The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1898-05-05
IT WAS QUICK WORK.
THE FIRING CONTINUED ONLY
EIGHTEEN MINUTES.
But the Spanish Fortificatfons at
MatanZas Were Destroyed and
Many Spaniards Met Death
Under Fire of Our Ships.

KEY WEST, Fla, April % The
battleship New York, monitor Puri-
tan and cruiser Cincinnati, of Samp-
sons fleet, yesterday afternoon bom-
barded, silenced and pretty well de-
StrOyed the Spanish batteries in posi-
tiOn and in course of construction at
the eatrapce of the harbor of Matan-
zas. Spanish gunneTs failed to strike
one or the American ships.
w Whlle the boats were recOnnOiter.
log for the purpose OF locating aud
destroying the formidable defenses
that were being constructed, the flag
snip was fired on by the batteries
guarding the entrance to the harbor.
The New York replied with her for
ward eight-inch gun and steamed
brOadside. The Puritan steamed
behind the New York and engaged
he fertilization at Pointe Maya, while
the New York went starboard, close
up to land and poured shells into
Rubalcaya. The CINCINNATI, remain
ing astern under orders, signalled for
permission to engage, received it and
was soon firing guns at the fort on the
west side.
The Spanish batteries fired ex
plosive smells which fell wide of the
mark. One burst just beyond the
New York and sharpenel exploded
above her.
slLENCED IN EIGHTEEN MINUTES.
Tire three ships silenced the forts
in eighteen minutes. The last Span
ish shot fred came from Pointe
Rubalcaya. The Puritan replied with
one Of her twelveinch guns and
shell struck the batteries with won
derful accuracy and blew up a portion
OF them.
FORTS IN RUINS.
After waiting the arrival of Spanish
ships for an engagement the ships
Withdrew, leaving the forts in ruins.
Sampson had made up his mind that
something had to be done, with every
aggressive Spanish artilleryman man
ming the batteries out that way.
They had twice fired on the torpedo
ooat Foote, and were busy erecting
Qualifications and placing guns at
MatanZis.
New York found the Puritan and
Cincinnati blockading the port Samp
son decided to make reconnaissance
for the purpose of locating batteries
and stopping Notifications. The New
York led the way, the Puritan fol
lowed few hundred yards behind,
and the Cincinnati was behind a
-
soon became general,
PERFECT CRAFTSMANSHIP
The craftsmanship Of our gunners
was perfect. The distance was about
four thousand yards between the
boats and the batteries. Nearly all
the shells from our ships fell within
the Spanish foItjcations. The New
York reduced the range to three thou
sand yards and tossed shells into
Rubalcaya. The Cincinnati, which
had been signaled permission to en-
gage, steamed broadsides on and began
TO let fly. The best shot was made by
the Puritan, which struck squarely
gun OF the battery. doing great dam
age.
The New York returned to the
blockade OF Havana, leaving the Puri-
tan and Cincinnati guarding the
blockade of MantaDZaS. The ships
fired eighty-six shots, the forts about
twenty five.
HAVANA AT OUR MERCY.
The conclusion drawn from the re-
suit Of this bombardment is that Ha
vana is absolutely at the mercy Of our
fleet.
The loss of life among the Spanish
troops is supposed to he heavy.
The MatauZas Notifications will not
De rebuilt, nor Will our SnlpS allow
guns to be mounted there.
WHAT SECRETARY LONG SAYS
WASHINGTON, April Secretary
Long stated today that he has no
information of the bonn bardment of
Matanzas. A member OF the Strategy
Board said he did not believe the
town had been attacked, but that il
Sampson had fred it would be on out
side forts to learn about their arma-
ment. 1t is rumOred, however, that
orders have been sent to Sampson to
bonn bard the coast wherever batteries
are being erected to prevent any ex-
tended defense when the time came
to land troops.
BASE OF OPERATIONS
The Navy Department believes that
MatanZas will be made the base of
operations for the bonn bardment Of