The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1898-06-02
SANTIAGO
BOnBARDBD,
Reported That American War.
ships Under Commodore Schlsy
Opened Fire on the Enemy.
THE NEWS NOT CONFIRMED

THE NEWS NOT CONFIRMED
~ "nshington-The Keper. state. Tia.
the Spanish Fought Bra~~iy-Bu. Coul
do mo- Damage to the slses-It 1. sal
That sehIey viii Eater the HarbSr an
Destroy or Capture Cer.er.'. Fleet.
As We go to press (Wednesds,
aiternoon) the following report ha
been sent out BY prees dispatches. Tn
ICAUcAs!AN is not in position to stat
the reliability Of the news, though
previous information would indicst.
tnat An engagement 10 imminent.
| Press Dispatches.
CAPE HAYTIKN, HAYTI, May 81
Midnight.-A despatch winch has Jus
been received from santiago state
that the American squadron, unde
command OF Commodore Schley, which
mas been blockadiDg that port for
number Of days, began to lombard tn,
fortificatiaDs 1t O'Clock this after
noon, the evident intention being {.
reduce them IN order to get at Cervera'
squadron at anchor inside.
The American feet WAS comprised
OF fourteen vessels.
The despatch says that among ths
attacking vessels was one which seem.
ed to be the New York, flying the fias
OF Admiral Sampson.
There Is great excitement in Santi.
ago, the Spanish residents, n0twith.
tanding the repeated boasts Of the
military and naval officers, fearing tha,
the Americans will soon be in posses.
sion Of the city.
When the firing commenced many
OF the men in the city, whose sympa.
thies have been with the rebels, start
ed for the insurgeDt Inns. which are
but short distance from the town, to
offer their services.
The fighting began just about two
o'clock, when the signal to begin the
battle was set on the Brooklyn.
This seems to refute the statement
that Sampson was present, for had he
been with the fleet, he would by his
rank, have been in command.
Owing to the height OF the hill on
which Moro Castle 10 located, it was
impossible for the Americans to run in
shore and elevate their guns to suffi-
Gent height to do any damage, conse-
quently the big ships with the heavy
rites stood some distance off shore,
from where they could pour in more
effective fire, while the smaller vessels,
nearer shore, devoted themselves to
attacking the sand and morter bat
teries.
By standing of shore the big ships
had plenty Of water to manOeuvre in.
They passed to and fro before the en-
trance.
Some of the shells from the big rifles
went clear over Moro, landing in
Estrella Point battery, Santa Catalina
fort, and other fOrtificatiOns on the
same side of the entrance, but to the
nOrthWard.
Thousands of persons, when they
found that the shells did not reach the
city, went to points of vantage, where
they could witness the bOmbardment.
The forts replied bravely to the FIRE
of the enemy, but as far as can be
learned they did not appear to do any
great damage.
The sound of the cannonad;ng was
deafening.
The deapatch intimates that some OF
the Spanish Varships took part in the
fed.
~ ACCA0k VI AUV tJlC us c0s
tered the bay is not known.
1t is reported here that they did, but
this is doubted, as it is scarcely sup
p0sen that Commodore Schley WouIt
attempt to run the forts through tn,
channel, known to be filled with both
electrical and contact mines.
1t may be that Schley did enter tn,
harb0r for short distance, and is nov
awaiting q more favorable opportunity
of proceeding up the bay and engag
ing the Spanish warships.
During the fighting . number Of
troops were hastily despatched from
the city, and 1t is judged from this
that the Spanish losses in the batteries
must have been heavy and that the ar
tillerymen were needed to man thu
guns.
1t is certain that the firing ceasel
shortly after four o'clock.
just before it ceased the cannonad
ing was the heaviest of the day.
No Advices Received ut tho Navy Do
pArtment.
| WAsHINGrON, May 31.-The Nav,
Department has not received any con
firmati0n of the reports of the nava
engagement at Santiago.