Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-13
REPORTS OF COMMANDERS
Official Advioes Regarding the Fight at Car
denas.
The Handling of the Winslow During
the Hot Fire Was Highly Merftor-
fous-Can Probably BE Repaired.

Late last night the Navy Department
received additional official advices concern
ing the battle at Cardenas. Practically
only two rev points are developed in the
offcia aGvices. the one being that the
Machias, Commander Merry, was a spec
tdtor. if not an actual participant. in the
battle, AID the other that the conflict last
ed from lao pm. until pm
The report of the fight made to the Navy
Department is from Commander Merry,
the senior officer. He incloses skeleton re-
ports from Commander Todd of the Will
mii.Ston and Lieut.. Beruadou, commander
OF the Winslow. The reports speak in high
terms Of the management of the vessels
and the conduct of the men, Comma der
Iodd referring particularly TO the ha ndling
OF the Winslow i'll the hot fire as highly
Tneritorious"
Lieut.. Bernadou's report indicates that
me Minslow was ridded by the enemys
ilre, put he believes that she can be 90 re-
paired as again to render her efficient
Appended is the text of the dispatch re-
Merry:
The arrival of the Wilmington and the
Winslow off Cardenas this morning in
duced me to confer with Comma nder Todd
OF the Wilmington on the subject of at
lacking and cutting out three small gun
boats in the harbor. The Machias. Will
mington. Hudson and Winslow proceeded
in as far as the distractions would allow.
Inc Machias took position 2,1oo yards
northeast OF Diana Cay. The Wilmin gton,
HUDSON and Wihsiow entered the inner
harbor between Romero and Blanco GAYS,
where there Were no mines and We're soon
steaming into Cardenas bay. At 10 D. NJ
nre opened from these vessels and con-
tinued until ) pm, when they started to
return TO the outer anchorage / inclose
reports of Todd and Bernadou"
Commander Todd reports:
1t was impossible for the Wilmington
to approach nearer than 2ooo yards The
Spanish gunboats could not be seen from
this distance, and the Winsow was di-
rected to so nearer to see if she could de-
termine where they were lying. She had
gone only 100 yards inside the Whining
ton, when she was fired upon from a gun
boat The Wilmington and Winslow re-
turned the fire. After a rapid exchange of
snots Tor tfteen or twenty minutes, in
winch a shore battery is supposed to have
engaged. 1t became evident the Winslow
could not steer. AT this time the Hudson
came up and opened fire, and the Winslow
asked to be toWed out, as she disabled.
The torpedo boat seemed to be the only
target at which the enemy fired. She was
struck several times One engine was dis
abled. the steering gear shot away, and
one boiler was disabled. Her commanding
officer was wounded but not seriously En-
sign Bagley was fatally wounded and died
before he could be brought on board the
Wilmington. John Varvares, oiler and
John Deneefe hrSt-claSS fireman, were
Killed on board the Winslow. Two other
men We're fatally wounded, one of Them
j. V. Meek. first-class fireman, died in a
boat while being transferred to his ship.
The other, Josiah Tunell, ships cook, first
class, died after being brought on board
the Wilmington. He was struck twice. No
casualties except on the Winslow. The
handling of the Winslow in the hot fire
was highly meritorious. The commanding
officer of the Winslow desires through me
to commend to the department the general
conduct OF his crew, especially that of
Chief Gunner's Mate Brady
Lieutenant Bernadou of the Winslow re-
ports:
Il was directed by Commander Todd to
approach a small steamer alongside the
wharf at the eastern end of the town and
examine her character. We steamed to-
ward Moal at full speed. On approaching
within l, 800 yards a gunboat and battery
on shore opened fire. The Winslow re-
turned and maintained the fire until the
end of the action. She was riddled by
shells of caliber 2la and 3 inches. She
was finally towed out of range by the rev.
enue cutter Hudson. Casualties as re-
my thanks to Lieutenant Newcomb, COM
handing officer of the L. S. S. c. Hudson,
when, being under heavy fire, he towed
this vessel out of action. My opinion
is the Winslow can be repaired so as to rem
der her again efficient. Full report mail
ed