The herald., 1898-06-24
LANDING OF THE TROOPS
Various Accounts From the Cor
respondents
All of Them Interesting Stores-The Deadly Work
of the Dynamite Cruiser Vesuvius.
Burning of Baiquri

..
Guantanamo bay, June 2S.-(Copyrighted
1885, by the Associated Press.) Gen. Shaft
er's forces, as this dispatch is written, are
being landed without opposition to speak of
at Baiquiri,' twelve miles east of Ell Moro.
The landing thus far has been successful in
every respect. 1t has been covered by a
naval bombardment.
Four thousand troops are ashore at this
hour, and probably $4,000 will be ashore at
Eightfall. One man killed on the Texas IS
the only casualty so far.
AT o'clock this morning the work of low
ering the boats from the New York, Texas.
Massachusetts and Brooklyn began. Forty
eight men went from the flagship in the
steam launch and the cutters.
The Vesuvius
The Vesuvias, few hours before, stole
up under the eastern hills of Santiago and
landed three guncotton shells in the neigh
borhood of the eastern battery. Three loud
reports, three sharp flashes and clouds of
earth and smoke marked their fall 1t is
believed that one shell did damage to the
emplacements. The western battery fired
two futile shots after the Vesuvias
Those who watched the operation from
near the flagship had scarcely ceased COM
before the winches creaked and groaned as
the boats were lowered. Ensign Palmer,
who was in charge, and Naval Cadet Kautz,
son Of the late Gen. Kautz of the United
States army, took the fagshp's hotila
over to the auxiliary cruiser st. Louis and
reported to Capt. Goodrich. who had the gen.
eral charge of the landing. The New York
still lay at her regular blockading station,
W. tn
make a dash out. When the dawn broke the
long line of transports was seen stretched
out over the eastern horizon and fading
toward Baiquiri.
Baiquiri Burned
The Indiana was slowly coming into
blockade position at Baiquiri, and the New
Orleans, Detroit, Castine and Wasp could
be seen family. Shortly after 6 o'clock the
New Orleans opened fire. An explosion oc-
CURED ashore, and soon columns of smoke
were seen ascending from Baiquiri, standing
white against the green background of the
rugged mountains that rise from the waters
edge. The shell had evidently set the build
ings on fire, but the thick haze of smoke
and mist made it hard to see exactly what
was occurring at Baiquri.
Before o'clock the Texas, proceeding
close in shore, proceeded to Cabanas, two
and half miles west of Ell Moro. to make
fent at landing troops there. The trans
ports which were to have accompanied the
Texas were still far out of position. Sud-
denly puff of smoke shot from the western
battery, showing that the enemy were de-
voting attention to the Texas. The battle
ship replied promptly, firing at the western
batteries with her twelve and six-inch guns
IL L.
in small inlet in Cabanas. For an hour the
duel between the Texas and the forts con-
tinued. The craftsmanship of the Texas
was marvellous. Though over two miles
away and in an awkward position she
dropped shell after shell right onto the ridge
of the hill where the enemy's guns lay
Clouds of yellow dust raised high in the
air. The crew of the flagship greeted each
of these with loud cheers. Puffs of white
smoke shot through the yellow canopy.
These were shots from the enemy. They
stuck to their guns WELL but their aim was
wild, the shots falling some mile ahead
and some mile astern of the Texas.
Batteries Silenced
FINALLY the enemys shots became few and
far between. They had probably been
driven from their guns. All the other bat
tleships in the United States squadron lay
in a semi-circle watching the wonderful
work of the Texas, and not wishing to dis
tract the enemy's attention fnom the sue
cessful feint. On land still farther to the
westward General Rabi and 500 Cubans
were making military demonstrations to as
sist in makingth Spanish concentrate their
troops to the westward of Santiago.
Meanwhile, lively naval attack was in
process east of the harbor at Aguadores, a
village two or three miles east Of Ell Moro.
The Eagle and Gloucester commenced to
fire at the blockhouses there shortly after
o'clock The bluff was peppered with the
smoke clouds of these exploding shells.
A few miles farther to the east the Hornet,
Helena and Bancroft were in the pictur-
esque harbor of ,Tnrenada die, Los Altaros,
banging away at two block houses on the
side of a hill which rises above tine deserted
village. The heavy swell caused these craft
to roll considerably, and the surf broke vi
ciously against the rocks. The sun shone
brightly, a Eight breeze blew, and the gun
boats, half enveloped in white smoke,
nestled in these fine harbors, forming
picturesque sight, They were fednting more
than fighting.
From Cabanas to Baiquiri, fourteen miles
of coast, the ridge was dotted with the
smoke of American shells. The battery
west of Ell Moro was the only point where
the enemy appearedto make any serious at
tempt to reply. The sharp reports of the
batteries on the smaller boats filled the air,
the echoes dying away into the great hills
behind.
The officers and crews of the ships not
engaged watched the shore eagerly. At 1850