The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-03
FIRST ARTILLERY FIGHT

New York, July "A special dispatch to
the Evening World, dated Ell Paso, Cuba,
near Santiago, noon, by way of Playa del
Este, July l, says:
The first artillery fight Of the cam
paign has just been ended by the silenc-
ing of a Spanish battery.
THE wounded are still being picked up
as this dispatch is hurried away.
General Lawton's division bivoua cked
near e. Caney last night without fires.
at o'clock this morning there was
a sullen boom 1t was the first shot from
Capron's battery, fired to avenge the kill
ing of his son.
Promptly the Spanish began to answer
the challenge from their forts and
trenches.
AT 7:15 Grimes battery opened on the
Spanish troops to the right of the San
Juan blockhouse. The common powGcr
used by our troops smoked, and was a
fine target for the Spanish field bah cry,
which probably was served by Admiral
Cervera's marines, judging from the accu-
racy of the aim. While our smoke gave
the enemy our range, Grimes could not To-
cate the enemy's guns, which used smoke
less powder, except approximately. But,
satisfied as to the Spanish position, our
men worked like mad.
THE Spanish fire gradually slackened
and in less than an hour it ceased alto
gether.
Battery A. of the Second artillery. de-
serves great credit for the victory, for 1t
was case of blindness against sight.
The battery loss. the officers state, was
as follows.
KILLED.
UNDERWOOD. private.
HELM, private.
WOUNDED.
Heary, George c., first sergeant.
Veite, sergeant.
Cornford, sergeant.
Keene, corporal.
"The battery was supported by the
Rough Riders. about 100 Cubans with Il
Hotchkiss gun, detachment of the Tenth
cavalry and a squad from company of
the Second cavalry.
''Most of the Spanish shells flew low
over tho crest of the battery's position and
exploded. Through them the Rough
Riders had about ten wounded, among
them Chaplain, whose left elbow was
smashed.
The Cuban leader Gonzales reports that
the Cubans lost twenty killed and wound
ed.
'"The details of General Lawton's losses
have not arrived.
Heavy volley firing has been heard for
three hours. 1t seems to indicate a strong
American advance.
There is no artillery firing from Fl
coo ++arf~S.-
from San Juan, which has a slope Of 10
feet in the hundred.
Both divisions are really in battle.
"The day is clear and a moderate breeze
is blowing. hut there is a strong heat The
troops are in good condition.
captain Grimes and Corporal Mclean
were overcome by the heat but are recov-
ering.
'The battery shot 100 rounds. two-thirds
shell and the balance shrapneI.
1.-THE military balloons used by the sig
nal corps for the purpose Of obtaining
accurate information Of the location Of
the enemy and the character Of their de-
fences proved OF inestirnable service in
the engagement. Tn balloon foated just
over the tree tops and was easily guided
along three miles OF the road toward the
lines Of the enemy. Whenever ii halted
for the purpose Of taking Il photograph
of the fortifications below. the Spaniards
seized the occasion for taking pot shots at
the mid-air monster. At one time the big
balloon hung over san Juan, not over
800 yards from the enemy, and for five
minutes the Spaniards below tried in vain
the puncture il.
''In the fighting at San Juan. Spanish
shell two and a half inches in diameter
burst In the midst Of Captain Purifier 5
battery IN the first artillery. woundlng
several.
"Roosevelts Rough Riders were also in
this fight and bore themselves with as
much credit as in the last Fridays bat
<fs1e In the bush.
Several Of the Rough Riders were
wounded. among them the following;
IS. G. Devore. sergeant troop X; W a
Armstrong. corporal troop J; MoSparron-
corporal troop G; Alvin c. Ash. private
troop G; W. Freeman, private troops f;