The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1898-05-06
SILENCE. CUBAN BATTERIES
Another Exhibition of the Accuracy
OF the Gunners on Our
WarShipe.

Atlanta, Ga, April 3O.-A special to the
Journal from Key West, Fla, says that
Port Cabanas, small fortified town thr-
ty-tive miles west of Havana, on the
northern coast of Cuba, was fired on by
the New York Friday evening and the
fort demolished.
The firing began at $50 and lasted fif-
teen minutes. Ten shots were fred from
the New York battrles. Tie New York
and Helena tried. to draw fire from the
batteries of Havana and Martel, but
failed.
Yesterday afternoon the flagship New
York, with light well-directed shells, from
the six-inch gun OH her port bow and two
from one of the eight-inch guns in her
forward turret, completely sienced and
rendered useless two Spanish forts at
Port Cabanas, twelve miles west of Ma
riel, and. thirty-fve miles from Havana.
AS in the case of Matanzas, the first shot
was fired by Spaniard. "
About noon the New York steamed ur
the west coast. Following the flagship
ana, Helena and the torpedo-boats Por,
ter and Ericsson. :. But after. Havana
was passed, where the Helena went in 50
close that crash from Moro was mo-
mentarily expected, the ships, with the
exception of the torpedo-boats, soon re.
turned to their station.
Under a full head of steam, the flag
ship, ,bowled along until Mariel was
reached. 1t was easy, from aboard the
dispatch boat, without glasses, to see the
commotion raised by the presence of the
warships, in the pretty little village The
people rushed wildly about, and small
boats quickly put in shore. But there
was no apparent life in either of the forts
on two hills that cover the approaches to
the harbor. '.+'
The Porter steamed within half mile
of them. and the New York swung leis.
urely at anchor at mile range
After Admiral Sampson had surveyed
Mariel to his apparent satisfaction, he
sent the flagship clipping merrily further
up the coast.
Spaniards Open Fire.
Again the flagship rode unconcernedly
half a mile from the forts. The Porter
and the Ericsson pushed their way ahead
Suddenly there was a roar of heavy
gun, puff of smoke from the shore and
the little torpedo boat Ii came scurryine
back under the lee Of the flagship.
The officers and men disappeared from
tine decks Of the New York like magic
and in less time than it takes to tell it.
one six-inch gun from her bow belched
forth. The evening was fading fast
quick, good work was necessary.
Another shot from the flagship, one
more from shore and the fort guns were
silenced. Three six-inch shells had suf.
feed > ~;
Five more shots put quietus on the
Notifications. The first shot was fred
at 6:2O. At G:35 the New York let &C
two six-inch shells, one at each fortified.
answer to this from the shore.
Ten Minutes later the f1a pshin LOT or
two of her eight-inch turret guns and
the shrieking shells left a trail of fire
easily seen in the dark shadows of the
evening.
At this time the shore was hardly visi
BILE and tine New York put back to hel
station.
/! Key West, Fla, April 3O.-1O:3O a. m
the flagship New York last night was OF
Cabanas, a small fort about ten mile.
west of Mariel. The torpedo-boats Porter
and Ericsson were scouting close to tn,
coast when a small battery opened fir,
on them with rapid-fre guns. The torpe
bobcats quickly withdrew and notified
the flagship which was cruising slowly il
a westerly direction. The New Yorl
promptly returned the fire, sending in, i
six and eight-inch guns. The batteries
ashore made no response. The firms
was by no means in the nature of bonn
bardment. =" - = =
On Flagship New York, off Havana
via Key West, Fla, April 3O.-In an
swer. to volley fire from Spanish cavalry
OH shore at Cabanas, thirty-eight miles
west of Havana, last evening, the New
York sent eleven shells in the direction OF
the Spaniards. The enemy's fire was 81
fenced after tho first shot from the New
York. Whether any Spaniards were
killed or wounded was not ascertained
Spanish bullets were. not observed tc
come anywhere in the vicinity of the
flagship, which at once returned to he1
station off Moro. The Spaniards woulC
never have been fired upon had they not
provoked the attack. -