The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-13
ADDITIONAL DETAILS.
The Handling of the winslow Was Highly
Meritorious.

Meritorious.
Washington, May 12.-Late tonight
the navy department received addition
al official advices concerning the battle
on Cardenas which took place yester-
day afternoon. Practically only two
new points arc developed in the official
advices. the one being that the Ma
chias was a spectator. II not an actual
participant in the battle. and the other
that the conflict lasted from 1:40 p. m.
until J p. m, when the vessels retired
to their outer anchorages.
The eport of the fight made to the
navy department is from Commander
Merry of the Machias. the senior off,
Ger. He enclosed reports from Com
mander Todd of h Wilmington and
Lieutenant Bernadou. commander of
the Winslow. The reports speak in
high terms of the management of the
vessels and the d of the men.
Appended is the text of the dispatch
received by the department from Com
mander Merry. The dispatch. written
yesterday. is dated It Key West to-
day, and was received at the depart
ment at $40 tonight:
The arrival of the Wilmington and
the Winslow on Cardenas this morn
ing induced me to confer with Com
mander Todd of the Wilmington on the
subject of attacking and the cutting
out of their small g~unboats in the har-
Dor.
The Machias, Wilmington, Hudson
and Winslow proceeded in as far as
the distractions would allow. The
Machias ooh position 2.10O yards
northeast of Diana bay. the Whining
ton. Hudson and Winslow entered the
inner harbor, where there were no
mines. and were soon steaming into
Cardenas bay.
AT 1:O p. m. fire opened from the
vessels and continued until 3 p. m,
when they started To return to h
outer anchorage. i enclose reports of
Todd and Bernadou. Commander Todd
reports:
1T was impossible for the Will
mington to approach nearer than 1000
yards. The Spanish gunboats could
not be seen from this distance and the
Winslow was directed to go nearer to
see IL she could determine where they
were lying. She had gone only 700
yards inside the Wilmington, when
she was fired upon from "A g%unboat.
The Wilmington and Winslow returned
the fire. After "A rapid exchange of
shots for IL or 20 minutes, i'm which a
shore battery is supposed to have en-
gagged. it became evident that 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 was disabled. The tor
pedo boat seemed to be the target at
which the enemy fired. She was
struck several times. One engine was
disabled. the steering gear o away
and one boiler was disabled.
Her commanding officer was wounded.
but not seriously. Ensign Bagley was ia
tally wounded and died before he could
he brought on board the Wilmington.
John Varvarez. an oiler. and John Denly.
first class fireman. were killed on board
the Winslow. Two other men were IA
tally wounded. one of them. ]. V. Meek.
first class reman died In a boat while
being transferred to this ship. The other.
Josiah Tunnel. ships cook. first class.
died after being brought on board the
Wilmington. No casualties except on the
Winslow.
The handling of the Winslow in the hot
fire was highly meritorious. The com
manding officer of the Ninslow desires
through me to to the depart
ment the general conduct Of his crew.
especially that of Chief Gunner's Mate
Brady. Lieutenant Bernadou of the
Winslow reports: 4 was directed by Com
mander Todd to approach "A small steam
err alongside the wharf at tie eastern end
of the town and to examine her charac-
ter. We steamed towards Moal at full
speed. On approaching within 100 yards
n gunboat and a battery on shore opened
fire. The Winslow returned II and main
tained the fire until the end of the action.
he was riddled with shells of the cali
her of from two and "A half to two inches.
was finally towed out by the revenue
cuteer Hudson. Casualties as reported
this morning. I desire to express my
thanks to Lieutenant Newcomb. COM
manding officer of the Hudson. when. be-
ing under heavy fire, he towed this vessel
out of action. My opinion is that the
Winslow can be repaired so sns to render
her again efficient. Full report mailed. "