The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-05-19
FINE AMERICAN
HEROES KILLED.
Ensign Bagley and Four
Seamen of the Wins
low Fall.
FIRST AMERICAN BLOOD DRAWN BY SPAIN.
Thrilling Story OF the Battle that
Resulted DisastrOusly for us.
LIST THOSE WHO FELL FIGHTING FOR The U. 5.

KEY WEST, May 12.-Down in the
darkened dead room of an undertake
ing establishment on Duval street,
with an American flag over his face
and his shattered arms folded over
his breast, lies the first man killed by
the Spaniards in the present war. 1t
S Ensign Bagley, of the torpedo boat
Winslow. Nearby on four black slabs
are four more dead men. Two of
them-John Daniels and John Meek
oiler, and Josiah Tunnel, a negro, was
the cabin cook. These five men were
killed during a terrific attempt of the
torpedo boat Winslow to destroy five
Spanish gunboats in Cardenas har-
Dor at ? o'clock Wednesday afternoon.
During two hour engagement one of
the gunboats was sunk, the Spanish
signal station at Diana Key was desc
lated, a portion of Cardenas was burn
ed, the United States torpedo boat
Winslow was disabled and five Amer
leans were killed.
The Attack Was Ordered.
In the attack on the Spaniards the
Winslow was supported by the gun
boats Machias and Wilmington and
the auxiliary cruiser Wudson. Naval
men here are disposed to think that
the attack on Cardenas was rash and
ill-timed.
In the burning flame of a MINDLESS
noon Wednesday, the Wilmington, the
Machias, the Hudson and the Wins
low lay off Piedros Key, eight miles to
the north of Cardenas. OF this little
fleet, Captain Todd, of the Wilmington
was the ranking officer, and upon
him rests the immediate responsibility
for the attack on Diana Key, near the
mouth of Cardenas harbor, where the
Spaniards had established a signal
station and battery.
Opening of the Battle.
The Wilmington moved forward ac-
companied by the light draught boat
Machias, until well within range of
the enemy's guns. AS the two boats
approached the Diana battery opened
fire with four-inch shells and a storm
of shrapnel. The Machias and Will
mington, at a 2,000y yard range, replied
alternately with port and starboard
guns, and in Is minutes the battery
was hidden in a cloud of sand and
litter of broken timbers. In the midst
of the uproar the gunners could be
seen running for their lives. Flames
burst from the signal station and the
houses surrounding it, and in half an
hour the battery and all the buildings
of Diana Key We're destroyed. The
Wilmington and the Machias drew off
for consultation.
Spain's Boat Begins Her Fire.
At this moment Spanish gunboat
steamed out to the centre of Cardenas
harbor and opened fire at long range
without hitting anything. Nobody
dreamed of the possibility of going
into the harbor after her. Only few
days previous the torpedo-boat Wins
low had whipped three of the five
Spanish gunboats near Piedros Key.
She is light boat and can easily run
around the shallow water of Cardenas
Bay. Such thought as this must
have passed through Capt. Todd's
mind. At 1.45 he hoisted signal to
the Winslow to go into the harbor
and torpedo the gunboats. There was
not sailor on the four ships who did
not realize the terrific nature of the
undertaking. The harbor was mined,
the low margin of the coast inside the
neck of the bay was lined with mask
along the black line around the west
ern port, silent and ready for business.
AS the sharp prov of the Winslow
turned dutifully towards the harbor,
and as she swept smoothly past the
Wilmington on her errand of death.
the sailors on the latter ship ranged
on the starboard rail gave her three
cheers. They were kept up by the
sailors of the Machias and the Hudson.
Half a mile ahead of the Winslow the
land of the Dons rolled down to the
ocean in billow of green, edged with
white at the verge of the sea. Be
hind this point lay the old town of
Cardenas, worn by the sea winds and