Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-07-23
NIPE BAY BATTLE
-Four United States Warships En-.
tered the Harbor-- Vicious
Fight of the War.
SPANISH GUNBOAT WRECKED
Spaniards Took to the Woods When the
Firing Began-shell from the Topeka
Landed In Town White Flag
Appeared

Key West, July s2.-The T.. $. pul
boats Topeka, Annapolis, Wasp an
Leyden silenced the Spanish fortifcf
tions in Nipe bay, on the norther
coast, province of Santiago de Cuba
Thursday, and sunk the Spanish Gun
boat Jorge Juan. The crew of the Span
lsh gunboat escaped in small boats. un
der heavy fire from the Leyden Tn
lour ships mentioned pounded the fort
for an hour when the Spanish flag wa
hauled down. The Americans did moi
lose man, but the Spanish loss mus,
have been heavy
The Wasp and Leyden, being the
smallest of the quartette, led the way.
followed by the Annapolis, while the
Topeka, which carried Il heavier bat
terry, brought up the rear The chan
mel leading into the harbor was very
narrow. On the bluff to the right
called Gallory Point. was fort and sig-
nal station.
AS the American ships entered. the
Spaniards signaled in lively fashion
apparently notifying the Spanish ships
IN the harbor, which were the Jorge
Juan, two smaller gunboats and the
armored launches before mentioned. As
the Wasp and Leyden rounded the
point the fort fired dozen shots. none
OF which, however, fell near them. The
Topeka returned the fire with her three
FOUNDERS. Almost Immediately the
Spanlards deserted the fort and ran.
While the Topeka continued to send
shells into them. Rifemen on the beach
returned the fire with a few wild shots
but they, too, quickly dispersed by the
Topeka's smaller guns The Topeka
also discharged two torpedoes.
small fort to the left Of the channel
Tired on the American ships, but was
'llenced as easily as the other. Mean
while the Wasp and Leydcn had taken
Up position in the northwestern por-
lon OF the harbor and opened fire
lcrosS the water at the Jorge Juan.
which lay to the southeast in front of
he town Of Mayari. Her position was
bout mile and quarter from the
'each. Behind her a third fort stood
N an eminence. This fort opened on
he Wasp and Leyden. As the An
apolis and Topeka came up the Span
gunboat joined in the fight and gen
raj battle followed
The Topeka anchored in the middle
arbor, about 1000 Yards fr,ts the forge
uan, the other three American boats {
rev up on either side, and formed
The Americans then closed
on the Spanish ships, pouring in a
estructive fire on them and on the fort
ehind.
The Topeka sent 4-inch shells crash /
ig into the Jorge Juan at such a rate s
nat She sank within 20 minutes. When |
he firing became heavy the officers and
rev of the Spaniard put off in small u
oats, reached the shore under the a
eavy fire and escaped into the woods.
wo shots from the Topekas bow gun, n
red on an elevation of 4,5OO yards.
'opped squarely into the Mayari fort, 9
le Spanish pennants disappeared and T
white flag was run up. This ended $
le shortest but must vicious battle OF l
e war. 7
The harbor was found to be we'll I
lned and two mines exploded, one \
'out 100 yards off the Topeka's bows,
e other 200 yards from her port E,
larters. The Jorge Juan was a three :,
asted, one funnel ship of 960 tons and ~
100 horse power. She was 320 feet \
ng, 35 feet wide and ~ feet draft. Il
le carried crew of 146 men. Her n
ttery was heavier than the Topeka's. 1,
le captain of the Topeka is VIM. S. G.
wles, brother-in-law of Colonel
)OScyelt nj