The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-06-23
SHELLS ] SP RE AID RUN.
Splendid Workmanship Of the
American Gunners.

Bombardment Of the Defenses OF SAM
tiago Results IN Awful ID Destruction
Flag ON MORO Mt Half-Mast-
Spanish General killed.
On Board the Dispatch Boat Daunt-
less, OF Santiago de Cuba via Kingston,
Jamaica, Tune 2O.-A careful inspection
OF the Notifications along the crest of
the hills defending Santiago harbor
since the bombardment Thursday
morning shows that the American gun
ners spread wreck and ruin every
where. Some of the batteries were de-
molished beyond repair. The vultures
which circled on level wings over the
hills as thick as swallows around
chimney for hours after the firing
ceased furnished grewsome evidence of
the fatality among the Spanish SOL
diers. Hundreds Of troops, could be
seen from the ships digging in mounds
OF earth piled up by the explosions of
the pro]ectiles from the heavy guns for
bodies while their heads were famed
by the wings of the black scavengcrs
of the battlefield. There were two
spots, one on the east and the other on
the west OF the harbor entrance, which
were denuded of the foliage. The hill
tops seem literally blown away. These
marked the places where the 20O-pound
charges of gun cotton blown by the
Vesuvius landed.
.MOrrO's Flag at Half-Mast.
But the most ominous token of death
flew from MORO castle. The saffron
flag of Spain was half-masted for sew
eral hours. The significance of this is
not known. 1t is not customary to half
mast flags, but possibly some Spanish
leader was killed by the heavy fire of
our guns, though some officers of the
squadron believe that the flag was half
masted as notification to the Ameri-
cans that Lieut.. Hobson and his brave
men were dead. If such is the case they
must have been wantonly murdered
The Spanish might seek to lay their
death to the bombardment, but not
shot from the American ships struck
the fortress. Neither Admiral Sampson
nor Commodore Schley believe that
Lieut.. Hobson and his party have been
killed.
Spanish General Killed.
Spies report to Admiral Sampson that
the Spanish general, Joral, and several
officers were killed by the gun cotton
explosion at the first trial of the bat
teries of the Vesuvius.
A Destructive Bombardmcnt.
From the foretop of the Brooklyn,
1900 yards distant, the men in the
grounds could be noticed, but minute
later dust and flying debris would take
their places, and when the smoke
cleared away only spot of red earth
could be seen-guns and gunners had
been swept away. It was the most
deadly and destructive bombardment
of the war thus far. Scarcely shot
from the big guns of the squadron went
astray. The aim of our gunners was
superb, and not only were the coast
forts annihilated. but the batteries on
Cayo Smith, up the harbor, were de-
stroyed. Had all the ships used smoke.
less powder, as did the New Orleans,
there would remain no signs of guns
or Notifications to indicate that there
had ever been any defenses there.
Not a Man Lost.
There were no casualties in the fleet
although the ships held fixed position.
as if inviting the Spaniards to fire upon
them. The half-stripped ships gun
ners never worked with more enthusi-
asm. The words of Rear Admiral Samp-
son were: First silence the batteries
on the shore. and then continue firing
until the Notifications are reduced"
This order was strictly obeyed. It
was the first time that such instruc-
tions had been given, and the men re-
sponded with will. In 80 minutes the
order was given to cease firing, and
the message went to- each ship from the
admiral: "Well done;" and the officers
and men turned in for breakfast.
Every detail of the engagement had
been executed to the letter, from the
opening of fire by the New York to the
last shot from the Iowa. The Span
iards were evidently surprised while
Strengthening their Notifications. The
first shot of the New York landed full
and fair on the top of the hills to the
east where the gunners were already at
work erecting new pieces. The earth
seemed to rise in cloud, and when the
12-inch shells of the Iowa and the 49,
inch beauties of the Oregon landed
squarely and fairly great cheer went
up from the ships. The western squad
ron got into line and began firing be-
fore the eastern one did, and the effect
of the shots could be plainly seen. The
Spanish gunners at the batteries could
be noted, and quick fire. was re-
turned, but only for a brief time did
they withstand the terrible assault of
| the fleet.
Shores Swarm with Spaniards.
Several attempts to find landing
places for the United States troops
within a distance of two miles west of
Santiago have demonstrated, along
with previous inquiries to the eastward,
that the shore for IS miles is lined
with Spaniards. While this will not
prevent landing close to Santiago, it
may entail considerable delay, as the
surrounding country must be thor
oughly shelled and cleared before the
troops can land in safety.
WHY?
Why isn't kissing the wrong girl
blunderbuss?
WIN, :.~,,4 No. :~eopo ho11.+occor y