La Junta tribune., 1898-05-21
FIVE SAILORS DEAD.
WE'RE KILLED AT cARDENAs
Torpedo Boat Winstov Nearly sunk by
Spanish Firs-Rooiish Attack by Three
small Vessels Against the Fort. and
and GunboatA-

Key West. Fla, May 12.-The first
engagement, In the present war In
which the Americans have sustained
loss OF life has been fought and five
gallant defenders of the nag fell under
the Spanish fire. The engagement was
fought in the Bay OF Cardenas. Cuba.
near Matanzas. and was participated
In by the United States gunboat VIII
mington. c. G. Todd, commander: the
torpedo boat o'inslow and the gunboat
Hudson for the Americans. and several
small Spanish gunboats. covered by
the fire OF the forts. The following Is
the Official list OF the dead and wound
ed:
DEAD.
WORTH BAGLEY. ensign L. S. "
JOHN VARyERES, oiler.
GEORGE i. MEEK. fireman.
]. DENFEE. fireman. first class
ELIJAH b. TUNNELL.. cabin cook.
WOUNDED.
]. II. Bernardo. lieutenant, command
ing WinsIow
William Patterson. seriously but not
fatally.
Daniel W. McKeow. quartermas:er.
first class, slightly hurt.
News of the engagement was
brought by the Hudson this morning
when 1t arrived at Key West nj a.
m, carrying the bodies OF the dead.
which We're lying ON the deck, covered
by the stars and stripes. The wound
ed were in the bin of the Hudson.
The engagement took place inside
the harbor of the Cardenas. The Will
mington, the torpedo boat Winslow
and the gunboat Hudson were the only
vessels engaged. They entered the
hnrbor for the purpose of attacking
some Spanish gunboats which We're
known TO be there. These latter. how
ever, We're not discovered by the Amer
lean force until the Spaniards opened
fire. The land batteries of Car,lenas
supported the fire Of the Spanish gun
boats.
The battle. while II lasted. was ter
rifle. The Wilmington and the Hul-
son We're ahead and opened fire on the
Spanish boats. which were lying 1T
the docks. The firing began ut range
OF $500 yards.
\ few minutes later the Winslow
came up and also opened fire. In an
instant the entire attention OF the
Spanish gunboats and land batteries
was directed upon her.
From all sides shot and shell poured
in ON the little torpedo boat. The VIII
mington and the Hudson stiil kept mp
their fire, but they could not turn aside
the terrible storm of fire and death
pouring in upon the torpedo boat
The crew of the Winslow, however.
never faltered for n second. At 2:35
solid shot crashed into the hull of the
Winslow and knocked out her boiler
In an instant she began to roll and
drift helplessly.
Thep there was moment of awful
suspense. A fierce cheer of triumph
went up from the Spaniards on the
gunboats and in the batteries. aud
again n storm of fire was opened Upon
the helpless boat
The gtmbcat Hudson, which was w.
ing near by. started to the assistance
OF the winslow. She ran alongside
the torpedo boat and tried to throw a
line to the Imperiled crew. Up to this
time, with the exception of the one
shot. which disabled the boiler OF the
Winslow. the firing Of the Spanish gun
boats had been wild. bur as the Wins
low lay rolling in the water the range
grew closer and shells began to explode
all about her.
1t was difficult for the Hudson to get
near enough to throw line to the
Winslow's crew so terrible was the fire
all about her.
Finally. after about wenty minutes.
the Hudson approached near enough
to throw line.
Ensign Bagley and six men We're
standing in n group on the deck OF the
Winslow. "Heave her. hcave her.
shouted Bagley. as he looked toward
the commander of the Hudson and
called for n line. Don't miss it,"
-, otti.,a ta
and with smile Bagley called back
Let her come-its getting too hot here
for comfort" This line was thrown
and about the same instant shell
burst In the very midst of the group of
men on board the Winslow.
Ragley was Instantly killed and a
few more dropped about him. Half n
dozen more fell groaning on the
blood-stained deck. One OF the dead
men pitched headlong over the side OF
the boat, but his feet caught in the
iron rail and he was hauled back.
Bagley's body was stretched on the
deck with his face completely torn
away and the upper part OF his body
shattered.
1t was n terrible moment. The tor
peda boat. disabled and helpless.
rolled and swayed under the. fury Of
the nre from the spanish gunDoats-
When the shell burst in the group
on board the Winslow, another wild
shout of triumph went up from the
Spanish boats and batteries, and again
a heavy fire was opened on the torpe-
do boat.
Finally the Hudson succeeded in get
ting n line on board the Winslow and
was towing her out of the deadly
range. when the line parted. and again
both boats were at the mercy of the
Spanish fire.
AT 3.05 p: M. the Hudson managed to
get another line on the deck of the
winslow but there were only three
men left at that time TO make II fast.
The line was finally secured and the
Winslow was towed up to Pe1rns Is
land. where she was anchored with her
dead and wounded on her decks. There
some men from the Hudson went on