Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-29
start was made to cut the cable on the
other side Of tho island.

other side Of tho island.
THE ST. LOUIS FIRST GUN.
"At z A. NJ. the st. Louis fred its first
gun at the forts protecting the entrance
to Santiago harbor, and after little
time the fire was returned by one gun,
which must have been 2-pounder. At
A. NJ. the st. Louis was about two miles
distant from the forts. which seemed to
/ be unprotected by modern guns. After
two hours graphing in 300 fathoms. the
cable had not been found. At 1915 p. M.
! the guns Of MORO Castle opened fire, fol-
! lowed by those of the shore battery on
the southerly point, and also those Of the
westerly battery.
THE ST. Louis kept up constant fire
! from her bow guns, and soon succeeded
] in sllencing the guns OF MORO Castle
| The garrison Spaniards could be seen
running in all directions Most of the
shots from the forts fell short of the
| ship. Shells from the mortar battery
went over the cruiser and exploded IN
p, the water quite close TO tho st. Louis.
The mortar battery ceased firing at 1885,
after fusillade Of forty-one minutes.
After finding the cable It was grappled,
| hauled on board, and cut.
CREW BEHAVES WELL
1.-THE st. Louis crew behaved in a very
cool manner under fire, and Captains
Goodrich and Randle, the latter OF the
American Line. at the close OF the en-
gagement complimented all hands for
their bravery"
Captain Randle says there is a mistake
of day I'm the date Of the bombardment
OF Santiago de Cuba, as given in the copy
of the cruisers log. After graphing on
May 18th, when the 81. Louis had 10 slip
away on account Of the presence of two
Spanish gunboats. the cruiser and the |
Wampatuck remained out Of sight OF San |
tiago all the next day. The bombardment |
took place, as described by Captain Ran |
die, on May 18th. MORO Castle was
practically undefended. but the new forts |
on the shores kept up savage fire.
The cruisers g-pounders not being able
to reach the mortar-battery after the
cable had been cut, the st. Louis and
her consort retired During the bonn
bardment the st. Louis fred 172 shots and
the Wampatuck fired seventy-six rounds.
GUANTANAMO FIRB HOT.
That night. Captain Randle says, the
cruiser and the Wampatuck lay twenty
miles to the southwark OF Santiago, and
on the morning OF May 18th proceeded to
Guantanamo, where they grappled for a
cable at the mouth of the harbor. The
cruiser was not able TO make a cutting
before Spanish gunboats, armed with g.
inch rifles. opened fire on It. a company
OF soldiers on hill also blazed away
with their small arms. The gunboat
finally forced the st. Louis and Wampa-
tuck out to sea. The cutting was ADAM
doned.
Mole st. Nicholas was visited on NAV
Goth, and from there dispatches were
sent TO Washington. The Wampatuck
was ordered to proceed to Key West
from that place. The St. Louis proceed {
ed along the coast Of Haiti, where she {
net the st. Paul The two vessels part {
ed in about an hour, and the st. Louis
went 20 Cape Caberrajo. to sever the I
cable running In from Porto Rico and ,
San Domingo. but the bottom was so c
foul at that place that the submarine
inc could not be located =
CRUISE OFF PORTO RICO. [
Last Saturday, the st. Louis cruised {
long the coast OF Porto Rico and ran ?
within two miles OF the batteries. Ponce, o
ape Malashu, was visited on May I'D, v
nd at st. Thomas next day the cruiser n
OF orders 10 proceed to New York, to &
axe on Der heavier guns and then 60 p
D the Cramp ship-yard, at Philadelphia, ! d
D be armor-plated. The big guns were ! d
ut aboard the cruiser to-day, and to- n
borrow about A. NJ. she will start for | b
Philadelphia.
Captain Randle says that the lombard IN
lent Of San Juan caused considerable nj
amage 10 the Spanish Notifications ID
here, and that the st. Louis passed the .,
'recked fortiications next day. n.
'EITHER SCHIItY NOR SAMPSON | b.
SEEN.
Captain Randle says that neither CO
ohley's or the Spanish feet was sighted Il
: heard OF during the trip Of the ST. IS
outs in West Indian waters. The +
'uiser succeeded in cutting three cables pC
all, one being on the south side of
orto Rico. another at Santiago do Cuba
I'd the third at Guantanamo. =.