Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1898-09-15

on May % II numbered G.G00 men.
Daily commandments Of the forts at the
entrance Of Santiago bay continued
Though CeYvera was bottled. it was
feared that u storm might scatter the
blockading fleet and give him u chance 10
escape from his harbor prison. Accord
ingly il was concluded TO sink vessel in
the narrow channel between Moro Cas-
tie and the Estrellu battery. An iron col
Her. the McrriInac, was selected, and the
perilous work of destruction was assigned
TO Naval Constructor Richmond r. Hob
son and O volunteer crew Of seven men.
In the early morning Of June 3 the yes
sci was guided into the channel under n
terrific fire from the Spanish guns One
shot disabled its rudder and rendered ii
nearly uncomfortable. 1t was driven ty
its engines, however, into the narrowest
part Of the channel, and the attempt was
made to swing II broadside to the on
trance. The force of the current prevent
ed success. as was shown by the passag &c
of the Spanish feet around its hulk at
later day, but failure did not detract from
the bravery Of the exploit. Hobson fired
the torpedos which blew out the bottom
of the ship. and, with his crew, took to IL
boat, surrendering in an hour to the Span
ish admiral who complimented him for
his bravery, and sent messa &c to Samp-
son telling of his safety and that of his
men.
The order was given June s to prenaro
landing place for the army of invasion.
and on June 10 Col. Huntington. with n
force of marines landed at Guantanamo.
established Camp McCalla, and for five
days fought body of Spaniarcls superior
in numbers and protected by impenetra-
BILE brush. The Spaniards were repulscd
In every attack. but the marines lost sew
eral men.
The fleet with the aid Of the marines.
demolished Fort Caimanera and captured
Baquiri. which was 10 be the landing
place for Gen Skaters army. which left
Tampa in transports on June II.
Shafter appeared off Baquiri on June %
and two days were occupied in landing.
Jurngua was captured on June "a, and
the advance toward Santiago began The
Spanish resisted. and Roosevelts rough
riders and the Tenth United States cav
airy, In the van of the American army,
found themselves engaged with a superior
body of Spaninrds. The enemy were
driven back by the furious charge of the
Americans, but the loss was heavy, the
greatest of any of the conflicts of the war
up to that time. Thirteen were killed and
sixty wounded.
Sevilla was coupled on June %, and on
the last day of June 1900 American
troops were before Santiago, 5000 more
on their way from the coast with 5000
| CubAns near ut hand.
Assault on Santiago.
The general assault began July |. Eel
Caney being captured at severe cost. The
| Spaniards retired from their trenches be
7 fore the American advance, but the last
Of the outworks We're not in the posses
sion of the American army until the even
Ing of July ., while on one side the
heights of San Juan were still untaken.
Gen. Lawtons division assaulted San
Juan on July and carried the heights in
the greatest charge of great battle. San
tingo was surrounded and Gen. Shafter
demanded its surrender. The American
loss in the three days battle was 231
killed, 1888 wounded and 81 missing.
Convinced that the city must fall, the
Madrid authorities, who were In cable
communication with Santiago throughout
the battle, ordered Admiral Cervera on
July . to make dash from the harbor.
He carried out his instructions on the
morning Of July 3, and two hours after
the Maria Teresa led the way past the
sunken Merrimac his vessels were hulks,
lying at intervals along the beach for fifty
miles.
Admiral Sampson with the New York
had gone 70 consult with Gen. Shafter
when the Spanish ships were seen coming
from the harbor. but Commodore Schley,
with the Brooklyn, Oregon, Iowa, Texas.
Indiana and Gloucester, were more than
match for the Maria Teresa, Cristobal
Colon, Oquendo, Vizcaya and the destroy