Evening star., 1898-06-17
SANTIAGO FORTS REDUCED
SIMPSONS Fleet Engaged in Another Bonn
bardment Yesterday.
The Vesuvius Plays a Prominent Part
With Her Powerful Pneu-
matte Guns.


maica. June 16.-Rear Admiral SIMPSONS
fleet bombarded the batteries at Santiago
de Cuba for the third time at daylight this
morning. For hours the ships pounded the
batteries at the right and left of the
trance, only sparing Ell MORO, where Lieu
tenant Hobson and his companions Of the
Merrimac are in prison.
The western batteries, against which the
main assault was directed, were badly
wrecked. One was utterly destroyed. In
others many guns were dismounted.
At first the Spaniards replied passion
ately and wildly, but impotently. Then
most of the guns were deserted. Not
ship was struck nor a man injured on the
American side.
Enemy's LOSS Probably Heavy.
1t Is believed that the enemy's loss of
life was heavy.
AS a preliminary to the hammering given
the batteries the dynamite cruiser Vesu
vius last night at midnight was given an
other chance. Three 25O-pound charges of
gun cotton were sent over the fortifications
at the entrance. The design was to drop
them in the bay, around the angle back
of the eminence on which FL Morro is sit
uated, where it was known that the Span
ish torpedo-boat destroyers were lying.
Two charges went true, as no reports were
nedTu-d peCuldTltS ol tIle eApiOSloI VI 6oil
cotton in water. Whether the destroyers
were demolished is not known, but the de-
structive area of gun cotton is large, and
it would not be surprising if it is subse-
quently ascertained that one or both were
destroyed
The third charge exploded with terrific
violence on Cayo Smith. From where the
feet lay the entrance to the harbor looked
IN the black night like door opening into
the livid fire of a Titanic furnace. A crater
big enough to hold a church was blown out
of the side of the Cayo Smith and was
clearly seen from the ships this morning.
Fight Begins Early.
Admiral Sampson issued the orders for
the bumbardment last night. Coffee was
served to the men at $40 this morning,
and with the first blush of dawn the men
We're called quietly to quarters. The
ships steamed at five knots speed to a
3.O0)-yard range. when they closed up,
broadsidc on, until distance of three ca
ole lengths separated them. They were
strung out in the form of a crescent, the
heavy fighting ships in the center, the
flagship en- the right flank and the Mas
sachusetts on the left flank. The line re-
manned stationary throughout the bonn
bardment. The Vixen and Scorpion took
up positions on opposite f1anks, close in
shore, for the purpose of entiading any
infantry that might fire upon the ships
When the ships got in position it was
still too dark for any firing. The admiral
signaled the ships not to fire until the muz-
zles of the enemy's guns in the embrazures
could be seen by the gun captains.
Fifteen minutes later, at 5:25 am, the
New York opened with a brCadsde from
her nam battery at the works on the east
of the entrance to the harbor. All the
ships followed in red streaks of flame. The
fleet. enveloped in smoke, pelted the hills
and kicked up dirt and masonry. 1t was
a magnificent spectacle from where the
DauntlesS lay.
Not to Waste Ammunition.
Though the gun captains had been cau-
toned not to waste ammunition, but to
fire with deliberation, the fire was SO rapid
that there was an almost continuous re-
port. The measured crash of the big thir-
teen-inch guns of the battle ships sounded
above the rattle of the guns of the second
airy batteries like thunderciaps above the
din of a hurricane. strong land breeze
off the shore carried the smoke of the ships
seaward. while it let down a thick cur
tain in front of the Spanish gunrers.
The dons responded spiritedly, at first,
hut their frenZied, half-crazed fire could
not match the cool nerve, trained eyes and
skilled gunnery of the American sailors.
Our fire was much more effective than in
preceding bombardments. The admiraIs
ordnance expert had given explicit in
structions to reduce the powder charges
and to elevate the guns, so as to shorten
the trajectory and thus to secure a plung-
lIS 1re. AS tnP SNellS III tNe pTtceUlIlS
commandments dropped with the almost
straight trajectories of projectiles with full
charges it was almost impossible to plant
them. They would shoot into the air, en-
Circling the batteries, owing to the hiSn
elevation. and fall far over the fortifica-
tiCns. The effect of the reduced charges
was marvellous.
Powder Magazine ExpiOdes.
In fifteen minutes one western battery
was completely wrecked. The Massachu-
setts tore a gaping hole in the emplace-
ment with a thousand-pound projectile, AMI
the Texas dropped a shell into the powder
magazine. The explosion wrought terrible
havoc.
The frame was lifted, the sides were
blown out and shower of debris flew In
every direction. One timber, carried out OF
the side of the battery, went tumbling
down the hill. The loss of life must have
been great.
The batteries on the east of MORO were
harder to get at, but the New Orleans
crossed the bows of the New York to with
in 500 yards of shore and played a tattoo
with her long eight-inch rifles. hitting them
repeatedly, striking gun squarely muzZie
on, lifting it off it's trunnions and sending
it i'll sweep ping somerSaults high in the air.
Several times Admiral Sampson signaled
the ships temporarily to cease firing, in or
der to allow the smoke to clear from the
batteries. When the order came at $50 TO
cease firing every gun of the enemy had
been silenced for ten minutes, but as the
ships drew off some of the Spanish courage
returned and half dozen shots were fired
spitefully at the Massachusetts, and Ore
gon, falling in their wakes.
Praise for Crews.
Throughout the bombardment the dyna-
mite cruiser Vesuvius and the Porter, by
direction of the admiral, lay outside of the
right flank. The steam launch of the flag
ship scurried among the ships, carrying
messages.
AT the close of the action stream of
multicolored flags foated from the New
York, generally complimenting the ships.
and especially commencing the work of
the Texas and New Orleans. The men of
the New Orleans raised cheer, which was
passed quickly from ship to ship, until
every jackie in the fleet was bowling him
self hcarSe.
The destruction and death at the western
batteries must have been appalling. Many
of the guns had been mounted during the
last two days. From this it is inferred that
Admiral Cervera had given up all hope of
extricating himself from the trap in which
he is caught, and had removed the guns
from some of his ships to strengthen the
land defenses.
sampson is Gratifed.
Admiral Sampson is highly gratified with
the results of the bom ba rdrnent He thfnks