Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-05-05

On board the Flagship New York, OF
Matan2ns. Cuba, April ~, . p. M
Tho Now York, the Puritan and the
Cincinnati, bOmharded the forts at tho
mouth of MatsnZas harbor this after
moan. Thsfo were no casualties on our
side, but il iB believed that the hail Of
iron which pounded in the forts must
have caused losa Of life 10 the Span.
iards, though nothing is known def
nitely.
Tho engagement commenced at IL. 81,
and ceased at !, Il. Tho object of tho
attack was TO prevent the completion of
the earthworks at runta GorHa.
Rear Admiral Sampson, when asked
II he was satisfied with the result said
Yes, am. l expected to be. y
On the flagship of Havana, Cuba,
April 25th, ~ q. m. win Key West,
Fla, April 29--The hombarlmeut of Tho
Matanzas batteries is now a matter 0f
history. The flagship has returned to
the station off Fl Moro.
This engagement occurred quite I'M
ezpectedly. The New York was lying
about 20 miles east OF Havana, at 10. 30
o'clock yesterday morning, when Rear
Admiral Sampson decided to steam to
MaianZaR. At the entrance to the
harbor the monitor Puritan and the
cruise Cincinnati mat tins flagship. At
slow speed the flagship proceeded toward
the harbor, the Puritan following halt
mile astern and TITO Cincinnati about
two miles to the westward. When about
three miles from punta Gorda, the OK.
treme point of the eastern arm of tho
harbor, long yellow streak was seen
on shore. 1t looked like a newly
erected earthwork. The New York
steamed slowly amend until it was
ascertained without any doubt that tho
Spanish troops were husy In erecting
what seemed to he a sand battery and
had already gotten several guns into
position.
CAUSE FOR SHOOTING.
Rear Admiral Sampson decided that
this was detrimental to the pacific
blockade, General quarters" was
sounded. The men rushed 10 their
guns. When the Now York was about
1900 yards from Punta Gorda, her
helm waD put to starboard; and ''com-
mence firing" the bugler blew. Naval
Cadet Buons, in charge Ut "Waist, "
the incn gun amidships on the port
side, bad thu honor OF firing the first
shot. The flagship shook from stem to
stern as the first projectile aimed by
the United Status al the shore OF CubH
flew from the inuzzle of the big gun.
This was at .56 n. IN.
Fifty pairs of glassss we're evelled
from the flagship at the shore. 1,
seemed minutes before the yellow
smoke cleared away, nut in reality i,
was less than five seconds. Then q
little cloud of dust was seen to rise al
the right OF the earthworks. For the
first attempt at 4,0O0 yards, it was by
no meana a bad shot Without the aiC
CLEARLY defined. With a deafening roal
the S-inch gun in the forward turre
let fly its iron missils. 1t landed high
Tho after turret came next with thu
same sized projectile. A shout of de
light went up from tho flagship aa
dense cloud rose slowly from the very
centre OF tho earthwOrks, showing how
true had been tine aim.
FEARFUL FusItADE.
Then from the entire rort sida ,
fearful fusilade was poured on tn,
shore, the four turret guns firing almos
simultaneously and the 4-inch gum
ndding their smaller hail. Whom til,
smoke blew away Purta Gorda wa
dotted with dust clouds that luoxet
like miniature geysers springing sud
denly from the earth. Each shovel
where shot had struck. At thia stag
the guns in the Quintas da Recreo bat
tsry were observed TO ne firing on thi
'agehip. This port is on the eastwart
Tm of the harhor, 1000 yards from
whore the flagship was lying. II i
provided with four s inch guns. In
fiagship's fire was at once directed upol
it. Up to this period the Now Yorl
had been in tho firing alone. Cant
Harrington, on the Puritan, and Cant
Chester. on the Cincinnati, had draw
up and were vigorously signalling 70
permission TO fire. When this was re
ported to Rear Admiral Sampson b
said IAN right, tell them to go ahead
OTHERS TAKE A HAND.
So, whila the New York wns com
mencing fire on Qnintas da ReGreo, til
Puritan took position to the eastwar
and opened ON the same point. Ih
Cincinnati went To the westward an
pounded rapid FIRE hroadside into til
ca rthworks on Punta Gorda. Occa
sionally shots from Qiuintas tla Recre
could be Resn coming in the direction a
the Now York. All fell very short an
OF no time threatened tho ship. OIL
ab0ut 10 shots are believed to have bee
iired from this battery during the Who'll
engagement Giowver. there IN ay hay
beou more. 1t ia possible that its gun
may have boen disabled as two sine!
ahells were distinctly seen to Ian
squarvly in the fort Its distance from
tine ship was SO great and the smolz
which tho wind took in its direction
so thick that it was bard to judge tn
effect OF tho fire and still harder TO 90
good aim. For about five miuute
Quintas da Recreo got tho full beneIj
OF the port broadsides OF the New YorI
and Puritan. What it's ultimate fat
would have boon is hard TO tell, hat
not attention becn diverted from il b,
shell from Punta Gorda that whizzei
over tho Nav York and fell a little ghor
OF tho Cincinnati
ENEMY s,BATrERIEs sILENCED.
Leaving Quiutas ia Rerreo to tb,
tender meruies Of the Puritan, which
was still merrily banging away, Capt