Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-06-16
SIX REPORTED KILLED.
The Shores of Guantanamo Bay Ring
with Our FuSillade-They RanaS
Our Force Advanced.


amo-Another Desperate Attempt Made
to Dislodge Them Bepulsed-Reports DIFF
fer as to the Number of Americans Dead
Fifteen Spania rtls Found Dead in n Fort.
The gallant band of 600 marines, fac
ing five times it's number, was hard
pressed all day yesterday. The Span
iards on three sides fired from the
thick underbrush, using smokeless
powder.
The marines were reinforced in the
afternoon by siXty-five insurgents, who
were brought to Guantanamo by tho
Marblehead.
Marines from the Texas and Marble,
head went ashore in the evening. Tho
others were completely exhausted by
days and nights of constant lighting,
Troops from Santiago are pouring in,
one train bringing 1000.
The Texas opened fire with her siX-
inch rifles and destroyed the station at
the first shot. At the same instant the
flag was hoisted at the encampment,
1t was greeted with cheers and whis-
ties. The flag was on an improviseS
pole made from boat spars.
The Marblehead destroyed the block
house at the entrance of the harbor.
At nightfall sharp rattle of musketry
was heard ashore, increasing till the
woods were ablaze with flashing guns.
The Marblehead turned her search
lights and one of her batteries on the
enemy. The screaming of shells added
to the pandemonium in the harbor.
The Smith was struck several times
but nobody was hurt. Two gunboats
far up the harbor are being watched
by the patrol in launches. There was
incessant firing throughout Sunday
night, the rapid clatter of automatics
telling Of the enemy's efforts to dis
lodge by assaults in great number the
entrenched marines.
AT daylight Cuban scouts reported
that the enemy had drawn off.
Sergeant Major Henry Goode was
killed, and Privates Townman, RoX-
bury, Burke, Martin and Costello were
wounded. They will recover. No sleep
has been possible for the marines for
three nights.
1t is their first time under fire, and
they deserve unstinted praise for their
steadiness and courage.
The flagship New York is expected,
and a general attack on the fort ana
gunboats and shelling or the woods
will follow when she arrives.
The valiant marines of Lieutenan.
Colonel Huntington's command, who
have been in action almost since the
minute of landing, expect another
night of sore trials and desperate fight
ing. They can be relied upon to do all
men can do, but the Odds against them
are heavy.
Fifteen dead Spaniards, including one
lieutenant, We're found in the fort
1t was found that Assistant Surgeon John
Blair Gibbs, Sergeant Smith, Privates
McColgan and Dunphy were killed,
and Corporal Glass Aas wounded.
Eight of the men who We're on the
outposts, including Lieutenants Shaw
and Neville, had not been accounted
Tor when the despatch boat left
Sergeant Smith, who was on the ex-
treme outpost, relieving the guard, fell
at the first fire.
The outpost did not wait to attack
the Spaniards, but retreated, and later
the firing began again, half mile to
the right, in the woods.
There was a short skirmish and the
Spaniards retired.
They returned shortly afterward and
began an attack from another quarter.
The fighting was kept up all through
the night. Only when the ships in the
morning began shelling the woods did
the Spaniards finally withdraw.
DR.. Gibbs was struck by a bullet
while standing in front of his tent and
died within a few minutes. The bodies
of the two privates We're found in the
woods, badly slashed by machetes.
Few of the Americans had ever been
under fire before, but they all acqut-
ted themselves nobly. The Spanards
had the advantage during the night,
as they fought from cover, and the
position of the camp on the cleared
heights made it an excellent target.
1t is the expectation that the attack
will be renewed tonight. Reinforce
ments have been landed from the ships
In the harbor and the marines are pre-
pared to avenge the death of their
comrades.