The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-05-13

TORPEDO BOAT WINSLOW.
nett, cabin cook; j. v. Mecks, fireman,
and ]. Daniel, fireman. The wounded
are: r. e. Cox, gunner's mate; d.
McKeon, quartermaster; ]. Paterson,
fireman; F. Gray and Lieutenant ]. b.
Bernardow. All are slightly wounded,
except Patterson, whose condition is
serious. Ensign Worth Bagley was APP
pointed from North Carolina on Sept, Z,
1891.
Description of the Battle.
The engagement took place inside the
harbor of Cardenas. The gunboat Will
mington, the torpedo boat Winslow and
the gunboat Hudson were the only YES
sells engaged. They entered the harbor
for the purpose of attacking some
Spanish gunboats which were known to
be there. Those latter, however, were
not discovered by the American force
until the Spaniards opened fire. The
land batteries of Cardenas supported
the fire of the Spanish gunboats. The
engagement commenced at 2:O5 p. m.
and lasted for about an hour. The bat
tie, while it lasted, was terrific. The
Wilmington and the Hudson were
ahead and opened Are on the Spanish
boats which were lying at the docks.
The firing began at a range of $500
yards.
A few minutes later the Winslow came
up and also opened fire. In an instant
the entire attention Of the Spanish gun
boats and land batteries was directed
upon her.
Terrific Storm of Death.
From all sides shot and shot poured
In on the little torpedo boat. The VIII
mington and the Hudson still kept up
their fire but they could not turn aside
the terrible storm of fire and death
pouring in upon the torpedo boat. The
crew of the Winslow, however, never
faltered for a second. At 235 p. m. a
solid shot crashed into the hull of the
Winslow and Knocked out her boiler.
In an instant she began to roll and
drift helplessly. Then there was a mo-
ment of awful suspense. A fierce cheer
of triumph went up from the Span
iards on the gunboats and in the bat
teries, and again a storm of fire was
opened up on the helpless boat. The
gunboat Hudson, which was lying near
by started to the assistance Of the
Winslow. She ran alongside the tor
pedo boat and tried to throw a line to
the imperilled crew.
First Firing Was wild.
UP to this time, with the exception
of the ope shot, which disabled the boil
er of the Winslow, the firing Of the
Spanish gunboats had been wild, but as
the Winslow lay rolling in the water
the range grew closer and shells began
to explode all about her. 1t was diff
cult for the Hudson to get near enough
to throw a line to the Winslow's crew,
so terrible was the fire all about her.
Finally, after about twenty minutes,
the Hudson approached near enough
to throw line. Ensign Bagley and six
men were standing in a group on the
deck of the Winslow.
"Heave her Heave her!" shouted
Bagley as he looked towards the COM
mander of the Hudson, and called for a
line.
Don't miss it," shouted an officer
from the Hudson, and with smile,
Bagley called back, Let her come. It's
getting too hot here for comfort"
A Death Dealing Shell.
The line was thrown and about the
same instant a shell burst in the very
midst of the group of men on board the
Winslow Bagley was instantly killed
and a few others dropped about him.
Half dozen more fell groaning on the
blood-stained deck. One of the dead
men pitched headlong over the side of
the boat, but his feet caught in the iron
rail, and he was hauled back. Bagley
lay stretched on the deck. with his face
completely torn away and the upper
part of his body shattered. 1t was a
terrible moment. The torpedo boat, dis
abled and helpless, rolled and swayed
under the fury of the fire from the
Spanish gunboats. When the shell burst
In the group on board the Winslow an
other wild shout of triumph went up
from the Spanish boats and batteries,
and again heavy fire was opened on
the torpedo boat. Finally. the Hudsos