The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-04
"a
HOT LITTLE NAVAL FIGHT
Prodigies of Valor Performed by
Three American Vessels.
HIST HIT ELEVEN TIMES
She. Together With the Hornet and b
wsmpatuck, San Two Spanish Gun
boats. One sloop and Disabled
Q Torpedo Boat.

New York. July S.-A dispatch to the
Herald from OF Santiago, via Playa del
Este. July 2. says: Three vessels of
Admiral SIMPSONS fleet have just re-
turned from an adventurous expedition
to M~anzanillo. during which they san
two Spanish gunboats. one sloop and
one pontoon. disabled a Spanish torpedo
boat. considerably damaged several Of
the enemy's %gunboats and compelled
the captain of a troop ship to run to-
Yards shore. One of Admiral Simpsons
vessels. the Hist. was struck IL times,
and another, the Hornet, was disabled
by a shell which hit her main steam
pipe. She was lowed out of danger.
Admiral Sampson sent the Hist, the
Hornet n the Wampatuck to Man
zanillo to destroy four Spanish gun
boats which the admiral had been in
formed were lying in that harbor. In
stead Of e~ncountering that number OF
vessels, the Americans encountered min
vessels, including a torpedo boat and a
cruiser. They also found most of rhe
vessels fianked by the land batteries
and armed pontoons, while a heavy bat
terry of field artillery was In position on
the water front to aid in making warm
the reception of SIMPSONS vessels.
In addition to this formidable display,
the Spanish showed several guns in the
fort on the hill, while the shore for two
miles was lined with soldiers who main
tanned a fierce fire. U~ndaunted by this
formidable array. the three little Amer
lean vessels steamed into the pier and
began to attack. Their fire was re-
turned by the Spanish vessels, and for
two hour a hot fight was waged. Shots
repeatedly went straight from the guns
of each combatant. doing much damage
when they struck.
During the engagement the Hist was
the main target for the Spanish gun
ners, who showed greater adeptness in
their aim than have the Spaniard gun
ners stationed at the forst along the
coast. They succeeded in hitting the
Hist IL times, but the plucky little Graf
withstood the heavy fire CALAMITY
Again inc again she ran close up u
the enemy's vessel, persistently refus'
ing to draw away because OF the &C
curacy of the Spanish aim. But FOL
an accident to the Hornet the Amer
can vessels would not have Withdrawn
from the scene after fighting two hours
When the firing was the hottest a shei
went scurryfng in the direction or TN
Hornet, striking the main steam pip
of that vessel, scattering over the deci
and doing great damage.
As soon az the Hist and the wan
patuck discovered that the Hornet wa
disabled, their captains decided that
would be useless to fight longer aga1ns
such a superior enemy. Accordingi!
the wampatuck FASTENED to the rescu
of the Hornet, the Hist meantime Keep
ing up it's sharpest fire.
After the Wampatuck had SUCCEEDS
in getting a line on the Hornet, sh
steamed out to sea with he disable'
vessel in tow. The Hist followed clos
after. pouring shot at the enemy unit
out OF range.
During the engagement the America
vessels succeeded in sinking one span
ish gunboat, one sloop and damage
one torpedo boat. They also did niue
damage TO several gunboats In the har
Dor. and made a marked impression o
the Spanish land batteries. They ais
discovered the Purisima Concepcio
and two large transports lying In IN
harbor.
AS IL this was not enough excitemer
for one small auxiliary cruiser, the HI:
poked her nose into Neguira bay an
discovered a Spanish gunboat lynn
there. She Immediately opened M
on the Spaniard, which. taken so con
pletely by surprise. replied feebly an
inaccurately. She was sunk by IN
Hist in 10 minutes.