The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-15


graduated from the Naval Academy in 1875,
and since then has had an active service
on the sea in all parts of the world. He
was the first commander of the torpedo
type built for the United States navy He
was ordered to duty on the gunboat Nash
vile in October 1895. and has served there
continuously to date
When the commanders of the Marblehead
and the Nashville called for volunteers to
man the boats and cut the cable the men
responded with jump. Lieut. MGR. Wins
low, of the Nashville, took command of the
Nashvilles boats. The shore surrounding
the entrance of the harbor was first shelled
and then the boats proceeded in. The work
tiously proceeded with. The cable was
deep in the channel and was found with
difficulty
One of the relays of the cable had been
cut when the spaniards opened fire. The
marines in the boats replied at once and a
machine gun from the forward launch sent
in stream of bullets while heavy shells
from the war ships, which lay about 1000
yards away, drove the Spaniards from the
rifle pits at the shore many of them seek
ing refuge in the lighthouse, which had
been transformed into a masked battery.
This fort was afterwards torn to pieces by
a shell from the Window.
With desperate courage the American
sailors remained calmly at their posts and
succeeded in dragging up the second relay
of the cable Suddenly just as the work
was about completed, the shore battery
fired shell at the boats. 1t was followed
by others, and the Spanish infantry opened
fire with their rifles. Then, like a flash, the
Marblehead sent a shell inland and followed
it with perfect shower of shot. The Nash
vile was quick to follow suit, and the little
Window cut loose with her four-pounders.
In the meanwhile Spanish bullets fell in ev-
cry direction around the small boats.
Though the attack had come suddenly and
III
and. protected by the terrific fire of the war
ships. work was continued and the cable
cut.
Seven men badly wounded was the count
as the men returned to the Ship and one
of them, Regan, died while on the way
back. Lieutenant Winslow was shot in the
hand. and number Of others were more
or less injured.
On the Nashville, Captain Maynard was
standing forward. with an ensign, when a
Spanish bullet passed through the ensign's
shoulder and struck Maynard on the chest,
near the heart, wounding him only slightly
The Marblehead was struck scores of
times by bullets from machine guns, and
the Nashville suffered to about the sama
extent. The Window also had many marks
of the fray. Her shell blew UP the light
house, and, scattering the Spaniards in all
directions, ended the battle.
The Spaniards suffered severe loss. Their
shots from the lighthouse struck the war
ships several times, and, although they did
not do much damage, the fire aroused the
determination of the American officers to
exterminate the fort. Thereafter, for a mo-
ment the fire of the war ships was concen-
trated upon the lighthouse and the impro-
vised fort was blown to pieces. AS there
were great numbers of Spaniards in and be-
hind the fort at the time. there is no doubt
hat Of
blehead and the Nashville used their heavi-
est guns. as well as their small rapid-tire
guns, and hundreds of shots were thrown
into the Spanish troops.
Voltz and Hendrickson, who. with four
others Of the wounded, are at the naval
hospital here, are expected to die. The re-
mains of Regan were buried at sea.
The cable which was cut at Cienfuegos
extended from that city to Santiago de
Cuba. 1t does not sever the cable COM
munication with Cuba. as there is another
line in operation between Santiago de Cuba
and Kingston. Jamaica. The severed cable
belongs to the Cuban Cable Company The
one operating to Kingston is owned by the
West Indian Panama Company The lat
ter is the only line not in control of the
United States. The cable in connection be-
tween Havana and Key West is controlled
by the United States official
The central cable Office OF the Western
Telegraph Company, of New York, has sent
out the following notice:
The cable between st. Lucia and st.
Vincent, in the West Indies, is interrupted,
cutting off telegraphic communication from
st. Vincent, Barbados. Trinidad and Brit
ish Guiana"