The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-03
DUFfIELDW ASCAUTlOUS
SAMPSON sHELLED THE RIFLE
PITS AND CLEARED THEM
THE CITY WAS BoMBARDED
New York Sends Eight-Inch Shells
Flying Over the Bluffs-Drop-
ping Spanish Flag
Associated Press Special Wire


OFF SANTIAGO DE CUBA, July l. via
Kingston, Jamaica, July 2, s a.m.-Before 8
o'clock this morning the crew of the flag
ship were astir, eating hurried breakfast.
and iat $3.50 general quarters was sounded
and the flagship headed in towards Aqua
fdores, about three miles east of MORO Cas-
tie. The o.41cr ships retained their block
aiding stations. Along the surf-beaten shore
the smoke of an approaching train from
Altares was seen. 1t was composed OF open
cars full Of General Duffields troops
At the cutting, a mile east of Aguadores,
the train stopped and the Cuban scouts pro-
ceeded along the railroad tracks. The
troops got out Of the cars and soon formed
a long thin line, standing out wildly against
the yellow rocks that rose perpedicularly
above; shutting them off from the main
body Of the army, which is on the east side
of the hill several miles north. From the
quarter of the flagship there was a signal
by a. vigorous wig-wagging letter and In
few minutes later from lump OF green at
the waters edge came an answer from the
army. This was the first cooperation for
offensive purposes by the army and navy.
The landing of the army at Baiquiri and
Altares was purely naval affair. With the
flag in his hand the soldier ashore looked
like butterfly.
Anxious to Begin
care YOU waiting for us to begin?" was
the signal made by Rear-Admiral Samp-
son to the army.
general Duf1leld is ahead with the
scouts" came the answer from the shore
to the flagship.
BY this time it was o'clock and the
Admiral ran the fagshp's bow within
three-quarters of mile of the beach.
She remained almost as near during the
forenoon, and the daring way she was
handled by Captain Chadwick within
sound of the breakers made the Cuban
pilot on board stare with establishment.
The Suwanee was in company with the
flagship, still closer in shore and the
Gloucester was to the westward, near
Moro Castle. From the southwark the
=, Newark came on and took position to
the westward. Her decks were black with
1000 or more troops as she went alongside
the flagship and was told to dsembark
the troops at Altares.
Then Admiral Sampson signalled to
General Duf1leld:
"When do you want us to commence
firing?"
A Tedious Wait
In a little while a white flag on shore sent
back the Americans answer, "When the
rest of the command arrives; then l will
signal you." 1t was a long and tedious
wait for the ships before the second fifty
carloads Of troops came putting along
from Altares. By $3.50 o'clock the last of
the soldiers had left the open railroad
tracks, disappearing in the thick brush
that covered the eastern side of Aguadores
inlet. The water in the sponge tubes I'M
der the breeches of the big guns was
growing hot in the burning sun.
Ashore there was no sign of the enemy.
They were believed to be on the western
bluff.
Between the bluffs runs a rocky gully
leading into Santiago city. On the eXtrem-
ity Of the western arm was an old castella
fort from which the flags were flying, and
on parapet of the eastern hills command
ing the gully, two stretches of red earth
could be easily seen against the brush.
These were the rifle pits.
Blazing Away
At 10:15 the signal flag on shore wigwagged
to Admiral Sampson to commence firing, and
q minute later the New York's guns blazed
away at the rifle pits and at the old fort.
The Suwanee and Gloucester Joined in the
echoes which rumbled around and filled the
gully. All the stored-up thunder of the
clouds seemed to have broken loose and
smoke soon rose over the hills and the
gully wasSshut out from view. Then the
firing became more deliberate. OF our troops
ashore in the brush nothing could be heard,
but the "ping, ping" of small arms as they
floated out to sea during the lull of the big
guns peppering the rifle pits, and clouds of
red earth arose around them.
e& Nobody to Shoot
At 1880 Gen. Duffield signaled that his
scouts reported that no damage had been
done to the Spanish rifle pits by the shells
from the ships and Admiral Sampson told
him they had been hit several times, but
That there was no one in the pits. How
ever, the Suwanee was ordered to fire a
few more shots in that direction.
lombard the City
At 1918 p, m. the New York, having dis
Continued firing at Aguadores, commenced
firing 8-ineh shells clear over the gully into
the city of Santiago do Cuba. Every five
minutes the shells went roaring over the
hillside. What destruction they wrought
is was impossible to tell, as the bluffs hid
everything.
In reply to Gen. Duf1ied's question:
''W'hat is the news?" Admiral Sampson re-
piled: "There is not a Spaniard left in the
rifle pits" Later Gen. Duffleld signaled
that his scouts Thought achievements
were marching to the battered old fort.
and Admiral Sampson wigwagged him:
s"There are no Spaniards left there If any
come, tho Gloucester will take care of
them
i A. little later the Oregon oined the New
York in sending the S-inch shells into the
city of Santiago.
Duffield Goes Back
This was kept up until 40 p. m. BY that
time Gen. Duffield had sent message say
ing that his troops could not GROSS the
stream and would return TO Altares Act
ing upon the report that some Spanish
troops were still in THE gully, the New
York and Gloucester shelled 1t once more
and the Newark, which had NOT, fired, sig
nAled' "Can I fire for target practice?
Have had no previous opportunity
A Little Target Practice
Permission for her to do SO was signaled,