The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1898-04-29
The Battle ofNIatanzas.

" Iull UOO Sllll uliIilIuIlIVIOu.h
The Battle OfNIatanzas.
KEY WEST, April 2S. AT. noon yes
terday, the New York and Puritan and
the Spanish shore batteries at Matinzas
engaged in battle. e d
The New York, Puritan and Cincin
natl sailed into Matanzas bay yesterday
afternoon.
From the bridge OF the New York
nothing was to be seen, the batteries
being carefully masked. Tie stiffness
was unbroken until almost one O'Clock
when there was a puff of smoke from
Point Maya, on the east, and an eigh,
inch shell! splashed the water near Tie
New York.
Almost instantly the New York re-
piled with gun of the same calibw
Then, for fifteen minutes the cannon
aiding was almost incessant, the New
York bringing all her guns irto play.
She drew in to within 1900 yards OF
the folts on Point Rubal Caya, on the
west, while the Puritan deployed to the
east and engaged Point Maya with hel
small, but ponderous battery.
1t did not take long for the Yankee
gunners to locate the land batteries by
the smoke OF their guns, and, as streaks
of newly turned earth showed where the
work had been recent Y done on them.
After the range-fnding shots had been
expended, the American fire began to dc
execution. Almost instantly from the
flash from the gun column OF dirt and
mortar would rise from the low rampant
of the batteries as the 250 pound shells
exploded.
The batteries, whose fire with eight
inch explosive shells was at first spirited
began to lag as their guns were damaged
or dismountcd. Three II minute with the
precision and accuracy of a machine, the
New York threw shells into Rubal
Caya.
The debris shower of one explosion
had barely fallen upon the doomed fort
before another squirted upward. The
punishment was terrific, and the Span
lards apparently were prevented from
getting the ran &c of the warships
One sllrapnel shot whistled over the
New York, but most of them fell short or
went wild.
The Puritan was all the while shelling
Point Maya with sullen persistency and
the Spaniards were tearing up the water
around her; but not hitting her once.
The Maya battery was more powerful
than Rubal Caya. but nothing could
withstand The twelve inch guns as they
spoke twice in each revolution OF the
Puriian's turrets.
AT this time the Cincinnati was seen
for permission to come into
action. An answering signal from the
flagship, and she steamed into close
range and bazed away with tremendous
rapdity, as if to make up for lost time.
The answer from shore was becoming
feebler AMI less frequent and finally, at
the end OF twtnty minutes, ceased.
Another signal hlttered on the New
York and the Anerican guns alsn became
silent.
BIT Maya took one more chance, and
an inch shell sped spitefully, but Wild
ly, toward the Puritan. The Puritan
trained twevc,nch gun right below
the balloon Of smoke Which told where
the shore shot came from. The aim was
wonderful, the 's',nt apparently striking
the exa.t point sought. Up in the air
fifty feet flew dust and debris, and no
one yet knows anything OF the qua and
her crew. a...
As the warships drew away xppt for
rents and scars where the batteries had
been, the landscape was as quiet as when
they steamed into the bay. No one was
in sight, but Rubal Caya and Maya from
being formidable had been rendered
harmless. Tne dis s,ipline on the New
York ard Puritan was perfect. The gun
crews worked as if at target practice, a
greater intensity and eagerness only be-
ing observable. There was no cheering.
The whole proceeding was most busi-
npss-like.
The C 'ncussion OF the great guns was
but between shots the office
gave orders in ordinary tones.
The armored deck of the New York
seemed to rise slightly at each shot, but
everything had been made fast and all
was as snug and tight when she went
out OF action as when she went in.
As fan as observation from sea would
indicate, the Matanzas dtfenses were
rendered valueless and, when the time
comes for landing troops, nothing more
than muskets and field
pieces my be feared.
t()p.flc,.s to Admiral Samnsou