Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-05-19
Approx

destroying batteries with Unarmored
ships. There will probably be some
sort Of an inquiry instituted to ascer-
tain the responsibility for sending a
ship, unprotected as the Winsl0W,
against fortified forts. It is miracul-
Gus, IN the opinion of the older officers
at the department that the damage
and loss of life were confined to the
Winslow, for the only boats with her
were very little better off in the mat
ter of protection. Scarcely any of them
could resist the fire of a small rife.
1t is likely if such work as was at
tempted at Cardenas is to be done
hereafter the task will be assigned to
more formidable craft
Story of the Fight.
Key West, Fla, May 13.-When the
United States gunboat Hudson came
up to the government dock yesterday
morning the bodies Of five men were
lying on the afterdeck They were
the remains of Ensign w. Bagley and
four members of the crew of the tor
pedo boat Winslow, who were killed
in an engagement in Cardenas harbor
Wednesday afternoon. The bodies
were covered with the stars and
stripes. The dead are: Ensign Bagley,
John Varvois, oiler; Josiah Tunnett,
cabin cook; J. V. Meeks, fireman;
and J. Daniel, fireman. In the cabin
JDh of O
Winslow, who is slightly injured in
the left leg, and several others Of the
Winslow's crew who are slightly
wounded. The dead are now lying at
an undertaking establishment. They
were taken there in rough wagon,
still covered by the stars and stripes.
The naval officers and marines came
to look upon the faces Of their dead
comrades. Some of the bodies show
fearful wounds. Ensign Bagley was
literally torn to pieces. His body Will
be embalmed and shipped home. Oller
Varvois had his throat cut open by a
sharp piece of shell which apparently
severed the windpipe as if slashed with
a razor. Fireman Daniel had his left
shoulder ripped up, and the right side
of his head torn open. The body OF
| Tunnett, the colored cook, shows no
wounds. Fireman Meeks was hurt IN
| the groin. The wounded are: K. E.
Cox, gunner's mate; D. Mckeon'
| quartermaster; J. Patterson, fireman;
| F. Gray, and Lieut.. J. B. BernardoW'
All are slightly wounded, except Pat
terson. whose condition is serious.
! The engagement took place inside
the harbor of Cardenas. The gunboat
Wilmington, the torpedo-boat WinsloW
and the gunboat Hudson were the only
vessels engaged. They entered the
harbor for the purpose OF attacking
some Spanish gunboats which were
known to be there. These latter,
however, were not discovered by the
American fore until the latter opened
fire. The land batteries Of Cardenas
supported the fire Of the Spanish gun
boats. The engagement commenced
at 2:05 o. m and lasted for about an
hour. The battle while it lasted was
terrific. The Wilmington and the
Hudson were ahead and opened fire
On the Spanish boats, which were ly-
Jug at the docks. The firing began at
a range of $500 yards. A few minutes
later, the Winslow came up and opened
fire. For an instant the entire atten-
ton of the Spanish gunboats and land
batteries were directed upon her.
From all sides shot and she'll poured
in on the little torpedo-boat. The
Wilmington and Hudson still kept up
their fire, but they could not turn
aside the terrible storm Of fire and
batteries poured in on the little tor
pedo-boat.
The crew of the Winslow, however,
never faItered for a second. At 2:35
p. m. a solid shot crashed into the
hull of the Winslow and knocked out
her boiler. In an instant she began
to roll and drift helplessly while the
iron hail continued to rain around.
Finally a line was thrown to her from
the Hudson and she was towed to a
point of safety; but while this was be-
ing done a shell burst on board the
Winslow with frightful consequences.
The dead were at once placed aboard
the Hudson and brought here.
Captain Bernadon's story is interest
ing. I'VE went into the harbor under