The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-30
Ft. Cabanas on the Cuban
Coast Demolished
In Is Minutes by the New
YOrk's Guns.
TWO SHOTS ENOUGH
To Silence the Guns of the
Fort.
Five More Put in For Good
Measure.
TWO SHOTS ENOUGH

Atlanta, Ca, April S0.-A special to
the Journal from Key West says: Fort
Cabanas, a small fortification town 80
miles from Havana, on the northern
coast of Cuba, was fired on by the New
York late yesterday evening and the
fort demolished.
The firing began at $3.50 and lasted Is
minutes Ten shots were fired under
the lee of the flagship.
The officers and men disappeared
from the deck of the New York. 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 forts guns were silenced. Three
six-inch shells had suff1ced.
Five more shots i,ut quietus on the
fortifcations.
The first shot was fired at 6:20. At
6:35 the New York let go two six-inch
shells, one at each fortiication, to COM
plete the job. There was no answer
from the shore. Ten minutes later the
flagship let go two of her eight-inch
turret guns, and the shrieking shells
left trail of fire easily seen in the dark
shadows of the evening. At this time
the shore was hardly visible and the
New York put back to her station.
KEY West, Fla, April 30.-Tncoming
boats say that the firing by the flagship
New York last night was on Cabanas,
a small fort about ten miles west of
MarieI The torpedo boats Terror and
Ericsson were scouting close to the
coast when a small battery opened fire
on them with a rapid fire gun. The
torpedo boats 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 IL
shots from her six and eight inch guns.
The batteries ashore made no response.
On Board the Flagship New York,
Via Key West, Fla, April 3O.-The
blockade continues as before. The flag
ship lies to the westward of Havana.
The torpedo boat Porter while close
in to shore reports having been fired
upon by the Cojimar battery which is
to the eastward of Morro Castle. The
Porter escaped unscathed. The coast
of Cuba is being carefully patrolled by
the Spanish cavalry. Capt. Taylor of
the Indiana, came on board the flag
ship today and had long consultation
with Rear Admiral Sampson.
The New York and Helena tried to
draw a fire from the batteries of Ha-
vana and Mariel but failed.
Yesterday afternoon the flagship New
York, with eight we'll directed shells
from the 6-inch gun, on her port bow
and two from one of the S-inch guns
in her forward turret, completely ST.
fenced and rendered useless for both
men or guns, two Spanish forts at Port
Cabanas, II miles west of Mariel and 35
miles from Havana. AS in the case of
Matanzas, the first shot was fired by
Spaniard. About noon the New York
steamed up the west coast Following
the flagship for quite a distance came |
the Iowa, Indiana, Helena and torpedo |
boats Porter and Ericsson. But after
Havana was passed where the Helena |
went in so close that a crash of guns |
from Morro was momentarily expected.
the ships with the exception of the tor |
pedo boats, soon returned to their sta |
tion.
Under a full head of steam, the flag
ship bOwled along until MarieI 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 vii |
lage.
The people rushed wildly about and
small boats quickly put in shore But
there was no apparent life in either of |
the forts on the two hills that cover the |
approaches to the harbor.
fhe Porter steamed within a half
mile of them and the New York swung |
lelsurely at anchor at mile range
AFTER Admiral Sampson had SURVEYED |
marie! to his apparent satisfaction, he
sent the flagship clipping merrily furth- |
er up the coast
again the flagship rode unconcernedly
eiali M mile from the forts, the Porter |
aho aho the Ericsson pushed their way
= So suddenly there was a roar or
@bnSe Vy gun, a puff of smoke from the |
scurrrdn ana the little torpedo boat came |
mentS - pack News of the move |
-ANS OF the United StataS orv,,r,, & |