The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-07
THE WORK OF THE vEsUvrus.
How 1t Seemed to the Spaniards shut
Up i'm Santiago.
Letter in Philadelphia ENQUIRER.

Letter in Philadelphia ENQUIRER.
Almost by accident 1 have just been en-
abled to get some facts concerning the effect
OF the shells thrown into Santiago by the
Vesuvus. The Spaniards are scared almost
to death, and no wonder, for the shells do
some frightful work. AS We steamed along
the Cuban coast between Santiago and
Guantanamo Bay we sighted signals being
made to us from the shore The Sofners n.
Smith Immediately headed for land, and
proceeding carefully, with the crew armed
with loaded rifles and standing to quarters,
we made out the Cuban insurgent flag float
ing over the end of a wrecked pier, while
under trees along the beach we saw scores
of men walking about. There was now no
doubt or the frlendllness of the signallers,
so a boat was at once lowered and three OF
us got into it and rowed ashore The place
which the Cubans had selected as
landing place whence in more peace
full times mineral ores from the hills
were shipped to the United States. Now the
pier is torn to pieces with dynamite, and the
short line of railway leading to the mines is
torn up and destroyed.
On landing were met by a colonel and
conducted to the camp and presented to
General Castillo, the officer in command.
He speaks English perfectly. While we were
chatting with him and drinking coffee alter
nately out of the one china tea cup in the
camp, General Castillo had two Spanish
prisoners brought before him.. Upon being
searched several letters were discovered bur
the contents were apparently innocent 4
military Importance. Ar effort was made TO
induce the soldiers to speak to the condi-
ton of affairs in Santiago, but they were
very sulIen and not inclined to say anything.
AT length, however, they went so far as 10
say that provisions were running low IN
Santiago. Flour was quite exhausted and
the people were making bread out Of rice
and cornmeal. Then they were questioned
as to the result of the recent bombardments,
and on this point they talked more readily.
They seemed to have a wholesome respect
for the American ships One of them, the
elder man, gave utterance 10 a most graphic
expression. THE Americans. said ne,
have begun to throw earthquakes during
the night" On further inquiry l found this
to refer TO the recent Smelling of the fortif-
cations by the Vesuvius. 1t seems that one
of her shells fell into the Cayo Smith bat
terry and demolished it, The projectle struck
the corner of the roof of the officers quar-
tiers, passed through that and exploded be-
Not only were the buildings swept out OF
existence, but the heavy guns on the battery
were all dismounted. and one was blown
clear over the front of the works. Santiago
itself though some miles away and the
whole neigbborhood, were shaken by the ex-
plosion, and hardly a man in the fortifica-
tons escaped death. The moral effect upon
the Spanish garrison seems to have been
enormous and gathered that at night they
hardly dare to sleep so afraid are they az
further explosions like that which wrecked
the Cayo Smith Battery. The soldiers also
confirmed the report of the damage done 10
the cruiser Reina Mercedes. shell fell on
her deck and exploded, killing her COM
mander and eleven men and wounding tWen-
ty-eight others. The ship herself was so
seriously damaged as 10 be incapable OF ac-
ton until repaired.