The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-29
One of the Shore Batteries Wrecked
by a Huge She'll Fired by the
Monitor Puritan.
MERELY A RECONNAISSANCE
NO ATTEMPT MADE TO DESTROY ALL
THE FORTIFICATIONs.
Dispatch from General BIancO to
Madrid Saying an American Iron
clad lis Ashore.

Copyright. 1898, by the Associated Press)
ON THE FLAGSHIP OFF HAVANA,
April 2S-10 a. M, via Key West, April o.
The bombardment of the Matanzas bat
teries is now matter of history. The flag
ship has returned to her station off El
Morro AS already briefly state in these
dispatches, the bombardment accomplished
it's purpose. and that without any loss of
life on the American side. 1t is believed
the Spaniards must have sustained some
loss of life in addition to having their near
ly-completed earthworks and fortifcations
torn up by the explosion of shells. The
capture of the city was not at all contem-
plated, the object being to stop the erection
of the batteries.
This engagement the first in which the
United States navy has participated in for
abo:.t thirty years occurred quite unex-
pectedly. The New York was lying about
twenty miles east of Havana at half-past
10 o'clock yesterday morning when Rear
Admiral Sampson decided to steam to Ma
tanzas. At the entrance to the harbor the
monitor Puritan and cruiser Cincinnati met
the flagship A stiff wind was blowing,
and the waves poured over the low bow and
stern of the monitor. AT slow speed the
flagship proceeded toward the harbor, the
Puritan following half a mile astern and
the Cincinnati about two miles to the west
ward Rear Admiral Sampson and Captain
Chadwick stood on the high bridge, care
fully surveying the forts which had had
torpedo boat Foote.
When about three miles from Punto
Gorda the extreme point of the eastern
arm of the harbor, long yellow streak
erected earthwork. Closer inspection re-
vealed a number of men clustered around
the shore. Still the New York steamed
slowly ahead until it was ascertained, with
out any doubt, that the Spanish troops
were busy erecting what seemed to be
sand battery, and had already got several
guns into position.
Rear Admiral Sampson decided that this
was detrimental to a pacific blockade.
General quarters was sounded. The men
rushed to their guns. When the New York
was about 1900 yards from Punta Gorda her
helm was put to starboard, and commence
firing the bugler blew. Naval Cadet
Boone in charge of waist" the eight
inch gun amidships on the port side, had
the honor of firing the first shot. The flag
ship shook from stem to stern as the first
projectile aimed by the United States at the
shore of Cuba flew from the muzzle of the
big gun. This was at 1856 p. m.
Fifty pairs of glasses were leveled from
the flagship at the shore. 1t seemed min
utes before the yellow smoke cleared away,
but in reality it was less than five seconds.
Then little cloud of dust was seen to rise
at the right of the earthworks. For the first
attempt at 4,O00 yards it was by
a bad shot. Without the aid of glasses the
objective point could be clearly defined.
With a deafening roar the eight-inch gun
in the forward turret let fly its iron missile.
1t landed high. The after turret came next
with the same sized projectile. A shout of
delight went up from the flagship as dense
cloud rose slowly from the very center of
the earthworks, showing how true had been
the aim.
Then from the entire port side a fearful
he CHI ba
turret guns firing almost simultaneously
and the four-inch guns adding their smaller
hail. When the smoke blew away Punta
Gorda was dotted with dust clouds that
looked like miniature geysers springing
suddenly from the earth. Each showed
where shot had struck.
At this stage the guns in the Quintas da
Recreo battery were observed to be firing
on the flagship. This fort is on the east
ward arm of the harbor. 1900 yards from
where the flagship was lying 1t is provided
with four eight-inch guns. The hagship's
fire was at once directed upon it.
Up to this perioo the New York had been
in the firing alone Captain Harrington, on
the Puritan. and Captain Chester, on the
Cincinnati, had drawn ZIP and were yigor-
ousIy signaling for permission to fire. When
this was reported to Reaf Admiral Samp-
son he said: "All right; tell them to so
ahead" So while the New York was COM
mencing fire on the Quintas da Recreo bat
terry the Puritan took a position to the east
ward and opened on the same point The