The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1898-05-19

KEY WEST, Fla, May 12.-Amer-
ica's first dead fell yesterday IN a
fierce and bloody combat off Carde-
mas, on the north coast of Cuba. Five
men were blown to pieces and five
were wounded on the torpedo-boat
Wipslow.
The battle lasted thirty-fve min
utes. It was between the torpedo
boat Wlnslow, the auxiliary tug
Hudson, and the gunboat Whining
ton on one side, and the Cardenas
batteries and four Spanish gunboats
on the other The Winslow was the
main target of the enemy, and was
put out of service. The other Amer
lean vessels were not damaged, ex
cept that tho Hudson's two ventil-
ators we're slightly scratched by fly
ing shrapnel.
The enemy's loss is largely con-
j jsctural. One of their gunboats
caught fire, and the men of the Hud-
son think it sunk. The flames spread
to the barracks and swept away sew
eral small warehouses, and for a
time the whole water front seemed
to be ablaze. The Hudson's crew
also believe that two Spanish torpe-
do-boat destroyers were disa bled, but
they admit that their estimate Of
the damage is largely guess work,
as the action was too sharp for out
side observations to be made.
Orde ed into tho Aarbor.
told the story of the fight; he said:
"We went into the harbor under
orders. The torpedo boat Winslow
was the worst injured. She had five
of her men killed, and l do not know
how many injured.
"The Winsiow was ordered by the
commander of the Wilmington to 60
into the harbor of Cardenas, and at
tack the Spanish gunboats there.
We steamed under full head, and
were fired upon as soon as We were
in range. The Spanish boats were
tied up at the dock, and had fair
range on us. The batteries on shore
also opened on us, and think we
received most of the fire. l do not
know whether any one was hurt on
the Wilmington or on the Hudson,
but think not.
II have no fault tofind with the
Winslow's crew. They acted nobly
all the way through. The men who
were killed, all fell at the same time
We were standing in group, and
the aim of the Spanish was perfect
| A Oh bo11 ~ n~r 60 ~
| Burne. Part of the Town.
KEY WEST, Fla, May 12.-Tht
American boats made havoc with
Cardenas harbor and town. Th'
Captain of the Hudson said:
Il know we destroyed large part
Of their town near the wharves
burned one of their gunboats, and
think destroyed two other torpedo
destroyers. We were in a vortex O
shot, shell, and smoke, and coult
not tell accurately, but We saw on
of their boats on FIRE and sinking
soon after the action began. Thel
q large building near the wharf,
think the barracks, took fire AM
many other buildings were sooI
burning.
| "The Spanish had masked batter
les on all Sides of us, hidden il
bushes and behind houses. The,
set q trap for US. AS soon as we go
within range Of their batteries the,
would move them. think thei
guns were field pieces. Our larg
boats could not get into the haIbo
to help us on account of the shallov
water"
Sketches of Ensign Bsgley.
Ensign Worth Bagley, who wa
killed, was a native of North Care
lima. His mother, Mrs. w. II. Bae
ley. resides at 125 South street, Ra
eigh, N. C. He was appointed t
the Naval Academy in September
I 1891, from the Fourth District {
: North Carolina. He graduated Jun
. 80 last year, and was appointed .
Ensign on the day following. Will
a cadet attached to the Academy, b
Was assiDn0d to make cruiSoS lin tt