Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-06-01
Associated Press.)

Kew West, Fla, May 27.-Some day,
of-er the epoch of eagerness of latest
news Of the war has passed, somebody
will tell the true story of the cutting
nj The cable at Cienfuegos. And when
,bar story is told people will understand
,n0re clearly than they understand to-
dav what sort of stuff Uncle Sans
navy is made Of 1t was a theme for
Victor Hugo or picture for Meis-
sopier that three hours of heroism, de-
termination and death in the bay Of
Cienfuegos that bright morning. Tho
men knew that death awaited them.
They knew when the small boats were
lowered from the ships AMI they pulled
toward the shore that while they work
ed thousand Spaniar0s were con-
ea4lsi in the tall grass and undarbrush
On the shore waiting to shower bullets
masts knew this. The officers knew it;
the men knew 1t; but the order to cut
the cable had been given and the COM
mand was cbeyed.
Small sections of the Cable which
these brave seamen cut that morning
are much sought for souvenirs at the
Key West hotel since the warships
brought back the dead and wounded
after the work was done.
There is something amusing and at
the same time inspiring ia the picture
one often looks upon in the rotunda
Of the hotel as one Of the wounded men
happens to stroll in. He sees the
valued little souvenirs passed about
from hand to hand. He hears the
sorry told over and over again, and
HE SMILES IN SILENCE
and limps away. He alone knows the
story. But he is the last one to tell it..
Ask him about it and he tells you the
cable was cut, two men were killed and
Six badly wounded. That is about all.
Lieut.. c. NJ r. Winslow, of the Nash
vile, who was in command of the ex-
P0u'dOH, Sdue lHlU Tue HOlel last even
Ing and was socn surrounded by a
group Of friends eager to hear is story
OF the affair in which he was the prin-
cipal figure. He had been wounded in
the LETT hand and his arm was yet IN 4
sling. He was not eager to talk of the
matter but little by little the details
were drawn out and this is the story
about as he told it:
The Marblehead, Nashville and
Window were detailed to do the peril
GUS work. The town of Cienfuegos is
situated some distance back from the
sea IN harbOr which winds and twists
aoout between high hills, completely
0Dscurlng 1t from ships standing out
to sea. Near the mouth of the harbor.
the land is low for some distance back
nom the coast and then there is a sud
Gen rlse-a sharp bluff towering up,
and covered with trees. The low land
Is covered with tall grass and under
brush. The cable house which the
Americans desired to destroy was To-
Gated very close-within a few feet
CI the water. Not far from this on
one side was lighthouse and on the
ether side an old block house, or look
out such as the Spanish in former
!ears established all along the coast.
me! were built for the purposes of
htercepting filibustering expeditions
1t was the plan of the Americans to
send out the small boats from the
snlps, and, proceeding
CLOSE TO THE SHORE.
pick up the cables with graphing irons
ana cut out a section OF sufficient
length to prevent the possibility of
Mending them be reuniting the severed
ends.
When daylight came the three war
amps were in position snort distance
out from the shore. With the first
rays OF light the lookouts began to
scan the shore, and it was soon dis
covered that the Spaniards were ex-
pseIlng and evidently knew the mis-
SION OF the ships. Rifle pits were
plalhly distinguished at the very
water edge and commanding the
point where the Americans would have
" so IN their small boats. Rapid fire
guns and small cannon could be seen.
Inc polished steel and brass of the
guns giistened in the sunlight Squads
81 infantry swarmed like insects on
,1e shore. Groups of cavalry were gal
"pihg here and there and constantly
lacIng up and down a dusty white path
udI led from the shore to the side of
lle bluff and the hilltop All this the
1len saw, but, as if the shore were d
Wseit the boats were lowered the
implements were put in and the peril
OuS voyage was begun.
ne little lotilla that did the hazard
SuS work consisted of two small
iaunehes, two steam launches and a
ia1 dozen ordinary row boats The
'SUncneS were armed with machine
suns and We're designed to do what
e| could in protecting the men in
~, Jug small boats as they worked, and
:. ~" IAem back to the ships in case
Wy men should be so badly disabled
~ u De unable to use the oars
WITH STEADY NERVES
T' 1U strong arms the sai,o.s pulled di-
n. IN shore toward tie cable house.
ia. tAey went until they could see the
n,. eS OF the Spanish soldiers peering
os s. from behind the buildings and olt
1ue rifle pits. They knew it was only
aug 'ef OF minutes when fire would he
pg4ed upon them But the regular
ing OF the oars did not falter.
~ last point within one hundred
Tt NY Oh the cable house was reached