Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-05-04
THE FIRST BATTLE.
A Story of the Battle of the Bay
Of Mantanzas,
What "a Modern BatIIe-ship Can DO.
And How They Act when BeIching
Forth Their Terrible Death and
Destruction.

The flagship has returned to her sta
ton off Eel Moro. The BON bardmert
accomplished its purpose, and that
without any loss of life on the Ameri-
can side. 1t is believed the Spariards
must have stained some loss of life
in addition to having their nearly
completed earth-works and fortifica-
tions torn up by the explosion of
shells. The capture of the city was
not at all contemplated, the object be-
ing to stop the erection of the batter
les.
The engag ement, the first in which
the United States navy has participant
ed for about thirty years, occurred
quite unexpectedly. The New York
was lying about twenty miles east Of
Havana at half past ten in the morn
ing when Rear Admiral Sampson de-
cided to steam TO Matanzas. At the
entrance to the harbor the monitor
Puritan and the cruiser Cincinnati
met the flagship. At slow speed the
flag proceeded toward the harbor,
the Puritan following half a mile
astern and the Cincinnati about two
miles to the westward.
Rear Admiral Sampson and Cap
tain Chadwick stood on the high
bridge, carefully surveying the forts
which had the temerity to fire on the
United States torpedo boat Foote,
When about three miles from Punta
Gorda, the extreme point of the east
ern end of the harbor, long yellow
streak was seen on shore. 1t looked
like a newly erected earthwork. Closer
inspection revealed a number of men
clustered around the shore. Still the
New York steamed slowly ahead until
it was ascertained without any doubt
that the Spanish troops were busy
erecting what seemed to be a sand
. battery and had already gotten several
guns into position.
Rear Admiral Sampson decided
that this was detrimental to a pacific
blockade. General quarters was
sounded. The men rushed to their
guns. When the New York was about
1000 yards from Punta Gorda, her
helm was put to starboard, and Conn
mence firing" the bug1c blew. Naval
Cadet Boons, in charge of "waist, =
the 6-inch gun amidship on the port
side had the honor of firing the first
shot. The flag shook from stem
to stern as the first projectile aimed
by the United States at the shore of
Cuba flew from the muzzle of the big
gun. This was at 1856 p. III. Fifty
pairs of glasses were leveled from the
flagship at the shore. 1t seemed min
utes before the yellow smoke cleared
away, but in reality it was less than
five seconds. Then a little cloud OF
dust was seen to rise at the right Of
the earthworks. Without the aid ol
glasses the objective point could bs
clearly defined. With deafe ing re-
port the Sinch gun in the forward
turret let fly its iron missile. 1t land
ed high. The after turret came neXi
NANll AiC SAINT olENd Il
shout of delight went up from th(
flagship as a dense cloud rose slowlj
. from the earthworks, showing how
true had been the aim.
Then from the entire portside
fearful fusillade was poured on shore
the four turret guns firing almost sim
ul'aneously and the four inch gum
added their smaller hail.
When the smoke blew away, Punt;
Corda was dotted with dust clouds tha
looked like miniature geysers spring
ing suddenly from the earth. Eacl
showed where a shot had struck. A
this stage, the guns in the Quinta
Del Recro battery were observed t
be firing upon the flagship. This for
is on the eastward arm of the harbor
.7,O06 yards from where the flagship
was lying. 1t is provided with fou
s-inch guns. The fiagship's fire wa
at once directed upon it. Up to thi
period the New York had been in tn
firing alone. Captain Harrington OF
the Puritan, and Captain Chester, OF
the Cincinnati, had drawn up an
we're vigorously signalling for pei
s-missiou to fire.
When this was reported to Rear Ad
miral Sampson, he said: "All right
tell them to so ahead" So, while tn
New York was commencing fire o
Ouintas Del Recro, the Puritan took
POSITION to the eastward and opened o
the same point. The Cincinnati wen
to the westward and poured rapi
broadside into the earthworks o
Punta Gorda.
Occasionally shots from Quinta
Del Recro could be-seen coming in th
direction of the New York. All fe
very short aud at no time threatene
the ship. Only about ten shots ar
believed to have been fired from .thi
battery during thewhole engagement
1t is possible that its guns may hav
been disabled, as two S-inch shell
we're distinctly seen to land squared
IA the fort.