The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-18
THE STORY OF
THE LAST FIGHT.
bOmbardment Of Caibarien BY the
Mangroye on Last Sunday.
AVALANCHE OF SHOT AND SHELL
boats Concentrated Their Fire on
Her. and II Seems Miracle
that She Was Not Destroyed.

KEY WUsT. FLA Aug l7.-Turther
details have been received here as 20
lhc bombardmcnt of the port Of Caiba-
rien. on Toe north coast of the province
81 Santa Clara. Cuba. last sunday, by
The Mlngotc
The Mangrove lcft here last week 20
protect tho landing of an expedition UNI
der Colonel H0zas which had gone ahead
un the ecUo0urrs Adams and Deliie.
When Che Mangrovc reached Santa
Maria Key. uetr Caharicn. she found
The Cuban party had safely discmbarkcd.
but feared to advance because Of the
presence of tho Spanish gunboat Her
nan C0rfcs and % smaller gunboat which
were evidently making Caibaricn their
base.
TIE ENEMY SIGHTED
Sunday morning Captain Stuart tho
commander of the Maugrovo decided TO
have Cd shot nt the ruuboats. Sounding
her way iu inch by INCH the Maugrove
crcpt along the channel drawing eight
feet of water in au average depth OF
eight and 90 half. until about Q O'Clock.
she sighted both the Spanish guuboats.
Tho Herman Cortcs was anchored near
tho shore. about "a thousand yards 10
,ho right of tho town with her broao-
side 20 tho sea. The small gunboat lay
~ tho wharf
The spaniards evidently were antici-
pstinE battle THE shore was crowded
while the roof of every building mat
commanded "a view of the harbor was
covered with people anxious lo see '"e
nght
The Herman Cortcs carried two A.
inch guns and four l-pounders. while
her smaller companion was armed WIN
three l-pOunders and HOtchkss rapid
FIRE gun The crew of BOTH numbering
an between 90 and 100 men could be seen
on the decks. Ashore were several j.
pound fold pieces while the Spanish
troops were armed with Mauser rifles.
ONE GUN AT a TINE.
The Mangrove. whose entire battery
consists OF only two G-poundcrs, worked
into q range of 8OH yards The channel
was so narrow that only one gun could
DO fred at time. AT 1885 a. NJ. she got
up her por, gun no the Herman Cortes.
The shot fen short. Instantly tho shore
line burst into flame. both gunboats and
rhe field pieces pouring in heavy IRE
ON the American vessel Every shot OF
this voNev struck the water ahead OF
the Ma1rrove which continued pumping
away with her port slX-Dounder She con-
cenuatod her fire ON the Herman Cortes
and the next five or six shots fell on the
Spaniards deck scattering body of
men Some of the latter must have been
MED that they suffered any loss.
A HORNETS NEST
soon Tho Spauiards got the Mangrove's
range and perfect avalanche of shot
and she'll was rancd on her. 10 was
rothinc Joss than CO. miracle that her loss
OF Nfe was mot heavy I'm The midst of
al the and while the Msngrovo was
swinging cautiously around to bring her
ftarh0Hrd gum into play tine watch shout
cd "l'fr of truce and s1ro enough not
only one hut three white naas could be
seen. 0uc flying from the small gunboat
ana two dying over tho houses on shore.
PEACE ANNCrNTED
The MangrOvc Acknowledged the size
mails and presently t small boat came out
with Spanish officer who clambered
aboard the Maner1vc. and Don exceedingly
lcrv0u4 tones announced. "pcacc SIS pro-
claimed and have instructions for your
commanding officer from the military
commander of This district"
lie added that during the engagement
The Spanish authorities in Caiharicn had
wired the military commander of the dis
trict That the American ships were bonn
harding the port and an immediate re-
Spouse WAS received informing them that
peace had been restored and the firing
should cease
Tho Spanish crew of the small boat
which brought thc officer Goo tine MauPrOvc
said the Spaniards had mot lost man.
hut thc officer himself made mo- allu-
sion t0 tho neht which had lasted an
hour and twenty minutes
As the MIucrrNc was creeping out OF
tho channel sho went aground. and lay
There five hours. Had the same mishap
hcfalicn her during the engagement. the
chances arc that She would have been
sent to the bottom with all ON board.