The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-07-05
FIRST ARTILLERY BATTLE
Ends in S%ilencing aSpan-
ish Battery.
CRIMES BATTERY

Opens on the Enemy-Capron Fircs the
First Shot TO Avenge Death Of His
Son-Spanfsh Fire Vigorou. for a
withdrawing thu Enemy's Posi-.
ton from BaIloons-Futfle Efforts Of
the Spanish TO P~unture Them With
Rifles.
New York. July "A special dis
patch to The Evening Word. dated
Ell Paso. Cuba IA Santiago, o
by way OF Playa del Este, July LIST,
says:
The first artillery fight of the cam
paign has just been ended by the
~silencing Of a Spanish battery. The
wounded are still being picked up as
this dispatch is hurried away.
General Lawton's division bivouac-
ed near FL Caney last night without
fires.
At Z o'clock this morning there was
A sullen boom. 1t was the first shot
from Capron's battery, fired 10 avenge
the killing Of his son. Promptly the
Spanish began to answer the challenge
from their forts and trenches.
At us o'clock Grimes battery open
ed on the Spanish troops to the right
of the a Juan bIockhouse. The
common powder used by our troops
smoked and was a fine target for the
Spanish field battery. which proba-
bly, was served by Admiral Cervera's
marines, judging by yhe accuracy Of
the. aim. While our smoke gave the
anpnv orr range Grimes onII1 NOT
locate the enemy's guns, which used
smOkelesS powder, except approxi-
mately. Blu satisfied as to the Span
ish position, our men worked like
mad.
The Spanish fire gradually sIacken-
ed and in less than an hour it ceased
altogether.
deserves great credit for the victory
sight.
The battery loss, the officers state,
vas as follows:
Killed-Underwood and Helm, pri-
Yates.
Wounded-Heary, George c.. first
sergeant; Veile, sergeant; Cronford,
sergeant; Keene, corporal.
The battery was supported by the
rough-riders, about 100 Cubans with
a Hotchkiss gun, a detachment of the
Tenth Cavalry, and a squadron from
Company c., of the Second cavalry.
Most of the Spanish shells flew low
over the crest of the battery's posi-
ton, and exploded. Through them the
rOugh-riders had about ten wounded
men, among them R. ChampIain,
whose left elbow was smashed.
The Cuban leader, Gonzales, reports
that the Cubans lost twenty killed
and wounded. 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 F!
Caney, and only scattering shots come
from San Juan, which has q slope Of
fifteen feet in the hundred. Both di-
visions really are in battle. The day
is clear and a moderate breeze is
blowing, but there is a. strong heat.
The troops are in good condition.
Captain Grimes and Corporal Nc
Lean, who were overcome by the heat,
are recovering.
The battery shot 100 rounds, two
thirds shell and the balance ~shrapneII.
THE MILITARY BALLOONS.
The military balloons used by the
signal corps for the of OBJ
tanning accurate information of the
location of the enemy and the charac-
ter of their ~defences, proved Of inesti-
mable service in yesterdays engage
nent. The balloon sent up yesterday
f1oated just over the tree tops and
was easily guided along three miles
of the road toward the lines Of the
enemy. Whenever it halted for the
purpose of taking a photograph of the
Qualifications below, the Spaniards
seized the occasion for taking port
shots at the mid-air monster. At one
time the big balloon hung over San
Juan, not over 500 yards from the en-
envy, and for five minutes the Span
iards below tried in vain To pune
ture it.
In the fighting at San Juan a Span
ish shell two and a half inches in di-
ameter burst in the midst Of Captain
Purifiers battery in the first artillery,
wounding several. Among those in
jured was private Samuel Barr.
Roosevelt's rOugh-riders were also in
this fight. and they bore themselves
with as much credit as in the last
Fridays battle in the bush. Several of
the rough-riders were