The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-06-09
RfINA MERCEDES SUNK
DY SHOT FIRED BY SIMPSONS
JACKIES
a MUCH LESS PLEASANT RUM0
Reports the Death Of Captain Phillips
Of the Battleship Texas-Con-
firmation Lacking


Associated Press special wire
MADRID, June s, 10 a. ma semi-official
note was published here today purporting
to give an account of the bombardment OF
Santiago de Cuba by the American fleet on
Monday last: 1.-THE American navy, under
Admiral Sampson, fiercely attacked Santi-
ago de Cuba and bloody encounter en-
aued. The Americans made three attacks
on the Spanish marines and land batteries,
which replied. AS consequence the Amer
leans are repulsed with heavy losses, esti-
mated at 1900 men. The American projec-
tiles, however, sank the Spanish cruiser
Reina Mercedes"
The Reina Mercedes was steel cruiser,
built at Carthagena in 1887. She was over
5000 tons displacement, 27S feet 10 inches
long, AZ feet inches broad, and drew Is
feet inches of water. She had 800 horse
power when completed, was driven by one
propeller, and carried crew of about 80
men. Her engines recently had been USE
less, owing to her boilers giving out. With
the Alfonso XIII and the Reina Christina.
the Reina Mercedes of late years has been
used as a transport. The three vessels
were almost alike The armament of the
sunken cruiser consisted of six 6.2-inch
Hontoria breech-loading guns, two 2.7-inch
Hontoria breech-loading guns, three g.
FOUNDERS quick-firing guns. two 4-pounder
euick-firing guns, six S-pounder quick-fir-
ing gunds, two 4-pounder quick-firing guns,
six S-pounder quick firing guns, two ma
chine guns and five torpedo tubes.
She was bark rugged and had one smoke
stack. Her coal capacity was about from
300 to 600 tons. The Reina Mercedes was
supposed to have a speed of about IS knots
She had no protective deck
Sent to Havana
HAVANA, June 7.-(Delayed in transmits
eion.) Details from Spanish sources at San
tiago de Cuba were received here today of
the Spanish losses during the bombardment
Of the forts there by the American fleet on
Monday. The Marine Chief killed on
board the Rena Mercedes was former Cap
tain Emilio Acosta Eyormanu. Ensign Ale
jandro Milenas, also on the Mercedes, was
killed. Col Ordonez, of the artillery and
inventor of the cannon bearing his name
was Slightly wounded. Some other officers
were slightly wounded by projectiles, shells
and fragments scattered by the explosion
Of shells on land.
The insurgents today obstructed passen-
ger train near Pinar, overthrowing one car
and deraillng the train.
Elaborate Lying
MADRID. June 8, 10 a.m.-Dispatches re-
ceived here from Havana from Spanish
sources say "the Americans were again re-
pulsed at the last bombardment of Santiago
de Cuba"
Continuing, the reports assert that the
damage done to the batteries and to the
i- st,,,, ;v,,,1 o1r
paired" adding: 1.-THE Spanish guns did
not cease to fire an instant during the fight
and all the batteries are I'M condition to
reply to the enemys fire. During a second
attack Colonel Ordonez was on board the
Reina Mercedes and personally assisted in
working her guns. Everyone regards Colo
mel Ordonez and General Linares as the
heroes Of the day."
According to official Spanish dispatches
received here. the exact loss of the Span
iards at Santiago de Cuba on Monday is as
follws:
Land forces, one soldier killed and five
officers wounded, including Colonel Ordo-
nez.
Some officers. the second officer in COM
mand of the Reina Mercedes, five sailors
and twenty-nine marines killed and an Off
Ger and eleven sailors wounded.
The official dispatches also say that
many of the wounded, Including Colonel
Ordonez are able to attend to their duties
1t is announced herd that the Spanish
Benito has run the blockade of Manzan-
lilo" and arrived at Jamaica.
Vessels Damaged
4 NEW YORK, June S.-A special 4
4 from Kingston, Jamaica, reports that \
4 the Spanish cruiser Vizcaya and the +
4 torpedo boat destroyer Juror were +
= badly damaged during the lombard \
4 ment of i,antiagos defenses on Mon +
= day. A shell from the Brooklyn is 4
\ said to have burst under the Vizcayas 4
4 port quarter, dismounting a gun, in 4
4 juring the cruisers rudder and wound +
4 ing several Of her sailors. 4
Not Confirmed
NEW YORK, June S.-A special from
Madrid says that in the course of Monday $
cannonading at Santiago de Cuba Capt.
Phillips of the United States battleship
Texas was killed by a Spanish she'll.
There is nothing in other dispatches from
West Indian waters to substantiate the
report.
Land Forces En- Route
NEW YORK, June S.-A special to the
Times from Washington says:
There is no longer any pretense at the
War Department that the Santiago ex-
petition is not afoot, or that 1t is not TO
reach it's destination speedily.
The information has been circulated
quite freely that forces have been shipped
at Tampa and more are to follow, and that
they are bound to Santiago de Cuba and
intended to cooperate with Admiral Samp-
son to effect the capture Of that city. with
its garrison and the shipping, including the
fleet of Admiral Cervera in the harbor
From all that can be ascertained at the
War Department, the land forces are to
be directed by General Shafter, who will
have not less than 10000 men, mostly regu-
lars, with which to strike the blow con.
templated. 1t was plainly stated by a
Cabinet officer after the meeting at moor
that postponement of the expedition wa.
attributable to the seige guns that are t.
be taken along and to unexpected dela1
in unloading the cars at Tampa.
While the expedition at Santiago is OF
its way another for Porto Rico is to b,
made ready and shipped. Just how soor
after the Santiago movement this expedi
fion is to leave is not stated. but in carry