Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-05-04
CITY OF PARIS.
SILENCE CUBAN BATTERIES
Another Exhibit - of the Accuracy
Of the Gunners on Our
WarShiES.

Atlanta, Ga, April 3O.-A special to the
Journal from Key West, Fla, says that
Port Cabanas, a small fortified town thir-
ty-fye miles west of Havana, on the
northern coast of Cuba. was fired on by
the New York Friday evening and the
fort demolished.
The firing began at $50 and lasted fif-
teen minutes. Ten shots We're fired from
the New York battries. The New York
and Helena tried to draw fire from the
batteries of Havana and Martel, but
failed.
Yesterday afternoon the flagship New
York, with eight well-directed shells, from
the siX-inch gun on her port bow and two
from one of the eight-inch guns il her
forward turret, completely silenced and
rendered useless two Spanish forts at
Port Cabanas, twelve miles west of Ma
riel, and thirty-iye miles from Havana
As in the case of Matanzas, the first shot
was fired by a Spaniard.
About noon the New York steamed up
the west coast. Following the flagship
for quite distance came the Iowa, Indi-
ana, Helena and the tOrpedo-boats Por~
ter and Ericsson. But after Havana
was passed, where the Helena went in so
close shat a crash from Moro was mo-
mentarily expected, the ships, with the
exception of the tOrpedo-boats, soon re-
turned to their station.
- 1utI 1t 1lIII uCttu VI SLtdUlJ lut udS-
ship bowled along until Mariel was
reached. 1t was easy, from aboard the
dispatch boat without glasses, to see the
commotion raised by the presence of the
warships, in the pretty little village. The
people rushed wildly about and small
boats quickly put in shore. But there
was no apparent life in either of the forts
on two hills that cover the approaches to
the harbor.
The Porter steam med within half a mile
/ IL
urely at anchor at q mile range.
After Admiral Sampson had surveyed
Mariel to his apparent satisfaction, he
sent the flagship clipping merrily further
up the coast.
spanfards Open Fire.
Again the flagship rode unconcernedly
half a mile from the forts. The Porter
and the Ericsson pushed their way ahead.
Suddenly there was a roar Of a heavy
gun, a puff of smoke from the shore and
the little torpedo-bOat came scurrying
back under the lee Of the flagship.
The officers and men disappeared from
the decks of the New York like magic,
and in less time than it takes to tell it,
one six-inch gun from her bow belched
forth. The evening was fading fast.
Quick, good work was necessary.
Another shot from the flagship, one
more from shore and the fort guns were
silenced. Three six-inch shells had suf-
feed.
Five more shots PUT a quietus on the
Notifications. The first shot was fred
at 6:2O. At 6:35 the New York let go
two six-inch shells, one at each fortifica-
ton, to complete the job. There was no
answer to this from the shore.
Ten minutes later the flagship let go
two of her eight-inch turret guns and
the shrieking shells left a trail of fire
easily seen in the dark shadows of the
evening.
At this time the shore was hardly visi-
BILE and the New York put back to her
station.
Key West, Fla, April 3O.-1O:3O a. m.
Incoming boats say that the firing by
the flagship New York last night was on
Cabanas, small fort about ten miles
west of Mariel. The torpedo-boats Porter
and Ericsson were scouting close to the
coast when small battery opened fire
on them with rapid-fre guns. The torpe-
bobcats quickly withdrew and notified
the flagship which was cruising slowly in
a westerly direction. The New York
promptly returned the fire, sending in, it
is said here. about twelve shots from her
six and eight-inch guns. The batteries
ashore made no response. The firing
was by no means in the nature Of bonn
bardment.
On Flagship New York, off Havana,
via Key West, Fla, April 30-In an
swer to volley FIRE from Spanish cavalry
on shore at Cabanas, thirty-eight miles
west of Havana, last evening, the New
York sent eleven shells in the direction of
the Spaniards. The enemy's fire was 81
fenced after the first shot from the New
York. Whether any Spaniards were
killed or wounded was not ascertained.
Spanish bullets were not observed to
come anywhere in the vicinity of the
flagship, which at once returned to her
station off MORO. The Spaniards would
never have been fired upon had they not
provoked the attack