The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1898-06-11
GREAT EXECUTION DONE.
Prsss Report Of the Bombardmsnt Of
Santiago.


Santiago.
Orr SANTIAGO DE CUBA. June 8. via
Kingston, Jamaica. June e.-The
American feet this morning engaged
the Spanish batteries defending the
entrance Of the harbor of Santiago de
Cuba and after three hours bonn.
bardment silenced nearly all the forts.
destroyed several earthworks and ron.
dered the Estrella and Cave batteries,
the two principal fortifioation, useless.
The feet formed in double column
about six miles of Moro castle at 2
O'Clock in the morning and steamed
about 5000 yards to sea, the Brooklyn
leading, followed by the Mar rblehead.
Texas and Massachusetts,, aud turned
westward The second line, the New
York. leading, with the New Orleans,
Yankee, Iowa and Oregon turned east
ward.
TIE lows Opens the Game.
The line headed by the New York
attacked the new earthworks near
Moro castle. The Brooklyn column
took up station opposite Estrella and
Catalina and the new earthworks along
the shore. Suddenly the Iowa fred q
1s.inoh shell, which struck the base of
Estrella battery and tore up the works.
Instantly firing began from both Rear
Admiral Sampson's and Commodore
6chley's columns and torrent of shells
from the ships fell upon the Spanish
works.
The spaniards replied promptly, but
their artillery work was of very poor
wide. Smoke settled around the ships
in dense clouds, rendering accurate
aiming difficult. There was no
maneuvering of the feet. the ships 70.
manning at their original stations aud
firing steadily.
Ordered to spare Moro Castle.
Previous to the bombardment orders
were issued to prevent firing ON MORO
castle as the American admiral had
been informed that Lieutenant Hobson
and the other prisoners of the Merri.
mao are confined there. In spite Of
this, however. several stray shots dam.
aged Morr6 castle somewhat.
Commodore Schley's line moved
closer in shore. firing at shorter range
The Brooklyn and Texas caused wild
havoc among the Spanish shore bat
teries, quickly silenoing them. While
the larger ships we're engaging the
heavy batteries the Suwanee and the
Vixen closed with the small inshore
battery opposite them raining rapid fire
shots upon it and quickly placing the
battery ont of the fight.
The Brooklyn closed to 800 yards and
then the destruction caused by her guns
aud those Of the Marblehead and Texas
was really awful
Estrslla battery silsnoed.
In few minutes the woodwork Of
Estrella fertilization was in flames and
the battery was silenced, firing no
more during the engagement. East
ward the New York and New Orleans
silenoed the Cave battery in quick or.
der and then shelled the earthworks
higher up. Later the practice was not
10 accurate owing to the elevation Of
the guns. Shortly after 9 the firing
ceased, the warships turning in order
to permit the use of the port batteries.
The firing then became long, revsr.
berating crash of thunder and the
shells raked the Spanish batteries with
terrible effect. Fire broke out in Cata-
lima fort and silenced the Spanish
guns. The firing of the feet continued
until 10 o'clock, when the Spanish fire
ceased entirely and Admiral Sampson
hoisted the ''cease firing" signal.
The fire Of the feet was very de.
structive. Many of the earthworks
were knocked to pieces, aud the Es.
trella and Catalina Notifications were
80 damaged that it is questionable
whether they will ever be able to re.
new any effective work during the
war.
Throughout the entire engagement
no American ship was hit and no
American was injured.