The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1898-05-18

upon as soon as we were IN range.
The Spanish boats were tied up at
the docks and had fair range on US.
The batteries on shore also opened
on us and l think We received most
of the fire. I do not know whether
any one was hurt on the Wilmington
or on the Hudson, but l think not.
II have no fault to find with the
Winslows crew. They acted nobly
all the way through. The men who
were killed all fell at the same time.
We were standing in a group and
the aim of the Spanish was perfect.
A she'll burst in our very faces
The dead and wounded brought
here by the Hudson were taken in
small boats to the government dock
This was the first news of the en-
gagement to reach Key West. No
time was lest in mini, tering to the
wounded. A quick coll was sent to
the marine hosli aland an ambulance
came clatteling down to the dock.
The dead were taken to an under.
takers shop and the wounded were
conveyed to the hospital. In the
meantime the news had spread and
crowds gathered about the dock, but
there was no sort of a demonstration.
The success of the American ships
in every action thus far has been so
overwhelming that it is hard to re-
alize that death has at last come TO
some of our men.
Ensign Bagley was about 26 years
old and while the fleet was stationed
here he was one of the most popular
men in the service. The news of his
death came as o terrible shock to all
who knew him.
1t has always been a foregone con
clusion that the torpedo boat men
would be among the first to fall, as
their work is most dangerous, but, in
spite of this, when the fleet was
stationed here and changes and as
signments were frequently made, all
the young men of the service were
eager for torpedo boat duty.
The Hudson shows the effect OF
the fight. Her smokestack is pure
tured with bullet holes and her cabin
and decks are smashed and splintered.
The Winslow's dead were taken to
an undertaking establishment in a
rough wagon still covered by the
stars and stripes. The rude convey
ance wss followed by an immense
crowd and all day long the doors of
the shop were surrounded by
large gathering. Naval officers, ma
rines and sailors came there to look
upon the faces of their dead com
rades. Some of the bodies showed
feaful wounds. Ensign Bagley was
literally torn to pieces. His body
will be embalmed and shipped home.
Oliver Ververes had his throat cut
open by sharp piece Of the shell,
which apparently severed his wind
pipe as if slashed with rizor. Fire
man Daniels had his left shoulder
ripped up and the right side Of his
head torn open. The body Of Tun-
nell, the colored cook, shows no
wounds. Fireman Meeks was hurt
in the groin. No orders for the dis
position af the bodies have yet been
issued. They lie near their cofins
how and will be taken charge of by
the naval authorities this afternoon.
1t is now kcown that the American
boats made furious havoc with Car
denas harbor and town. The Cap
tain of the Hudson said: II know we
destroyed large part of their town
near the wharves, burned one of their
gunboats and I think destroyed two
other torpedo destroyers. We were
in a vortex of shot, shell and smoke
and could not tell accurately, but We
saw one of their boats on fire and
sinking soon after the action began.
Then large building near the wharf,
I think the barracks, took fire, and
many other buildings were soon burn
ing. The Spanish had masked bate
ries on all sides of US, hidden in
bushes and behind houses. They
set trap for US. AS soon as we
got within range of their batteries
they would move them. think
their guns were field pieces. Our
large boats could not get into the har-
Dor to help us en- account Of the shall
low water.
D,,>Ll@n5o kr~;~o CaIyn