The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-05-17
Terrific Battle in Cuban Waters
The Winslow Disabled and Five Ameri-
caus Killed.
Ensign Bagley and Four Men OF the
Inflated Torpedo Boat Lost
Their LiSes-The Spanish
Losses Not Reported.

AAoh HOh Va o.
boat Wilmington, the torpedo boat
Wiuslow and the auxiliary gunboat
Hudson were the only vessels engaged
on the American side. They entered
the harbor for the purpose OF attacking
Spanish gunboats known to be there, !
but the latter were not discovered blythe
Americans until the Spaniards opened
fire. The land batteries OF Cardenass sup
ported the fire OF their gunboats. one
officer and four men Of the WinsloW
were killed, and several others were
wounded.
The dead are: Ensign Worth Bag
lev, John Varvorls, oiler, Josiah Tun-
nett, cabin cook, j. V. Meeks, fireman,
j.. Daniel, fireman.
The battle, while it lasted, was ter
rifle. The Wilmington and the Hud-
son were ahead, ana opened ire on the
Spanish boats which were lying AT the
docks. The firing began at q range oil
g, 500 yards. A few MINUTES later the
Rinslow came up and also opened hre.
Ian instant the entire attention oil the
hA,h gunboat and the land batteries
Sirected upon her. From all
As aud shell seemed to pour in
the little torpedo boat. Inc
Ymington and the Hudson still kept
1)Ap their fire, but they could not turn
%aside the terrible storm OF fire and
Adeath pouring in upon Inc torpeao
Sboat. The crew Of h Winslow, how
4ever, never faltered for u second. Az
SA.35 %. IN. q solid shell crashed into the
A,u of The Winslow and knocked out
lr boiler. In an instant she began to
and drift helplessly. Then there
az a momen of awful suspense. a
rec cheer of triumph then went up
)m the Spanierds ON the gunooats
d the batteries, and again u storm Oh
u 3,e was opened upon the helptess ooat'
The gunboat Hudson, which was ~
~ bg near by, started to the asslstaoce
( the Wlnslow. She q alongside
torpedo BOAT and tried to throw u
=, to the imperiled crew. Up to this
he. with the exception OF one shot,
s4iyaich disabled the boiler OF the Wins
wv the firing Of Spanish gunboats
Ian been wild, but as the Winslow lay
fSflipp in the water, the range grew
bloser and shells began to eXploue all
about her. 1t was difficult Tor the Hud-
son to get near enough TO throw q line
Ito the Winslow's crew, Sd terrible was
1.-The FIRE about her. Finally, after about
TO minutes, the Hudson approached
~ lear enough to throw a line.
Ensign Bagley and six men were
"a sta in a group on the deck oil the
AWinslo1. "Heave her! Heave her,
Neave her!' shouted BagIey as he
y Mixed toward the Hudson and called
Eia line. Don't miss IT, shouted an
S&Aer from the Hudson, and with "a
Awe Bagley called back: Let her
81 Au1e. ITs getting too hot here for
.'f Anfort." The line was thrown, and
lche same instant q she'll burst in the
v midst of the group Of men on
81. I'd the Winslow. Bagley was
'. (tantly killed and "a few others drop
ia about him. Half adozen more fell
Moaning on the blood. stained deck
M of the dead men pitched h~eadiong
1 over the side Of the boat, but his lee.
hcaught in the iron rail and he was
,Nauled back. Bagley lay stretched on
s. The deck with his face completely torn
Paway and the upper part of his body
hsh aJtered.
"A IL was a terrible moment. The tor
oedo boat disabled and helpless, rolled
Hinder the fury OF the fire OF the Span
.D9sh g%unboats. When the she'll burst In
? the group on board the Winslow an
other wild shout OF triumph went w
from the Spanish boats and batteries
again heavy fire was opened on
f33she torpedo boat. Finally the Hudson
Succeeded in getting a line on BOARD
jEhe Winslow and was towing her out o.
Il the deadly range when the line partec
~ and again both boats were at the mercy
"a Of the Spanish fire. at $3.50 p. M. the
fkaHudson managed TO get another line III
the deck OF the Winslow, but there
sNWs only three men lett at that time
make IL fast. The line was hnally
ecured and the WlnsloW was toweo az
yo Piedras island where she was an
bhored, with her dead and wounded or
er decks. Some men from the Hudson
went on boald the Winslow and took
1.-THE most seriously wounded oil. Three
who were AIKEN on board the gunboat
Iachias died shortly afterward.
Commander Barnado, OF the Wins
k1bw, was wounded in the left leg. but
BIT seriously. Lying in the cabin OF
2 Hudson next norning at Key West
IA received a representative OF the
sociated Press and told the latter
story OF the fight. He aid
f vent into the harbor under Or
h. The torpedo boat Winslow was
q worst injured. she had five OF her
len killed and | do not know how many
bundled.
8"The Winslow WAS ordered by the
mmander of the Wilmington TO go
10 harbor and attack the Spanish
nboats there. We teamed In under
1ll head and were fired upon as we
GsNe in range. The Spanish boats
be tied up at the docks and had a
range on us. The batteries on
s.bre also opened on us and l think we
beived most of the fire. | do not
" whether any one was hurt on the
p%fnfugton, or on the Hudson, but l
Ink not.
8|kI nave no fault to find with the
pslow's Grew. They acted nobly all
Away through. The men who were
2ed fell at the same time. We were
2ding In agroup and the aim of the
kish was perfect. A she'll burst In
Ferry faces"
lilsign Worth 3agley was about 26
oaszs old, a native of North Carolina,
his encestors have been prominent
Q for many generations. He was
d and popular. A remarkable IA.
" has attended the class of cadets
shich Ensign Worth Bagley, who
|&&sbst mis- life on the Winslow, was a
$8 ember. In the class va q group of
even who used to go to Washington
leave and were lionized by society.
this eleven five have already lost
cir lives. Young Breckenridge, son
Inspector General Brt ckinridge, nc
! ntly made q major general, fell over
isrd In a rough SET from The revenue
Utter Gushing, and was drowned while
$AderWay to Havana. Jenkins and
rritt went down with the Ill fated
line, another cadetiof the eleven was
kwned in the China sea, and Baglev |
Y 9 n more to the list.
Bphas always been a %epo CON.