The Daily Texarkanian., 1898-06-02
SILENCED THE FORTS.
The Fortiiications OF the Outer
Harbor at Santiago Bat
tered Down.
SPANIARDS TOOK TO THE HILLS.
Our Fleet Came Out of the Fight
Unseathed, Nor Did We Lose a
Man.
SPANIARDS TOOK TO THE HILLS.

The great battle reported yester-
day as having taken place at the
mouth of Santiago harbor between
our feet and the forts of the Span
iards has been confirmed by the ar
rival of the dispatch boat Porter at
Mole st. Nicholas, which brought
dispatches for the government, The
men on the Porter give the follow
ing version of the fight:
The American squadron, aug
mented by the torpedo boat Porter,
the auxiliary cruiser st. PaIl and
the protected cruiser New Orleans,
approached the entrance Of the
harbor at Santiago at about 1890
p. m, the Iowa leading. Inside the
entrance to the harbor was seen
one of the warships of Cerveras
fleet stripped for action.
As the American feet drew near
the New Orleans was detached and
steamed forwardahead of the Iowa,
Texas and Massachusetts. One of
the forts opened fire on her, and she
replied, the other two ships direct
ing their fire at the battery on the
Punta Gorda within the harbor and
to the westward of the position oc-
cupied by the Spanish ship. The
latter replied to the fire and imme-
diately became the target for all
the American ships engaged in the
battle. She retired behind a pro-
tecting headland and was not seen
again during the engagement.
The Iowa, directed by Fighting
Bob Evans, the Massachusetts,,
Capt. F. j. Higginson; Texas, Capt.
]. W. Phillips and the New Orleans,
Capt William Folger, kept up their
terrific fire against the MORO, 70
copa and Punta Gorda forts for two
hours, their projectiles of enormous
size doing tremendous damage to
the defenses of the harbor.
The masonry on Zocopa and Nor
70 was battered almost into dust.
The forms of Spanish artillerymen
and infantry could be plainly seen
flying to safety behind the neigh
boring hills.
The auxiliary cruiser which joined
Schley's fleet just before the battle
took place was hit by shells from
the forts, and it is thought she was
seriously damaged.
After seeking the protection of a
iutting headland the Spanish war
ship continued to fire projectiles
over the hills toward the fleet, but
they had no range, not even direc-
ton to their shots, and the shells
fell harmlessly into the sea.
That the number of killed and
wounded on the Spanish side is
enormous no one doubts, for time
and again American shells hit the
batteries squarely, and amid the
flying masonry aud dismantled
guns the forms of men were
deserted.
The damage dore to the Ameri.
can feet cannot be learned, but il
is not thought any person wa;
killed, if indeed any one was
wounded,
On the Spanish side the damage
was considerable. The American
squadron withdrew at 6 p. m. This
morning the American squadron
reappeared off Santiago, but con
tented itself with firing two shots
which are believed to have beer
signals to the insurg ents, who mum
Der 1000 or 5000 and are said to haYt
concentrated three or four mile:
from Santiago. Great events are
expected hourly at Santiago. The
Spanish authorities have taken ex-
traordinary precautions and have
placed in the narrow pass at the
entrance of the harbor special con
trivances which permit the closing
and opening of the port at will.
A special from Santiago confirm
hing yesterdays bombardment say:
grave events are expected hourly
there. The American warships arr
in front of the harbor. The insur
gents are gathering on the hills
The Spanish have taken extraord
mary precautions to guard the har
bo,-