Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-04-28
MATANZAS SMASHED
In l8 Minutes Captain Simpsons
Ships Silenced Batteries Guarding
Harbor--Americans Unhurt.
VALUABLE PRIZE CAPTURED

ouoaA " uAta olSlu6 AusuISoutc w AdAS
Stars and Stripes on Island Of Cuba
: Martial Law in Force in
Porto Rico.
New York, April 2s.-A dispatch viz
q Key West, to the Herald, says: Ad
{ miral Sampson bombarded, slenced and
r pretty we'll detroyed the Spanish bat
/, teries at the entrance of the harbor OF
8 Matanzas. He did it with the flag shir
3 New York, monitor Puritan and the
I cruiser Cincinnati The American SHIPS
were not struck, the Spanish gunhery
being very wild. The number of dead
and wounded on the Spanish side, must
be considerable.
While the New York, Puritan and
Cincinnati were accommodating for the
purpose of locating and destroying the
formidable defenses, the flag ship was
fired upon by the batteries on Point Ru-
balcava and Point Maya, guarding the
entrance to the harbor. The New York
lreplied, firing her forward eight-inch
gun on the port side. She steamed
boldly in between the batteries and was
soon blazing away with both broadsides,
amid cries from the crew of Remember
the Maine" The Puritan steamed in
behind the New York and engaged the
Notifications on Point Maya, while the
New. York went to starboard, close up
to land and poured shot and shell into
Rubalcava. The Cincinnati, which re-
maned we'll astern under orders, sig
nailed for permission to engage, re-
ceived it and was soon firing her guns at
the fort on the west side of the bav.
The Spanish batteries fired explosive
shells, most of which fell wide of the
mark. One burst just beyond the stern
of the New York and a shrapnel explo-
ded above her.
1t took the three ships just 1s minutes
to silence the batteries.
The last shot fired by the Spanish
came from Point Rubalcava. The Puri-
tan replying with 12-inch gun shell,
struck the battery with wonderful accu-
racy and blew up a portion of it.
After waiting in vain for the Spanish
to renew the engagement, the ships
withdrew, leaving both batteries in
ruins.
Washington, April 2s.-Latest reports
to the government concerning the bonn
bardment of Matanzas, say the American
ships completely destroyed all the defen-
ses of the harbor and wrecked nearly
all of the Spanish heavy guns. Up
ward of 100 Spanish were killed. The
Americans were not even scratched by
the fire from the shore batteries. II
VIII Retain Advantage Gained.
An order was sent Admiral Sampson
today instructing him to retain the adj
vantage gained at Matanzas and pre-
vent the remounting of the guns and
the Notifications. 6
Defenses of the Harbor.
Matanzas, or San Carlos de Matanzas,
is a seaport city on the north coast of
Cuba, about So miles east of Havana and
is the chief town of the province. 1t is
with Havana by wire and Z
rail and has population of about 49,,
200 people. 1t is situated at the head of
Matanzas bay, on the San Juan river. s
As commercial center, it ranks next to !
Havana. The harbor has been badly =
filed up by the mud brought down by
jhe San Juan river, but it is still good
and well sheltered harbor. The two
orts lie, one on the east and one on the
west, on the points at the entrance to b
the bay and were not forts of very great n
expense. Spain has lately exerted every c
energy to strengthen them and had sue e
'eeded fairly we'll, having placed some p
modern defenses and guns there. 5
The Storm God Loose.
Key West, April 2S.-A heavy gale is
blowing. The small warships and news
PAPER boats are having hard time, but
10 accidents as yet have been reported.
Valuable Prize Captured.
Key West, April 2s.-The monitor
Terror, Captain n Ludlow, captured the a
zig Spanish steamer Guido, bound for b
Iavana, early yesterday. The prize tt
lad large cargo of provisions and
money for the Spanish troops in Cuba. =
The capture took place ten miles off
'ardenas, after a desperate chase, dur
ng which the Terror and the gunboat
Iachias fired, almost blowing the Span
ards pilot house into the water. The
paniards refused to stop when hailed
nd the Terror was compelled to fire
hree effective shots, wounding Span
III sailor, before the Spanish ship sur
endered. The Guido is splendid
rize and is owned by a navigation COM
any at Bilboa.
Martial Law In Porto Rico. Ill
st. Thomas, April 2s--Martial law |
revails in Porto Rico Active prepa-
ltions are making to resist an attack
expected from the American fleet All
bic bodied men have been called into
,rvice. Hi
rging Insurgents to Raise American Flag
The Cuban junta is urging the in /
lrgents to raise the American flag in
uba until the war is ended, on the ad-
ce of President Mckinley. BY this
cans Cuba, as soon as the Spaniards
re driven out, will be an American
rovince and would remain so until the
can establish government.
Flying Squadron in Storm Hi
On board flagship Brooklyn, off Fort
-onroe, Va, April 28.-For 36 hours |
le flying squadron has been unable to
with the shore, the storm
aking it unsafe to use either steam
lunches or cutters. A tug brought the
all this morning. Only clever seaman
lip, perfect discipline and cool-headed
dgment averted collision between
10 Massachusetts, and Brooklyn, which
ere driven before q wind blowing 80
lies an hour.
Plundering Americans in Porto Rico.
st. Thomas, West Indies, April 2s.-
n American sugar estate In Porto Rico
IS plundered after the declaration Of
ar. The British consul in charge of
merican interests there, has asked for
British warship. II
Cruiser Minneapolis Sailed. VII
EastpOrt, Maine, April 28.-The Unit
States cruiser Minneapolis left this
rt this afternoon under sealed orders.
10 took southerly course.