The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-04
THE oREGoN's FINE SHOT.
Spanish Flag Over MORO. Castle Cut
Down at the First Fire

Spanish Flag Over MORO Castle Cut
Down at the First Fire.
Copyright, 1898, by the Associated Press)
OFF SANTIAGO DE CUBA, July 2, via
Port Antonio, Jamaica, and Kingston, ia
maica, Sunday, July 3, 3:45 a. m.-The men
of the flagship New York were a pretty
tired lot, after nine hours fighting yester-
day, when they turned out at 4 o'clock this
morning. At o'clock the fleet went to
general quarters. The knowledge that Nor
70 Castle was not to be spared created much
interest and the greatest satisfaction among
the gunners Rear Admiral Sampson said
to the correspondent of the Associated Press
shortly before the firing commenced:
General Shafter sent me word last night
that the batteries at the south of the har-
Dor had fired on his troops I am almost
certain that General Shafter is mistaken,
as all our information shows that no guns
bear shoreward. However, thought it best
to lombard again to-day. 1t will be useful
and may have moral effect that will as
siSt the army"
With the flagship New York leading the
eastern end of the crescent of ships the
fleet steamed in shore two thousand yards
from MORO until in a position to enfiade
both the eastern batteries. At 5:45 the firing
began. The sea was smooth and light
breeze was blowing.
For the first ten minutes the marksman-
ship of the American gunners was splendid.
One of the eastern batteries was so badly
punished that not shot was fired from it
during the engagement. A few small shells
from the western batteries dropped around
the ships, but hit nothing. The terrific fire
of heavy shells from all the battle ships of
ifod fnfn Gil, A.
from the shore in short order One particu-
larly good shot from the flagship New
York sent gun on one of the eastern bat
teries flying high into the air, and enormous
red clouds of earth and debris rose all
around MORO. The smoke from the ships
drifted from east to west
At $50 O'Clock the firing had become
slower and more deliberate. The Indiana,
Oregon and Massachusetts were signaled to
go right in front of the harbor to shell the
Punta Gorda batteries inside, on the eastern
arm. They steamed to within thousand
yards of the shore. The Oregon took shot
at MORO Castle and down came the Spanish
flag. At sight of this splendid piece of
craftsmanship the crews of the different
ships cheered enthusiastically for several
minutes. The three battle ships then kept
up an incessant fire on the Punta Gorda
batteries, doing great havoc to the fortifica-
tons and the works in course of construc-
ton. Not a shot came from the enemy.
The other ships contented themselves by
taking occasional shots at MORO Castle.
Its ancient battlements were knocked to
pieces and great holes doomed up in its par
apets.
At. 7:25 Admiral Sampson hoisted the sig
nal cease firing but it was half an hour
later before the Oregon had fired her last
shot. AS the ships returned to their block
aiding stations two futile shots were fired at
them from five-inch rapid-fire guns on one
of the western batteries.
A half hour after the bombardment ceased
this morning Rear Admiral Sampson said
to correspondent of the Associated Press
that he was well satisfied with the results
and deemed the attack the most destructive
yet made by the American navy on San
tiago. He also believed, he said, that the
moral effect would be such as to do good, and
would tend to dishearten the Spanish troops
and encourage our own. While the Admiral
was talking with the correspondent an or
derly reported to Captain Chadwick who
was present in the admiral's cabin, that the
Spaniards had raised very small flag on
the western tower of MORO Castle to re-
place the colors sent to earth by the Ore
CONS thirteen-inch guns.
Captain Chadwick laughed. saying: 'Oh,
well. we will just have to knock those down,
too, when we get ready"
AS soon as the bombardment closed Ad-
miral Sampson sent an officer on shore to
communicate with the land forces and ex-
pressed eagerness to learn what was being
done on shore. Neither he nor Captain
Chadwick said so in plain terms, but it was
evident that both believed that Santiago
would be ours by sunset to-day.
Before the Cynthia had gained an offing
of ten miles from Ell MORO, at the entrance
to Santiago harbor, huge columns OF gun
powder smoke could be seen slowly climbing
skyward against the background of the
mountain at whose base Santiago lies. BY
IL O'Clock this morning the smoke covered
the entire valley in which the city is, and
had grown into the semblance of a huge sill
yer grey pail, edged with black, and over
hanging the greatest struggle of the present
war.
Up to the hour mentioned the fleet was
still visible and no signs of a renewed bonn
bardment were to be seen. From the fleet
nothing whatever could have been seen of
the fight in and around Santiago, which is
not more visible from the sea than is Phila-
delphia from the Atlantic, and it is doubtful
whether even the sound of cannonading
could make it's way to the shore line since
the breeze was not from the land.
To the correspondent Admiral Sampson
reiterated his belief that Hobson and his
comrades are safe in Santiago. Both Ad-
miral Sampson and Captain Chadwick
looked well. though tired, and both evident
ly enjoyed modest bottle of mineral water
after the roar of the eight-inch guns was
over for the time.