Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-08
FIGHT OFF MATANZAS
DUPONT AND HORNET FIRED on
ny A BODY OF CAVALRY.
ANOTHER BonBlRDHEHT OF FORTS.
whnt Was Left by sampson believed
to Have been siIenced-rws SNAIL
Prize.-Danuer to Our Beats FROM
storm.
Storm.

KEY WEST. FLA. May 1.-THE torps-
do-boat Dupont came in tonight and re-
ported a sharp engagement en- NatanSas
last night and this morning. The Dupont
and the auxiliary cruiser Hornet were
cruising near the shore last night ana
when about COO yards away from the land
were fred upon by a body OF cavalry,
about 200 strong, which was spread along
the shore OF the lookout for Aiibussers.
According to the Dupont's story, both
United States vessels returned the IRE.
scattering tho Spanish troops. and then
bombarded the Matanzas fortincaaons.
These were In the nature OF sand block"
houses, nine In number. TLs lombard
ment lasted from 4 to $50 o'clock Tho
Dupont's men say that their shells top
pied over the barbados In course OK
erection. and are sure that many Of the
Spanish soldiers were killed. AZ they af-
terward saw wagons taking away dead
or wounded. The survivors fed TO the
hills.
This morning the Matanzas fortinca-
lions opened fire, sending three shells al
the Dupont and Hornet They were line
shots but the boats had got out OF range.
The Dupont and Hornet then resumed
the bombardment, and continued II until
half past o'clock. The Dupont men
think they have effectually silenced wbat
the big fleet left OF the fortsfcauonl
there. and that In the Two engagements
the two boats fired about 200 shots.
TWO PRIZES IN ONE DAY.
The cruiser Montgomery. Captain Con.
verse, is the first ship ofithe American
squadron 90 acquire the distinction -
capturing two prizes In one day. which
she did yesterday. The captives are this
Frasquito and the Lorenzo. both small
boats. OF no great value as compared
with the big steamers taken during tho
first days of the war.
The Montgomery was cruising about
fifty miles OFF Habana, when the Fras-
quito, d two-master, came bowling along
toward the Cuban capital. When ths
yellow flag Of the enemy was sighted,
the helm was swung in her direction. and
a blank shot was put across her bows.
The Spaniard wisely hovc-to. and tina
customary prize-eTew was put on board.
They found that the Frasquito was
bound from Mentevideo for Habana,
with a cargo Of Jerked beef. She IL OF
about 40 tons register, and halls from
barcelona The prize-crew took her to-
Habana waters. and the Annapolis as
signed " bilub
into Key West
A few minutes afterward the Mont
gomery encountered the Lorenzo. a
Spanish bark. bound from Barcelona for
Habana, with a cargo OF dried beef. She
was then taken just as easily and En-
sign Osborn brought her over here this
evening.
REMEY HOSTS HIS FLAG.
Commodore Remey to-day formally
hoisted his flag on the Miantenomoh. and
the ships in the harbor gave him COM
modore's salute OF thirteen guns
Some apprehension was felt here du-
ring the day, when brisk "norther''
arose. but late this afternoon. after
sharp. but short, squall. the skies cleared.
and tho wind moderated 40 that shipping
may safely navigate the Gulf tonight
DANGER FOR CUBAN FLEET.
Ever since the blockade OF the Cuban
ports was established the only real APP
prohension that has been felt for the
safety OF the feet has been due to tins
possibility OF a storm which might drive
some OF the smaller ships on the coast Of
Cuba They are on a lee shore. with
every harbor on the coast in the posses
sion of the enemy, and more than one
naval officer has shaken his head as he
limited at the possibility Of another
Samoan disaster. The only place Off the
north coast OF Cuba where a refuge
might be found is on the lee OF salt Key
shoal, about fifty miles northeast OF Car
denaS.
The larger ships could easily weather
any storm likely to rage at this season
The principal danger would be for the
torpedo-boats, which are not built to with
stand heavy weather at sea. The light
draught gunboats. like the Wilmington
81 .ah
and the Castine Annapolis, and Weeks
burg, which draw twelve feet. are like
can buoys when their matches are bat
tened down, and their machinery Is heavy
enough to keep them off-shors in any
thing short OF hurricane.