The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-13
OFFICIAL REPORTS.
Commander Merry's Account of the
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES for Fighters.


WASHINGTON, May 12-Late tonight
the Navy Department received additional
official advices concerning the battle of
Cardenas which took place yesterday after
noon. Practically only two new points are
developed in the official advices, the one be-
ing that the Machias, Commander Merry,
was spectator if not an actual participant
in the battle, and the other that the conflict
lasted from lao p. m. until p. m, when
the vessels retired to their outer anchorage
The report of the fight made to the Navy
Department is from Commander Merry, the
senior officer. He incloses skeleton reports
from Commander Todd, of the Wilmington,
and Lieutenant Bernadou, commander of
the WinsIow. The reports speak in high
terms Of the management of the vessels and
the conduct of the men, Commander Todd
referring particularly to the handling of the
Winslow in the hot fire as highly
meritorious." Lieutenant Bernadou's report
indicates that the Winslow was riddled by
the enemys fire, but he believes that she
can be SO repaired as again to render her
efficient.
Appended is the text of the dispatch re-
ceived by the department from Commander
Merry The dispatch, written yesterday is
at the department al $40 tonight:
1.-The arrival of the Wilmington and the
Winslow off Cardenas this morning induced
me to confer with Commander Todd, of the
Wilmington, on the subject of attacking
and cutting out three small gunboats in
the harbor The Machias, Wilmington,
Hudson and Winslow proceeded in as far
as the Instructions would allow. The Ma
chias took position 2,100 yards northeast of
Diana Cay. The Wilmington, Hudson and
Winslow entered the inner harbor between
Romero and Blanco Gays where there were
no mines, and were soon steaming into Car
denas bay. At 1.40 p. m. fire opened from
these vessels and continued until p. m,
when they started to return to the outer
anchorage. 1 inclose reports of Todd and
Bernadou. Commander Todd reports:
I" 1T was impossible for the Wilmington
to approach nearer than two thousand
yards. The Spanish gunboats could not be
seen from this distance, and the WinsloW
was directed to go nearer to see If she could
determine where they were lying. She had
gene only seven hundred yards inside the
Wilmington when she was fired upon from
a gunboat. The Wilmington and Winslow
returned the fire. After RAPID exchange
of shots for fifteen or twenty minutes, IN
which a shore battery is supposed to nave
engaged, it became evident that the Win
slow could not steer. At this time the
Hudson came up and opened tire ana the
Winslow asked to be towed out, as she was
disabled. The torpedo boat seemed TO pc
the only target at which the enemy fired
She was struck several times one engine
was disabled, the steering gear shot
away and one boiler was disabled
Her commanding officer was wounded, but
not seriously. Ensign Bagley was fatally
wounded and died before he could be
brought on board the Wilmington. John
Varvaress, oiler, and John Daniels, first
class fireman, were killed on board the
Winslow. Two other men were fatally
class fireman, died in a boat while being
transferred to his ship. The other, Josiah
Tunnel, ships cook first-class, died after
being brought ON board the Wilmington.
He was struck twice. No casualties except
on the Winslow. The handling Of the Wins
low in the hot fire was highly meritorious
The commanding officer of the Winslow de-
sires, through me, to commend to the de-
partment the general conduct of his crew,
especially that OF Chief Gunner's Mate
Brady
reports: L was directed by Commander
Todd to approach small steamer alongside
and examine her character. We steamed
towards the mole at full speed. On APP
preaching within 15O0 yards a gun
boat and battery on shore opened fire. The
until the end of the action She was riddled
by shells of calibre of two and one-naH to
three inches. She was finally lowed out or
range by the revenue cutter Hudson. cas-
ualties as reported this morning. l desire
to express my thanks to Lieutenant New
comb commanding officer of the United
States gunboat Hudson, when, being
under heavy fire, he toWed this vessel out
of action. My opinion IS the Winslow can
be repaired so as TO render her again ell
Eull feDOrt mailed.