she'll seemed to pour in upon
the little torpedo boat. The Whining
ton 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.
At 2:35 D. m. solid shot crashed into
the hull of the Winslow and knocked
out her boiler. In'an instant she began
to roll and drift helplessly. 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
Hudson started to the assistance of the
Winslow. She ran alongside the tor
pedo boat and tried to throw line to
the imperilled crew. Up to this time,
with the exception of the one shot
which disabled the boiler of the Wins
low; the firing of the Spanish gunboats
had been wild, but as the Winslow lay
rolling in the water, the range grew
closer and shells began to explode al
about her. 1t was difficult for the Hud-
son to get near enough to throw a line
to the Winslow, so terrible was the fire
all about her. Finally, after trying for
about 20 minutes, the Hudson approach
cd near enough to throw line. En-
sign Bagley and six men were standing
in group on the deck of the Winslow.
"Heave it Heave it ~ shouted Bagley
calling for line. Don't miss it,"
shouted an officer from the Hudson,
and Bagley called back Let her
come; it's getting too hot here for COM
fort" The line WAS thrown and, st
the same instant, shell burst in the
| very midst of the group of men on
| board the Winslow. Bagley was 10
stantly killed and few others dropped
about him. Half doZsn more fell
grooming on the blood stained deck.
One of the dead men pitched headlong
| over the boat, but his feet caught in
the iron rail and he was hauled back.
Bagley lay stretched on the deck, with
his face completely torn away and the
upper part of his body shattered.
The torpedo boat, disabled and helpless,
rolled and swayed under the fury of
the fire 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 heavy
fire was opened on the boat. Final
y the Hudson succeeded in getting
line on board the Winslow and was
towing her out of range when the line
parted, and again both boats were at
the mercy of the Spanish fire.
At $50 p. m. the Hudson managed to
get another line on the deck of the
Winslow; but, there were only three
men left there ct the time to make it
fast. The line was finally secured and
the Winslow was towed up to Pedras
Island, where she was anchored, with
her dead and wounded on her decks.
There some men from the Hudson
went on board the Winslow and took
the most seriously wounded men of.
Three who were taken on board the
gunboat Machiss died there shortly
afterwards. At 9:15 p. N. yesterday
the Hudson, with the dead bodies and
some of the wounded started for Key
We,t, arriving here at S o'clock this
morning. Commander Bernadau of
the Winslow was wounded in the left
leg but not seriously.
WASHINGTON, May 12.-The Navy
Department has received dispatch
from Capt. Remey, at Key West, as fol-
lows: "Winslow badly damaged. Will
be sent here as soon as temporary re-
pairs can be made"
Ensign Bagley, who was killed, was
native of North Carolina. His mother,
Mrs. W. 81. Bagley, resides in Raleigh,
N. C. His full name is Worth Bagley
Lieut. John Baptiste Bernadou, the
commander of the Winslow, who is re-
ported as wounded, is native of Phila-
delphia. John Varveres, oiler, was
native of Smyrna, Asia. John Denfee,
fireman, first class, was born in Kilken-
ny, Ireland. George B. Meek, fireman,
first class. was born in Clyde, Ohio.
Elijah r. Tunnell. cook. was born in