The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1898-06-09

given to peace rumors."
wrecked the spanish Batteries.
Santiago de Cuba, via Kingston,
Jamaica, June 8.-The American feet
Tuesday engaged the Spanish batteries
defending the entrance of the harbor
of Santiago de Cuba and after a three
hours bombard@ent silenced nearly
all of the forts, destroyed several
earthworks and rendered the Estrella
and Cavo batteries, the two principal
Notifications, useless.
The fleet formed in double column
six miles off Moro castle at 6 o'clock
in the morning and steamed slowly
5000 yards off shore, the Brooklyn
leading, followed by the Marblehead,
Texas and Massachusetts, and turned
westward The second line, the New
York leading, with the New Orleans,
Yankee, Iowa and Oregon following,
turned eastward.
The Vixen and Suwaree were far
cut on the left flank, watching the
rifiemen on shore. The Dolphin and
Porter did similar duty in the right
flank. The line headed by the New
York attacked the new earthworks
near MORO castle The Brooklyn col
umn took up a station opposite the
Estrella and Catalina batteries and the
new earthworks along the shore.
The Spanish batteries remained 81
lent. It is doubtful whether the Span
iards were able to determine the char
acter of the movement, owing to the
dense fog and heavy rain, which were
the weather features.
Suddenly the Iowa fired a twelve
inch shell. which struck the base OF
Estrella battery and tore up the works.
Instantly firing began from both Rear
Admiral Simpsons and Commodore
Schley's columns, and a torrent OF
shells from the ships fell upon the
Spanish works.
The Spaniards replied promptly, but
their artillery work was of a very poor
quality, and most of their shots went
wide Smoke settled around the ships
in dense clouds, rendering accurate
aiming difficult. There was no man
euvering of the feet, the ships remain
ing at their original stations and fir
ing steadily.
! The squadPons were so close in shore
that it was difficult for the American
gunners to reach the batteries on the
hill tops, but their firing was excellent
! Previous to the bombardment orders
were issued to prevent firing on MORO
castle, as the American admiral had
been informed that Lieut.. Hobson and
the other prisoners of the Merr1mac
were confined there. In spite of this,
however, several stray shots damaged
Moro castle somewhat.
The Brooklyn and Texas caused wild
havoc among the Spanish shore bat
teries, quickly silencing them. While
the larger ships were engaging the
heavy batteries the Suwanee and the
Vixen closed with the small inshore
battery opposite them, raining rapid
fire shots upon it and quickly placing
the battery out of the fight.
} The Brooklyn closed to 800 yards and
then the destruction caused by her
guns and those of the Marblehead and
Texas was really awful. In few
minutes the woodwork of Estrella fort
was burning and the battery was ST.
fenced, firing no more during the en-
gagement Eastward the New York
and New Orleans silenced the Cavo bat
terry in quick order and then shelled the
earthworks located higher up. Later
the practice was not so accurate, OW-
ing to the elevation Of the guns. Many
shells, however, landed and the Span
ish gunners retired. Shortly after 9
the firing ceased, the warships turning
in order to permit the use of the port
/ batteries. The firing then became a
long reverberating crash Of thunder
and the shells raked the Spanish bat
teries with terrible effect. Fire broke
out in Catalina fort and silenced the
Spanish guns.
The firing of the feet continued IN
til 10 O'Clock, when the Spanish guns
ceased entirely and Admiral Sampson
hoisted the cease firing signal.
Generally the fire of the feet was
very destructive. Many of the earth
works were knocked to pieces and the
Estrella and Catalina Notifications
we're so damaged that it is questionable
whether they VIII ever De aDIe 20 re-
new any effective work during the
war
After the feet retired the Spanfards
returned to some other guns and sent
twelve shells after the fleet. But no
one was injured. One large she'll fell
close to the collier Justin.
sEb throughout the engagement no
fAmerican ship was hit and no Ameri-
can was injured.
; If the Spaniards stuck to their guns,
though all evidence is to the contrary
their loss must have been heavy.
Another Gable Cut.
Cape Haitien, Haiti, June 8, 1875 p
m.-From all indications the cable be-
tween Haiti and Cuba has not worked
since Monday at midnight. 1t is prob
ably cut.