Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-05-14
FIVE KILLED.
Hot Fight at Cardenas-The Little Wins
low RiddEed-A Game Struggle With
Great 0dds-Boat and Balance
Of Crew Rescued.


Of Crew Rescued.
KEY WEST, FLA, May l2.-There
was an engagement off Cardenas,
near Matanzas, yesterday, at
o'clock in the afternoon. The United
States cruiser Wilmington, Com
mander G. G. Todd, the torpedo
boat Winslow and the auxiliary gun.
boat Hudson were engaged.
When the United States gunboat
Hudson came up to the government
dock at O'Clock this morning the
bodies of five dead men were lying
on her after deck
The dead are: Ensign Worth Bag
ley; John Varveres, oiler; Elijah B.
Tunnel, cabin cook; George B.
Meek, fireman, and John Denefe,
fireman.
The engagement took place inside
the harbor OF Cardenas. The gun
boat Wilmington, the torpedo boat
Winslow and the gunboat Hudson
were the only vessels engaged. They
entered the harbor for the purpose
attacking some Spanish gunboats
which we're known TO be there. The
latter, however, were not discovered
by the American force until the
Spaniards opened fire. The land
batteries Of Cardenas supported the
fire of the Spanish gunboats.
The engagement commenced at
2:05 p. M, and lasted for about an
hour.
The wounded arc: Lieut.. j. B.
Bernandou, commanding the Wins.
low; William Patterson and Daniel
W. McKeown.
All are slightly wounded, except
Patterson, whose condition is SER
ious. Ensign Worth Bagley was
appointed from North Carolina on
September 7, 1891.
The battle, while it lasted, was
terrific. The Wilmington and the
Hudson were ahead and opened fire
on the Spanish boats. which were
lying at the docks. The firing be-
gan at range of $500 ya DIS.
A few minutes later the Winslow
came up and also opened fire. In
an instant the entire attention of the
Spanish gunboats and land batteries
was directed upon her. From all
sides shot and she'll seemed to pour
in upon the little torpedo boat.
The Wilmington and the Hudson
still kept up their fire, but they
could not turn aside the terrible
storm of fire and death pouring in
upon the torpedo boat. The crew of
the Winslow, however, never falter-
ed for second.
At 2:35 p. m. solid shot crashed
into the hull of the Winslow and
knocked out her boiler. In an in
slant she began to roll and drift
helplessly. II was a moment of aw-
full suspense. A fierce cheer of tri-
umph went up from the Spaniards
on the gunboats and in the batteries,
and again storm of fire was opened
up Oh tue uelpleSS DOaC.
The gunboat Hudson, which was
lying nearby, started to the assist
ance of the Winslow. She ran along.
side the torpedo boat and tried to
throw line to the imperilled crew.
Up to this time, with the excep.
ton of the one shot, which disabled
the boiler of the Winslow, the firing
of the Spanish eunboats bad been
wild, but as the Winslow lay rolling
in the water, the range grew closer
and shells began to explode all about
her.
1t was difficult for the Hudson to
get near enough to throw a line to
the Winslow crew, so terrible was
the fire all about her. Finally, after
about twenty minutes, the Hudson |
approached near enough to throw a
line.
Ensign Bagley and six men were
standing in or mp on the deck of |
the Winslow. "Heave, heave, heaye
her," shouted Bagiey, as he looked
toward the commander of the Hud-
son and called for a line.
Don't miss it," shouted an officer
from the Hudson, and with smile
Bagley called back: "Let her come.
It's getting too hot here for com
fort"
The line was thrown ard, at the
same instant, a she'll burst in the
very midst of the group of men on
board the Winslow.
Bagley was instantly killed and a
ew others dropped about him. Half
dozen more fell grooming on the
deck. One of the dead
men pitched headloDg over the side
If the boat, but his feet caught on
he iron rail and he was bauled back.
Bagley lay stretched on the deck,
With his face completely torn away
nd the upper part of his body shat
cred.
1t was terrible moment.
The torpedo boat, disabled and
elpless, rolled and swayed under
he fury of the fire from the Spanish
unboats. When the shell burst in
be group on board the Winslow,
mother wild shont of triumph went
p from the Spanish boats and bat
cries, and again heavy fire was
pened on the torpedo boat.
Finally the Hudson succeeded in
citing line on board the Winslow
nd towing her out of the deadly :
ange, when the line parted, and
gain both boats we're at the mercy I
the Spanish fire.
At $50 p. m. the Hudson man.
5ed to get another line to theWlns-
ow; but there we're only three ne n