The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-20

I, kingston, Jam, June 2o.-A careful
epection Of the Notifications along the
crest of the hills defending Santiago
harbor since the bombardment Thurs
day morning shows that the American
runners spread wreck and ruin every
where. Some of the batteries were oe-
molished beyond repair. The vuitures
which circled on level wings over the mis-
a. thick as swallows around a chimney
for hours after the firing ceased fur-
nished gruesome evidence of the fatai-
itv among the Spanish soldiers. Hun
dreds of troops could be seen from the
ships digging In mounds of earth piled
ND by the explosion of the pro)ectiies
from the heavy guns for bodies whie
their heads were famed by the wings OF
the black scavengers of the b~attleheid.
There were two spots. one on the east
and the other on the west OF the narpor
entrance, which were OF ION
age. The hilltops seem literally blown
away. They marked the places where
the 20O-pound charges OF guncotton
blown by the Nvesuvius landed. The
most ominous token of death flew from
MORO castle. n saffron Dag OF Spain
was half masted for several hours. h
Significance of this Is not known. II Is
not customary to half-mast flags, but
possibly some Spanish leader was killed
by the heavy fire of our guns. though
aome officers of the squadron believe
that the flag was half-masted as a noti-
Acation 10 the Americans that Lieuten-
ant Hobson and his brave men were
dead. II such is the case they must have
been wantonly murdered. The Spanish
might seek to lay their death TO the
commandment but not a shot from the
American ships struck the fortress.
Neither admiral Sampson nor Commo-
dore Schley believes that Lieutenant
Hobson and his party have been killed.
There are II prisoners now at Guam
tanamo, including a lieutenant, besides
a number In the United States, for re-
prisals or exchange.
There was evident decentralization
among the Spanish troops during the
bombardment officers could be seen,
with drawn swords. driving the men to
the guns. but even then they could not
be forced TO stay so long as our guns
were directed at them. The Is minutes
night work of the vesuvius had shat
tered their nerves. 1t Is believed by
rome that the projectile fired from the
Texas which was reported to nave ex-
ploded the powder magazines In one OK
the western batteries did not fall In the
battery, but went beyond and blew up
= one Of the ships in the harbor.
= A dramatic incident OF the lombard
ment was the act of a Spanish officer,
who bravely ran along the parapet under
a heavy fire, encouraging his men 70
stand by their gums. o and shell
rained about him. and after one terrinS
explosion he was seen no more and the
parapet had disappeared. He could not
have escaped death.
From the foretop OF the Brooklyn, 29o'
yards distant, the men In the ground'
could be noticed, but a minute later dus'
and flying debris would take their places
and when the smoke cleared away onl.
a spot of red earth could be seen--gun
and gunners had been swepf away. !
was the most deadly and dessructiv
bombardment OF the war thus far
Scarcely a shot from the big guns of tn
squadron went astray. The lii of tn
gunners was superb. and not only wer
the coast forts ~annihilaed. but the bat
leTleS OH SayO ~ ~
were destroyed. Had all the hip use
smokeless powder, as did the New Or
leans. there would remain no signs 9
guns or Notifications to indicate tha
there had ever been any defenses there.
There were no casualties in the fee
although the ships held a fixed positio
as II inviting the S%paniards to fire upo
them. The half-stripped ships gunnel
lever worked with more enthusiasm. III
words OF Rear Admiral Sampson wer'
First silence the batteries on the shor
and then continue firing until the fort
fcations are reduced" This order WI
strictly obeyed. 1t was the first tin
that such instructions had been give
and the men responded with a will.
IS minutes TIM order was given to cea
firing. and the message went to ca
ship from the admiral: We'll done
The officers and men then turned in (
breakfast.
Every detail Of the engagement h
been executed to the letter. the openi
OF fire by the New York to the last sh
from the lowe. The Spaniards we
evidently surprised while strengthen
their Notifications. The first shot OF {
New York landed full and fair on
ton of the hills to the east, where I
gunners were at work erecting n
pIeceA The earth seemed to rise In
cloud. and when the 12-inch shells Of
IOWA and ls-inch beauties OF the orei
landed ~souarely and fairly. q great On
went up from the ships. The west
squadron got into line and began mr.
before the eastern one did, and the On
of the shots could be plainly seen.