New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-02
THE FIGHT AT SANTIAGO
GROUP OF SPANISH ACCOUNTS
MORRO CASTLE DESTROYED AND THE
BATTERIES sILENCED.

SPANISH LOSSES BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN
CoNsIDERABLE-ENEM FLEET
DIDN'T STAY LONG IN
THE BATTLE.
Port -au-Prince. Hayti. June |. $50 a. m-Ihe
following additional details have been received
here from a Spanish source at Havana OF the
engagement reported off Santiago de Cuba yes
terday:
The Spanish batteries at first answered the
fire OF the American squadron in lively man.
ner After twenty minutes Of firing. directed in
a superior manner upon the part of the Amer
lean fleet, the Spanish batteries began to weaken
their fire and the American ships concentrated
a violent fire upon T., Morro destroying 1t COM
pleteIy. The forts at Socapa and Punta Gorda
fired the last shots.
The Spanish losses must have been consider
able Details are lacking 10 the American
losses.
The Spaniards pretend to have struck the
American vessels several times. but this infor-
nation is accepted here under reserve.
AT o'clock yesterday afternoon the Ameri-
can squadron ceased firing. At that hour there
was no Spanish vessel in sight
No news has been received here from the dis
patch h-boats.
The American squadron was composed OF pow
erful vessels and one Of them Is supposed 10
have been the flagship New-York. though other
reports have II that she was not present
RENEWAL. OF BATTLE EXPECTED.
Cane Hayti@n. Hayti. June I. p. ma dis
patch from Santiago says
"The American squadron which bombarded
Santiago Yesterday was composed OF fourteen
vessels among which were recognized the Iowa
the brooklyn the Massachusetts. the Texas ana
and the Amaz onas (New -Orleans). besides gun
boat and an auxiliary cruiser. believed TO be the
Columbia The five vessels which were recog-
nized opened fire on the batteries at Punta
Gorda. FL Moro and Sacopa. and also on the
cruiser Cris,oba Colon. which had advanced
toward the entrance Of the harbor and was
visible from the high
The Americans hred projectiles of 32 cent?
bal Colon. kept mp an incessant responsive fire
Two shots landed on the after part ~ the Iowa,
causing damage
"On the Spanish side the damage was 'nsig-
riocsn, The American squadron withdrew at 8
O'Clock last evening.
This morning the American squadron reap
rearcd before Santiago but contented itself
with firing two shots, which are believed TO have
been signals agreed upon with the Insurgents
who. numbering 1000 or 5000 are said TO nave
corcer ,rated three or four miles from Santiago
Great events are expected hourly at Santiago.
The Spanish authorities have taken extraordi-
nary precautions and have placed in the narrow
pass at the entrance of the harbor special con-
trivances which permit the closing and opening
OF the port at Will"
The daily bulletin issued by the French Gable
Company here to-day apparently confirmed the
news Of Spanish origin to the effect that
battle has been fought before Santiago de Cuba,
using the following terms:
Santiago de Cuba. May 31-To-day at
O'Clock the American meet, composed ol lour-
teen ships ~ which appeared to be the
New-York and flew the nag OF Admiral Samp-
son. and few torpedo boats. opened fire on the
forts and on the roadstead with heavy guns.
The fre Of the Americans appeared to be d.
rected principally on the roadsead and on the
forts ~ FL MORO, Socapa and Punta Gorda.
The cannonade was brisk UP to 345. The
shells fell In the bay. but did not reach as far
as the town After 345 the cannonade
weakened and cannon shots were heard In the
of,ng. The Americans completely ceased firing
after 4 o'clock in the afternoon
THE STORY TOLD IN HAVANA.
Havana. June THE following Spanish ac
count OF the reported engagement or Santiago
dc Cuba has been issued here:
The American fleet. consisting Of the Iowa.
the Massachusetts. the Brooklyn the Texas. the
New-Orleans. the Marblehead. the Minneapolis
and another cruiser In addition to six small
vessels took up n position on May 81 on the
western side Of the mouth Of Santiago de Cuba
channel, opening FIRE from the first five vessels.
.'The Spanish cruiser Crstobal Colon was