Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1898-05-18
spANIARDs WERE IN AMBUSH.
Had Erected Strong FOrtifcntions
and Masked Batteries.

Key West, May 1.-THE United States
cruiser Marblehead, gunboat Nashville
and auxiliary cruiser Window steamed
up to the harbor of Cienfuegos Wednes'
day morning with orders to cut the cable
connecting Havana with Santiago de
Cuba. This task was accomplished, but
only after u terrific fight between our
warships and several thousand Spanish
troops, which lined the shore and were
concealed behind improvised breastworks
Soon after the arrival of the warships
off Cienfuegos, four boats were launched
and proceeded inshore for the purpose OF
graphing for the cable in order to cut it
The warships lay to about 1000 yards OF
more off the harbor. 1t was observed
that the Spanish troops had assembled
along shore but it was not known that
eavy guns had been placed in masked
batteries and that the old lighthouse bat
teries on the neck of land had been trans
formed into formidable fort.
The small boats proceeded cautiously
and for more than an hour worked unmo
Tested on the cable When the work was
about completed shore battery fired
shell at the boats. 1t was followed by
others and the Spanish infantry opened
fire then with their rifles. Then, like a
flash the Marblehead sent shell in
land and followed it with perfect shower
of shot. Then the Window cut loose
with her 4-pounder.
In the meanwhile Spanish bullets flew
in every direction around the small boats
The blue jackets were not dismayed, and
protected by the terrific return fire by
the warships, the work was continued and
the cable cut.
When the boats returned to the ships
Regan, who was in one of the Marble
heads boats, of which there were two
was found to have been killed. Six mer
were badly wounded.
The Spaniards had by this time suf
fered severe loss. Their shots from the
lighthouse struck the warships severa
times and although they did not do much
damage, the fire aroused the determine
ton of the American officers to extermin
ate the forts. Thereafter, for q moment
the fire of the ships was concentrated
on the lighthouse and the improvised fort
was blown to pieces. As there wer'
great numbers of the Spanish in and be
hind the fort at the time, there is NJ
doubt that many Of them were killed
The Marblehead and Nashville used thei
heaviest guns as well as their small rapid
firing guns and an hundred shots wer'
thrown into the Spanish troops.
| The Dead and Wounded.
Washington, May l4.-The following
telegram came to the navy department
this afternoon from Commodore Remey
"Key West, May l4.-Secretary of the
Navy: The Window arrived this morn
ing with the following dead or wounded
Patrick Regan, private marine, dead
Herman w. Kuchneister, private ma
rine, shot through the jaw, probably ia
tally.
Harry Hendrickson, seaman, sho
through the liver, probably fatal.
Ernest Suntenic, apprentice, fracture o
the right leg.
John J. Doran, boatswain's mate, gun
shot in the right buttock.
josh Davis, gunner's mate, wound il
the right leg.
William Levery, apprentice, wound in
the left leg
Robert Voltz, seaman on the Nashville
severely wounded.
Lieutenant Cameron, of the Window
slightly wounded in the hand.
| The casualties occurred in cutting tn,
cable at Cienfuegos. REBIEY."