The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-05
CITY IS WELL FORTIFIED
SEVERAL STRONG BATTERIES WITH
MODERN GUNS ON THE HILLS.
Trap Set for schIey, but the Commo-
dore Was Too Wary-A View Of
Mountains from the Sea.



Of Santiago de Cuba got its first taste Of
American gunpowder" on Tuesday afternoon.
and 1t was evidently not greatly to the ik-
ang Of the Spaniards, for with the big Amer
acan war ships firing only two rounds from
their largest guns one Spanish ship was hit
and parts of the Notifications were de-
stroyed. One twelve-inch shell from the
Massachusetts plunged into the deck of the
Reina Mercedes, the partly dismantled
Spanish cruiser and killed eight Spaniards.
besides wounding many more.
After the discovery of the feet of the
enemy on Sunday Commodore Schley waited
1orty-eight hours to see If they would VEN
1ure out No movement was made, how
ever. and on Tuesday morning the commo-
dore decided he would find just how far in
the mouth Of the harbor the Spanish ar
mored cruiser Cristobal Colon was located
appearances at different angles being very
deceptive. In addition to this he was con-
ddent that the forts would return his fire,
end in that way the location of the Span
aards' guns and the probable accuracy Of
their aim could be determined.
At O'Clock, accompanied by Lieutenant
Sears. Lieutenant Wells and Ensign Nc
Auley, all Of the flag staff. he boarded the
yacht Vixen and was taken on the Massa-
chusetts. Up to the time of his going on
board there was no intimation ON the big
battle ship that she would be allowed te
shoot. Leaning up against one of the big
guns in the turret. Commodore Schley pat
ted it with his hand and saida
'Iiigginson, how would you like to try
few of these on that fellow in the marlboro"
Captain Higginson and the officers
near him fairly jumped with delight. Very
much. indeed" replied Captain Higginson
I,gex
expressed request.
i am sure 1 could PUNK her If we get the
range on her., said Lieutenant GIennon,
who had charge of the big pair of beauties
in the forward turret.
Well" said Commodore Schley, tell
your DULLES that If they have finished their
midday meal will let them have
chance"
The men were quickly told and then there
was a rousing cheer that might have been
nheard ashore.
~ After lunch. Commodore Schley, with his
staff, went forward and took up a position
near the coming tower. Lieutenant Sears,
at precisely 12:45 o'clock, signaled to the
Iowa and New Orleans to swing into line
and follow the movements of the flagship.
Tell them to clear for action" said the
commodore, and the signal had hardly been
over the water.
Tell them to get ready for firing and go
to quarters" added the commodore. The
men were at their guns in an instant. Fire
only with the large guns, get the range of
the ship in the harbor and hit her if you
can, but don't fire at the forts. The New
Orleans NAV try a few shots at Moro for
modore's orders.
The ships were ready to move in when
Captain Aigginson preparing to go to his
lighting station in the steel protected con-
ming tower said: You had better step in the
tower, commodore, you will be secure
NO" replied Commodore schley. 81 want
70 see things; cannot see there"
Them still chewing his cigar, he stood
with his glasses in his hands, looking to-
wards the objective point. The men of the
sscondary batteries wno were sto not pussy c
the open deck and watched the firing OF the
guns.
miles from the entrance of tle bay, to the
southwest of it, where the Cristobal Colon
q mot be as sF9 ey wss baa o 0e
place where she could be fired at by the
american ships, and the firing would nave
20 be done, II the ships We're moving, In two
GO ahead, at ten knots, northeast" was
the order issued by the commodore, and the
fire when you are at about 1900 yards"
was the next order from the commodore,
inch gun turret.
Lieutenant Potts, with the stadimeter.
told off the distances to Lieutenant sears,
and when 1900 yards was announced the
Cristobal Coion's stem and the bow of the
partly dismantled Reina Mercedes showed
YOU can fire now" said the commodore
TO the semi-stripped gun captain, who sat
unconcernedly in the opening OF the great
turret, and then the commodore stepped on
the turret, in order to avoid the conclusion.
Let her go, Lieutenant" was heard from
the turret, and then there was a frightful
roar and an immense proJeetlie, pTopeuea
by the explosion OF nve nunoT req
ward the trajectory, and when it
dropped there arose fountain OF water
sight, while ringing cheer went up from
the 1ackieS on deck.
"A little short there her Try your other a,,d
elevating it to 500 yards. the second big gun
hurled a projectile toward the enemy.
crashed into the stem of the Reina Mer-
Eedes and exploded. The two after guns
hen spoke, and after this the entrance of
The hafbor OF Santiago de Cuba was closed
TO those on board the battle ship.
BY this time the cruiser New Orleans came
fn range, and the forts We're opening a
steady IRE from what were evidently high
power modern guns The shells cropped
chusetts. and the American bluejackets
5eered and laughed at the bad aim OF the
Spaniards. One very well-put shot went
achusetts. but ii did not hit anything and
Simply made a splash in the water the
other side of the battle ship.
ttWen the Dagoes are getting little
better" said a sailor.
The remark caused another waggiSh blue
Racket to say: oh give them year and
they'll learn to shoot.
The long rifles of the New Orleans were
BY this time playing tattoo on the low
wing forts near the entrance, so as TO
iraW their fire and ascertain their range,
md the Iowa's big twelve-inch guns were
hurting steel projectiles into the harbor en-
btFance. The forts kept up a perfect can
nonade and some of their shots were well
aimed so far as the range was concerned
but they were not effective. The Cristobal
Colon opened fire with her big guns, but
their shells never once came near the line.
while Il is believed several American shots
damaged the Spanish war ships.
After running mile to the eastward, the
Massachusetts, followed by the other
Americas war ships, circled around and
ran back over very nearly the
same course. steanng west by
south. On getting near the range where the
firing opened, the war ships delivered one
more round from their starboard batteries
and drew out of the Spaniards' range, Com
nod0re Schley saying as he stepped to the
quarterback: Well, we let them know we
have some ammunition. and l know their
capacity for defense
For half an hour after the squadron had
passed mile out OF range of the batteries
ard the Crlstobal Colon the Spaniards kept
~ their fire. and then II became known BY