The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-04-30
MATANZASISS HELLED
The Shore Batteries Are Silenced
in a Short Time.
Fire ON Three Mig wnrships and Are
Quickly DemoIished-Loss OF Life
Among spnniards Thought 40 He
Henvy-No Americans Hurt.

cruiser Cincinnati, under Admiral
Sampson, bombarded the Spanish bat
teries that were in position and in
course OF construction at the entrance
of Matanzas harbor. They were pretty
thoroughly destroyed.
The flagship was first fired upon by
the batteries on Point Rubal Cava and
Point Maya, while the Puritan, New
York and Cincinnati were recoinnoiter-
ing for the purpose OF locating and ulti-
mately destroying the works the Span
iards were building.
The list Of dead on the Spanish side
must be large, but there is no way of
telling the number of fatalities.
The Battle.
The New York steamed in between
the batteries, and opened both broad
sides on the Spaniards.
The Puritan engaged the Cape Maya
battery and the Cincinnati went TO
starooard Of the New York, close up to
land, and sent a broadside OF shells into
RJba Cava.
The batteries returned the fire, but
not one OF the shots took effect They
fred explosive shells, and they all fell
wide OF the mark, no damage OF any
kind resulting.
A shrapnell shell exploded above the
New York, and one shell exploded just
beyond the stern. All others were
wasted.
batteries in Ruins.
The batteries were reduced in just 20
minutes.
The final shot from the enemy came
from Ruba Cava, and drew from the
Puritan reply from one OF her 12-inch
guns, which struck the battery and
blew up section Of IL.
The United States ships did not retire
until the Spanish refused to renew the
engagement. They left the batteries in
ruins.
object OF the Expedition.
Admiral Sampson made up his mind
when he went TO Matanzas Wednesday
that something must be done. These
batteries had twice fired on the torpedo
boat Foote, and he decided that the
work OF fortifying must be stopped If
possible.
These points are slightly elevated
above the sea, but the batteries have
commanding positions. Behind the bat
teries are high hills, and ii Is believed
guns were mounted there, in the brush
or thckets.
New York Leads the Way.
The New York was the first TO go into
the bay. The Puritan came next, few
hundred yards astern. The Cincinnati
was greater distance behind on the
starboard side. The ships made almost
n triangle.
The first shot drawn from the shore
came from Rubal Cava. IL was an eight
inch shell. sped toward the New York,
and fell short
Then another came, another, this
time from Point Maya. This also fell
wide OF the mark
During the engagement not a soul
could be seen on the shore, and the puffs
OF smoke came up from the batteries as
IL by magic.
Good craftsmanship.
II was a beautiful sight to follow the
smoke as IL arose from the New York
and then see, an instant later the frag.
ments OF mortar and concrete fly into
the air.
The New York tossed the shells into
Rubal Caya al the rate OF about three Q
minute, and the craftsmanship could
not have been better.
When the Puritan finally got its
range her shells burst every time within
the Notifications OF Point Maya, and
there was a cloud of dust followed by
the collapse of the hard materials Of
which the Notifications were composed
The air was literally filed with tho
debris, and there was almost con
tinuous explosion.
"Remcmber the Manner
The Cincinnati was not called into the
work OF reducing the Notifications un
I'll Capt. Chester signaled for permits
sion to take hand, and until il wal
granted there was great impatienc,
among the crew OF enthusiastic men
who al the report Of every shell ex
claimed: "Remember the Maine"
The Puritan fired the best shot of thu
day. II struck the battery, tearing IL
way into the earthworks, and exploded
The destruction was great and no doub
the artillerymen behind the guns wer'
killed.
Inc 1uTlluH unt OihNihh"Ni 49, -
on guard mt Matanzas and the New Norl
took up her old position.
Havana at Our Mercy.
Exactly IS shots were fired by tn
hhips. and the forts fired about 30.
The largest guns al Matanzas, IN
bombardment shows, are cight-inch
and there are evidently less than ten o
them there.
From what took place nj Matanza
II would appear that Havana is abso
lutely nj the mercy OF our fleet when
ever IL is ready to lombard II.
The naval officers believe liayana's dc
lenses can be destroyed in an hour.
Mntnnzns and Its Interests.
Matanzas Is the capital OF the province G
that name 10 lies on the Bay or Matanza
on tho south coast OF Cuba, about 30 mile
east ~ Havana. After the colonial capita
a. Is the most important city or the mort
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