Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-08
ST0RMING SANTIAGO.
PulYeFization Of the HarbOr POrti-
fcatiOnS.
BATTERIES ALL SILENCED.
Spanish Admit That Their Losses Are
Heavy.
AMERICAN FIRING EXCELLENT
Artillery Work Of The Spanish Of Very
Poor Quality.
AMERICAN FIRING EXCELLENT
LANDING AT AGUAD Il $.
Cubans Cooperate, and Attack the
City by Land-NO American ship
Dumaged-No American Soldier or
Sailor Hurt.

| Sailor Hurt.
/ Copyright, 1898 by the Associated Press.)
ON BOARD THE ASSOCIATED
| PRESS DISPATCH-BOAT DANDY, OFF
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Monday (Noon).
via, KINGSTON, JAMAICA, Tues
| day. June Z, (Noon).-The American
fleet this morning engaged the Spanish
batteries defending the entrance of the
harDor of Santiago de Cuba, and after
a three-hours' bombardment silenced
nearly all the forts, destroyed several
earthworks, and rendered the Estrella
| and Cave % batteries, the two principal
Notifications, useless.
The fleet formed in double column, six
miles Of MORO Castle at s o'clock in
the morning, and steamed slowly 5000
yard off-shore, the Brooklyn leading, fol-
lowed by the Marblehead, Texas, and
Massachusetts, and turned eastward.
The second line, the New York leading,
with the New Orleans, Yankee, iowa, and
Oregon following, turned westward.
The vixen and Suwanee were far out on
the left flank, watching the rfiemen on
shore. The Dolphin and Porter did SINH
lar duty on the right flank. The line
headed by the New York, attacked the
new earthworks near Moro Castle. The
Brooklyn column took up a station op-
posite the Estrella and Catalina Bate
rles and the new earthworks along the
shore.
BATTERIES SILENCED.
The Spanish batteries remained silent.
II Is doubtful whether the Spaniards were
able to determine the character of the
movement, owing to a dense fog and a
heavy rain, which were the weather fea-
lures this morning.
Suddenly the Iowa fired a 12-inch shell.
which struck the base of the Estrella bat
terry and tore up the works. Instant
ly firing began from both Rear-Admiral
SIMPSONS and Commodore Schley's
columns, and a torrent of shells from the
ships fell upon the Spanish works. The
Spanards replied promptly, but their ar
tillery work was of very poor quality,
and most OF their shells went wide.
Smoke settled around the ships in dense
clouds, rendering accurate aiming diff
cult. There was no manoeuvring of the
fleet, the ships remaining at their ertg-
nal stations, and firing steadily.
The squadrons were so close in-shore
that It was difficult for the American
gunners to reach the batteries on the
hill-tops, but their firing was excellent.
MORRO CASTLE SPARED.
PREVIOUS to the bombardment, orders
were issued to prevent firing on Morro
Castle, as the Americal admiral had been
informed that Lieutenant Hobson and the
other prisoners of the Merrimac are
confined there. In spite Of this, however
several stray shots damaged Norro Cas-
tie somewhat. Commodore Schley's
line moved closer iu-shore, firing at
shorter range. The brooklyn and Texas
caused havoc among the Spanish shore
batteries, quickly silencing them.
While the larger ships were engaging
.he heavy batteries, the Suwanee and the
vixen closed with the small il. shore
battery opposite them, raining rapid-fire
shots apon it, and quickly placing the
battery out Of the fight.
DESTRUCTION AWFUL.
The Brooklyn closed to 500 yards, and
then the destruction caused by her guns
and those Of the Marblehead and Texas
was really awful. In a few minutes the
woodwork OF the Estrella fort was burn
ing and the battery was slenced, firing
no more during the engagement
Westward, the New York and the New
Orleans silenced the Cave battery in
quick order, and then shelled the earth |
works located higher up. Later, the prac- |
tice was not so accurate. owing to
the elevation Of the guns. Many Of the
shells, however, landed, and the Spanish |
gtfnners retired.
Shortly after the firing ceased the |
warships turning in order to permit the |
use OF their port batteries. The 1r:ng |
then became long, reverberating crash |
OF thunder, and the shells raked the |
Spanish batteries with terrible effect. |
Fire broke out in the Catalina fort and |
silenced the Spanish guns.
The firing of the fleet continued until |
10 o'clock, when the Spanish fire ceased |
entirely. and Rear-Admral Sampson |
holsted the "Cease-fring" signal.
FORTS DEMOLISHED.
Generally. the firing Of the feet vas
very destructive. Many OF the earth
works were knocked to pieces and the |
Estrella and Catalina fortihcations were |
so damaged that it is questionable whe- |
ther they will ever be able to renew any |
work during the war.
After the fleet had retired the Spaniards |
to some Of their guns and sent |
twelve shells after the feet But no one
was injured One large shell fell close to |
the collier Justin.
Throughout the engagement no Ameri-
can ship was hit and no American was
injured.
If the Spaniards stuck TO their guns. |
and all evidence Is to the contrary. their |
loss must have been heavy.
SPANISH ADMIT HEAVY LOSS.
Copyright, 1888, by the Associated PressD |
CAPE HAITIEN, HAITI, June 1.-THE
lighting before and in the vicinity OF
Santiago de Cuba continued the greater |
part Of yesterday morning from 7io
until nearly II o'clock. Ten OF the
American warshlps maintained steady |
and carefulIy-directed fire against El
MORO castle and the batteries at Punta
Gorda. socapa. and cinco Reales, in addi- |