The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-08
Wagons Seen Carrying Away Dead
and Wounded.
SHORE FAILS TO HIT SHIPS.
Only the Dupont and Hornet En-
gagged in the Fight.

Key West. May 7-The torpedo boaa
Dupont came in tonight and reported a
sharp engagement off Matanzas last night
and this morning.
The Dupont and the auxiliary cruiser
Hornet were cruising near the shore last
night and when about COO yards from land
were fred upon by body Of cavaiarys
about 200 strong, which was spread along
the shore on the lookout for filibusters.
According to the Duponts story both
United States vessels returned the fire.
scattering the Spanish troops and then
bombarded the Matanzas fortIfications.
These were in the nature Of sand blocks !.
houses. nine in number. The bombard-
ment lasted from to $50 o'clock.
The Dupont men say that their shells
toppled over the barricades in course OF
erection and are sure that many of the
Spanish soldiers were killed, as they after
ward saw wagons taking away dead or
wounded.
The survivors fed to the hills.
This morning the Matanzas fortifca-
tions opened fire. sending three shells at
the Dupont and Hornet. They were line
shots. but the boats had gotten out of
range.
The Dupont and Hornet then resumed
bombardment and continued It until $3.50
o'clock. The Dupont men think they have
essentially silenced what the big feet left
of the Notifications there. and that In the
two engagements the two boats fred
about 200 shots.
The cruiser Montgomery, Capt. Con-
verse; Is the first ship OF the American
squadron to acquire the distinction OF cap
turing two prizes in one day, which she
did yesterday. The captlyes are the Fras-
quito and the Lorenzo, both small boats
OF no great value as compared with the
big steamers taken during the first days
of the war.
The Montgomery was cruising about 50
miles of Havana when the Frasquito, q
two master, came bowling along toward
the Cuban capital. When the yellow flag OF
the enemy was sighted the helm was
swung IN her direction and a blank shot
was put across her bows. The Spaniard
wisely hove-to and the customary prize
crew was put on board. They found that
the Frasquito was bound from Montevideo
for Havana with a cargo OF Jerked beef
She is OF about 140 tons register and halls
from Barcelona The prize crew took her
to Havana waters and the Annapolis as
signed the cutter Hamilton to bring her
into Key West
A few minutes afterward the Montgom-
cry encountered the Lorenzo, a Spanish
bark, bound from Barcelona to Havana
with a cargo Of dried beef
She was taken just as easily and Ensign
Osborn brought her over here this eveE-
ing.
Commodore Remey to-day formally
hoisted his flag on the Mantonomoh, and
the ships in the harbor gave him commo.
dore's salute OF thirteen guns.
Some apprehension was felt here
throughout the day when brisk ''north-
err arose, but late this afternoon, after
a sharp, but short squall, the skies clears
ed and the wind moderated so that ship~
ping may safely navigate the .Gulf to-
night.
Ever since the blockade OF the Cuban
ports was established the only real APP
prehension that has been felt for the Safe
ty Of the fleet has been due 10 the possi-
bllity OF a storm, which might drive some
of the smaller ships on the coast of Cuba.
They are on a lee shore, with every har-
Dor on the coast in the possession of tho
enemy, and more than one naval officer
has shaken his head as he hinted at the
possibility of another Samoan disaster
The only place Off the north coast Of Cuba
where a refuge might be found is in the
lee Of Salt Key shoal, about fifty miles
northeast of Cardenas.
The larger ships could easily weather.
any storm likely to rage at this season.
The principal danger would be for the
torpedo boats, which are not built to with
stand heavy weather at sea.
The light draught gunboats, like ths
wilmington and Helena, which draw nine
feet each, and the Castine, Annapolis ard
Vlcksburg, which draw twelve feet, are
like ocean buoys when their matches ere
battened down. and their machinery is
heavy enough TO keep them off shore with
anything short OF hurricane.