The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-05-14
slow, both of the gunboat Nashville
were slightly wounded.
BATTLE OF CIENFUEGOs.
Attempt to Cut Gable Brings on the
Engagement.

Key West, Fla, May 14-The United
States cruiser Marblehead. the gun
boat Nashville and the auxiliary cruis-
er Window, steamed up TO the harbor
of Cfenfuegos early Wednesday morn
ing, with orders to cut the cable con-
Meeting Havana with Santiago de
cuba. This task was accOmpliShed,b but
only after a terrific fight between our
warshipS and several thousand Spanish
troops, which lined the shore and lay
concealed behind improvised breast
works. One man, seaman named
Regan of the Marblehead, was killed
outright in one of the working small
boats and six men were severely wound
ed. In addition a large number on
board the ship received minor wounds.
Captain Mcguire, of the Window, be-
HeveS that several of the six badly
wounded men who were brought to
Kew West this morning on the Window
cannot recover.
Following is the list of killed and
badly wounded:
Killed:
REGAIN, seoman of the Marble
head.
Badly wounded:
John Davis of New York.
John j. DOnran, of Fail River, Mass.
Ernest Suntzeanickle
Herman HochneiSter.
Harry Henderickson.
All of the Marblehead.
Robert Boltz, Carter county, North
Carolina, of the Nashville.
Soon after the arrival of the war
ships off CienfuegOs four boats were
launched and proceeded in shore for
the purpose of graphing for the cable
in order to cut it. The warships lay to
about 1000 yards or more off the har-
Dor.
1t was observed that the Spanish
troop had assembled ashore, but it was
not known that heavy guns had been
placed in masked battery and that
the old light house, far out on a neck
of land, had been transformed into a
formida BILE fort.
The small boats proceeded cautiously
and for more than an hour worked un-
molested on the cable. Suddenly, just
as the work was about completed. the
shore battery fired a shell at the boats.
1t was followed by others, and the
Spanish infantry opened fire then with
their rifles.
Then like a flash the Marblehead sent
a shell inland and followed it with
perfect shower of shot.
The Nashville was quick to follow
suit and the little Window cut loose
with her four Founders.
In the meanwhile Spanish bullets fell
in every direction around the small
boats. Though the attack had come
suddenly and fiercely, the Blue Jackets
were not dismayed, and, protected by
the terrific return fire of the warships
work was continued and the cable cut.
When the boats returned to the
ships, Regan, who was in one of the
Marblehead's boats, of which there
were two, was found to have been kill
The Spaniards had by this time suf-
fered severe loss, their shots from the
light house struck the warships several
times and although they did not do
much damage, the fire aroused the de-
termination of the American officers to
exterminate the fort. Thereafter for
the moment, the fire of the warships
was concentra ted upon the light house
and the improvised fort was blown to
pieces. AS there were great numbers
of Spaniards in and behind the fort at
the time, there is no doubt that many
of them were killed.
The Marblehead and the Nashville
used their heaviest guns, as we'll as
their small rapid-fire guns, and hun
dreds of shots were thrown into the
Spanish troops.
On board the ships a number of men
were slightly wounded.
Commander Washbur Maynard of
the Nashville was slightly wounded by
spent bullet.
The dispatch adds that the Spanish
loss is estimated at 400 and that of the
United States fleet, four killed and four
wounded.
The light house was demolished, it is
reported, the arsenal destroyed and the
batteries on shore silenced. The town
was set on fire by shells from the
oeaVsifn