The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-13
Spanish Reported to Have Made Feeble Resistance.
Morro Fort Said to Have Been Reduced to Ruins.
Later Details Of the Fight at Cardenas -B|anco Sent
Out Report Of an Engagement at Cenfuegos.
Crisis in the Spanish Cabinet

nardo- He said: 1--WE were making
observations, when the enemy opened
fire on us. The Wilmington ordered
us to go in and attack the gunboats.
We went In under full steam. and the
rest is the result" He was on the
Hudson when he said this. and with the
final words he pointed to a huddle of
American flags on the deck nearby.
Under the stars and stripes were out
lined five rigid forms.
The Wilmington had spoken the Hud-
son and the winslow and assigned them
to duty, the Winslow to the western
shore. while the Wilmington took her
station in mid-channel. Nothing was
discovered on either shore, and the boats
were approaching on their return when
a puff of smoke was observed on shore
at Cardenas and a shell whistled over
them. The Winslow was on the in
side, nearest the shore. The Hudson
and the Winslow reported to the Will
mington, and orders came promptly to
20 in and open fire; but the Spaniards
had not waited for a reply to their first
shol.s The Cardsnas shore had already
become a dense cloud Of smoke, lighted
by flashes OF fire, and an avalanche
OF shells was bursting toward the little
Winslow. The Hudsons two 6-pound-
ers were banging away at a terrific rate.
How many Of the torpedo boats shots
took effect Is not known. The first two
from the Hudson fell short, but after
these every one foated into the smoke
clouds ashore. The Spaniards' aim
meantime was improving, and ii was
presently seen that two empty barks
had been anchored off shore as ranges.
1t was 25 minutes before 3 o'clock when
q 4-inch shell struck on the Winslow's
starboard beam. knocking cut her for
ward boiler and starboard engine and
Gripping her steering gear; but no one
was injured.
Lieutenant Bernardo was standing
forward, watching the battle with calm
interest and directing his men as coolly
as II they were at target practice. BY
the 1-pounder amidships stood Ensign
Bagley. the oiler. the two firemen and
the cook. The little boat gasped.
throbbed and rolled helplessly from side
TO side. Lieutenant Bernardo did not
stop for an examination; he knew his
boat was uncomfortable. The Hudson
was 20 feet Off, still pounding away with
her guns. She was hailed and asked
to take the Winslow In tow. 1t was a
vital moment. Guns roared from the
shore and sea. Lieutenant Scott, In
charge of the Hudson's after gun, sat
on a box and smoked a cigaret as he
directed the fire. Captain Newton stood
near Lieutenant Need at the forward
~ a nd foh III
moved interest. Chief Engineer Cutch-
In never missed his bell. A group OF
sailors were making ready to heave
line to the Winslow, and Ensign Bagley
and the four men stood on the port side
OF the latter vessel waiting to receive it.
A vicious fire was singing about them.
The Spaniards seemed to have found the
exact range. There was a momentary
delay In heaying the tow line, and En-
sign Bagley suggested that the Hudson's
men hurry. "Heave here" he called;
let her come; it's getting pretty warm
here" The line was thrown and grabbed
by the Winslow's men. Almost at that
instant another <-inch shell shrieked
through the smoke and burst directly
under them. Five bodies went whirliny
through the air. Two OF the group
were dead when they fell-Ensign Bag
ley and Fireman Daniels. The young
ensign was literally disembowelled and
the entire lower portion OF the freman's
body was torn away. The other three
died within a few minutes. A flying
piece Of shrapnel struck Lieutenant Ber-
nardo In the thigh and cut an ugly cash.
but the lieutenant did not know IT, With
the explosion OF the shell the hawser
parted and the Winslows helm went
hard to starboard, and with the steer
ing gear smashed. the torpedo boat
houndered about i'm the water at the
mercy OF the enemys fire, which never
relaxed
The Hudson quickly threw -