Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-06-27
A MARINES VIEW
Of Hobson's Daring Act Off
Santiago de Cuba.
The Spanish Admiral Compliments the
Americans Daring Deed.
Bombardmcnt OF Forts as Seen By an
Augustan on the iowa.

While all the descriptions of the work
of the fleet off Santiago de Cuba have
been of unusual interest yet none have
the SAVIOR of the following letter writ
ten by John Rowe, IA marine on board
the battleship Iowa which is now sta
toned off Santiago. His description
is from the standpoint of a seaman and
contains mnutiae that makes the letter
of more than ordinary interest. The
letter was written to George II. Fox of
this city, of the United States regular
army. stationed at the arsenal in this
city, and is as follows
Friend George: | received your letter
today, so / will try and send YOU a few
lines. How long it will be getting to
Augusta | can't say. but one thing
SIRE it viii get there ahead Of me. /
| WAS glad to hear from you. Eatie'S
letter arrived on the same boat. Well
George | don't suppose there is any
| thing | can tell you that you have not
read in the papers but | viii try and
ten YOU some facts which you don't
read every day. We left Key West on
April Il, and arrived off Moro Castle.
Havana, on The same day. We stayed
there Is days. Nothing happened only
chasing prizes. We, ! mean the feet
| captured Il number of Spanish vessels
and conveyed them to Key West. We
returned to Key West on May 3, coaled
up ana started on Il wild goose chase
20 the coast of 1Iaytie expecting to
meet the SPANISH fleet.
We drfted around off Cape Haytien
! harbor for three DAYS 50 we started
a@ain fer Porto Rico, arriving off san
| Juan haibGr the morning of May II.
enc of the torpedo boats secuted
! around before daylight and returned
- ying there was no cncmy's ships in
! the harhor. only one FrenN h cruiser, SO
! the admiral transferred his dag to the
| Iowa and signalcd the fleet to clear
| ship for action. It did not take Ions
as Nc don't carry anything extra SO at
; o'clock our ship moved up within
about 320n yards and commenced firing,
/ III" font responded lively.
/ After We located all theirhatt,lies we
lot Them have it by the tom. W. Tired
/ i'll Il circle formation. AZ soon as one
/ shin passed another ono was up closing
ia all the time until within 100 yards.
/ Tho hattleshils did not 90 any closer,
/ w tired only our statboard battery as
/ tln ADMIRAL did not want to destroy
/ III city which, he could not help il W.
iIpd The front side.
1t is quite lively in oae of these
+ soaps. The shot fell like hail, but we
"r1c his only three times on the SUPER
/ #tructure where the N-ineh gums are.
W. found The base of the shell on deck
! after the fight. TIE ships that took
part were the Iowa. Indiana. New York.
/ Detroit. Montgomery ana monitors
Tcr}rr and An}phitrito and 1hr torpedo
! beat Porter.
( 1t was sight 10 SEQ TIA. monitors
/ W hite we WeTc going 10y thc Ut-t round.
They steamed III under Oh. s,uuk". TN"
/ Sianiards thought She Wa- sinking
! So they bcaan t. iit- "r'rurW
! oa Them rs as
+ She ~,l right unIrr ih. FORTS shp &c ZIP
eight io-inch guns, tud -h.H stopped
ilrinr for q few sycnud-. 1h- span
iuIIs bought hHlu- h4t Hr'k l"As.,-
She wasn't hit once. Dnr mlu dirl Hn
I the Amphltriis fr9m nVrr heat. IHr
1 NV York had on k.lrd. A total of
I two dead ami seven wound Il. WEI.
1 ~r w, mi back 10 Key We+t ANA btior
/ 4&e had - toms on Nc W.rr order
from Cierfueans at full speed t"
S.hlry. We dill not like it, but every
'hin@ must 20.
W. made it in Is hours. Ii WAS tn
first timr W. NVerr with any at the nd
miIaI's ships The admiral Went
around IN other side If Ghe island.
We Wrrc to ncnt in tn" WidWard Pas
age. but WhrH we arrived off here on"