The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1898-05-14
americans BOmbard Porto Rico
and Cardinals.
Five AMERICANS KILLED.
SDanish GunbOat Sunk and Batteries
Completely DestrOyed-TOrpe6O
Boat WinsIOW Narrowly
Escapes.

An engagement took place between
he Americans and Spaniards in the
barbor of Cardenas Thursday in which
i've Americans were killed and five
Wounded. The killed are: Worth II,
Bailey, Ensign; John Vervoris, Oiler;
Josiah Tunnel, cabin cook; j. b. Meeks,
bremen; ]. Mantell, fireman. Wounded:
B. E. Cox, gunner mate; d. McKeon,
Ouartermaster; j. Patterson, fireman;
b. Gray, Lieut.. j. b. BernadOn.
The engagement commenced at 200
D. m. and lasted for about an hour.
The battle while it lasted was fierce.
The gunboats Wilmington and Hudson
and the torpedo boat Winslow were the
only vessels engaged.
The Wilmington and the Hudson
opened fire on the Spanish boats which
were lying at the dock. The tireing be-
gan at a range of $500 yards. A few
minutes later the Winslow came up
and also opened fire. In an instant
the entire attention of the Spanish gun
boats and land batteries we're directed
upon her. From all sides shot and shell
poured in on the little torpedo boat.
The crew Of the Winslow, however,
never faltered for a second. At 2:35 a
solid shot crashed into the hull OF the
Winslow and knocked out her boiler.
In an instant she began to roll and rock
helplessly. The gunbOat Hudson which
was lying near by, started to the assist
ance OF the Winslow. She ran along
side the torpedo boat and tried to throw
line to the imperilled crew.
Up to this time, with the exception
of one shot which disabled the boiler OF
the Winslow, the firing of the Spanish
gunboats had been wild, but as the
WinsloW lay rolling in the water the
range grew closer and shells began to
explode all about her. 1t was difficult
for the Hudson to get near enough to
throw line to the WinslOw's crew so
terrible was the fire all about her. Fin
ally after about 20 minutes the Hudson
approached near enough to throw the
line. About the same instant shell
burst in the very midst of the group OF
men on board the Winslow. Bagley was
instantly killed and few men dropped
around him. Half dozen more fell
grOaning on the deck. One of the men
pitched headlong over the side of the
boat, but his feet caught in the iror
rail and he was hauled back. Bagley'E
body was stretched on the deck will
his face, completely torn away and the
upper part of his body shattered.
1t was terrible moment. The tor
pedo boat disabled and helpless, rolled
and swayed under the fury OF the fire
of the Spanish gunbOats.
When the shell burst in the group OF
board the Winslow, a wild shout o.
triumph went up from the Spanish
boats and batteries, and heavy tlr'
was opened on the torpedo boat. Fin
ally the Hudson succeeded in getting
lihe on board the WinslOw aud wa
towing her outside the deadly rang,
when the line parted and again bot
boats were at the mercy Of the Spanish
fire. AT 300 p. m. the Hudson man
aged to get another line on the deck 0
the Winslow, but there were only tire
men left at that time to make it fast
The line was finally secured and tn
Winslow was towed up to Pedra
island, where she was anchored.
The Winslow with her dead AM
wounded will be tOwed into Key Yves
this morning.