The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-08-17
PEACE SPOILED FIGHT.
Little Mangrove Had
Two Spaniards Whipped
When White Flag
Went Up.
fBy Cable to The Associated Press.l


KEY WEST, Fla, Aug II, 189S-Fur
ther details have been received here as to
the bombardment of the port of Caibarien,
on the north coast OF the province of
Santa Clara, Cuba, last Sunday, by the
armed tug Mangrove, which began her
benicose career by capturing the big
Spanish liner Panama and is now the like
hest candidate for the honor Of having
fought the last naval battle of the war.
The Mangrove left here last week to
protect the landing of an expedition, I'M
der Colonel Bozas, which had gone ahead
on the schooners Adams and Dallie
When the Mangrove reached Santa Maria
Key, near Caibarien, she found the Cuban
party had safely disembarlxed but feared
to advance because Of the presence of the
Spanish gunboat Herman Cortes and
smaller gunboat, which were evidently
making Caibarien their base
i On Saturday afternoon the Mangroye
anchorets at Key Francis, just outside
Caibarien; and as she lay there the
Herman Cortes came out and ran around
the Key to get a peep at her, scurrying
back into the harbor as soon as she saw
she was discovered. The Mangrove fol-
lowed as far as the shoal water would
permit, but could only get about half
way in the harbor.
The next morning Captain Stuart, the
commander of the Mangrove decided to
have a shot at the gunboats. He was
alone and the odds against him were
heavy but he did bold thing. Sounding
her way inch by inch the Mangrove crept
along the channel drawing eight feet of
water in an average depth of eight and
half. until about nine o'clock she sighted
both the Spanish gunboats. The Herman
Cortes was anchired near the shore, about
one thousand yards to the right of the
town. with her broadside to the sea. The
small gunboat lay at the wharf.
The Spaniards evidently were anticipat-
ing battle The shore was crowded
with Spaniards, citizens and soldiers;
while the roof of every building that com
manded view of the harbor was literally
covered with people anxious to see the
fight.
The Norman Cortes carried two At inch
guns and four 1-pounders, while her smai-
ler companion was armed with three l.
Founders and a Hotchkiss rapid fire gun.
The crews of both, numbering in all be-
tween 70 and 100 men, could be seen on the
decks Ashore were several one-pound
field pieces; while the Spanish troops
were armed with Mauser rifles
The Mangrove, whose entire battery
consists of only two -pounders, worked
into a range of three thousand yards. The
channel was so narrow that only one gun
could be fired at time. AT 10:45 A. NJ.
she let go her port gun at the Herman
Cortes The shot fell short. Instantly
the whole shore line burst into flame, both
gunboats and the field pieces pouring
in a heavy fire upon the. American yes
sell Every shot of this volley struck the
water ahead of the Mangrove, which con-
tinued pumping away at her port six
FOUNDER She concentrated her fire on the
Herman Cortes, and the next five or six
shots fell on the Spaniard's deck between
| the bow gun and amdships, scattering a
| body of men. Some of the latter must
| have been killed, although the Spaniards
| later denied that they suffered any loss
| For while no Spanish gun was fired;
| but soon the Spaniards got the Man
| groves range and veritable avalanche
| of shot and shell was hurled at her. 1t
was nothing less than a miracle that her
| loss Of life was not heavy. Shells from
the big guns of the Herman Cortes dropped
within twenty feet Of the tug, several
bursting and the fragments chipping bits
Of her hull. Others went whizzing
through her shrouds, and Mauser bullets
peppered the surrounding waters like a
| summer shower
/ In the very midst of all this--and while
the Mangrove was swinging cautiously
around to bring her starboard gun into
play-the watch saunded Flag of truce :
| And sure enough not only one but three
white flags could be seen. one flying
| from the small gunboat and two from the
| Government houses on shore. The Man
grove acknowledged the signal and pres
emily a small boat came out with a
| Spanish officer, who clambered aboard the
! Mangrove and, In exceedingly nervous
| ones, announced: =:
Peace is proclaimed, and have IN