Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-03
OPERATIONS OF THE NAVY.
The Great Battleships DO Most De.
structfve Work on gantfnRo.

OFF SANTIAGO DE CUBA, July !, via
KINGSTON, July 2, s A. M.-Before
o'clock this morning the crew Of the flag
ship were astir. eating a hurried break
fast, end at $50 general quarters" wal
sounded AMI the flagship headed in to.
ward Aguadores, about three miles east
OF MORO Castle. The other ships retain.
ed their blockading stations. Along the
surf-beaten shore the smoke OF an APP
preaching train from AItares was seen
1t was composed OF open cars full OF Gen.
eraI Dufield's troops. At the cut a mile
east of Aguadores the train stopped and
the Cuban scouts proceeded along the rail-
road track. The troops got out OF the
cars and soon formed in a long. thin line
standing out wildly against the yellow
rocks that rose perpendicularly above
shutting them off from the main body Of
the army, which is on the east side of the
hill, several miles north.
ARMY AND NAVY SIGNALS.
From the quarter OF the flagship there
was q signal by vigorously wig-wagged
letter, and few minutes later, from q
an answer from the army. This was the
first cooperation for offensive purposes
between the army and navy. With the
flag in his hand the solder ashore looked
like butterfly. Are you waiting for us
TO begin?" was the signal made by Rear
Admiral Sampson to the army.
General Dufield is ahead with the
scouts" came the answer from the shore
to the flagship.
BY this time it was o'clock. and the
Admiral ran the fiagships bow within
three-quarters OF mile of the beach. She
remained almost as near during the fore
noon, and the daring way she was ham
died by Captain Chadwick within sound
OF the breakers made the Cuban pilot on
beard stare with establishment.
PREPARING TO DISEMBARK
The Suwanee was in company with the
flagship. still closer in shore. and the
Gloucester was to the westward. near
Moro Castle. From the southwark the
Newark came up and took position to
the westward. Her decks were black
with LOO or more troops. She went along
side of the flagship and was told to dis
embark the troops at Alcires.
Then Admiral Sampson signalled to
General Dufield:
when do you want US to commence
hring?"
In a little while white nag On shore
sent back the answer:
Of . t,a IND q
Then 1 will signal you"
1t was O long and tedious wait for the
ships before the second fifty carloads of
troops came putting along from Altares.
BY $50 the last OF tho soldiers had left
he open railroad tracks. disappearing In
he thick brush that covered the eastern
side of Aeuadores inlet.
The water in the sponge tubs under the
,reeches of the big guns was growing
lot in the burning sun. Ashore there was
10 sign of the enemy. They were be-
ieyed to be on the western bluff.
THE SPANISH FLAG SIGHTED.
Between the bluffs runs a rocky gully
eading into Santiago city. On the ex-
astellated fort, from which the Spanish |
lag was flying, and on the parapet on |
he eastern Hill, commanding the gully. !
wo stretches of red earth could easily |
e seen against the brush. These were |
he rifle pits.
At 1915 a signal flag ashore wig-wagged /
0 Admiral Sampson 10 commence firing.
nd a minute later the New York's guns |
LACED away at the rifle pits and at the
Id fort.
The Suwanee and Gloucester joined in
he echoes, which rumbled around and
He'd the gully. All the stored-up thun-
er Of the clouds seemed TO have broken
pose. and smoke soon rose over the hills
nd the gully was shut out from view.
Then the firing became more deliberate.
THE RIFLE PITS PEPPERED.
OF our troops ashore in the brush, no.
hing could be seen, but the ping"
ping" Of the small arms of the army
Dated out 10 sea during the occasional
III in the firing Of the big guns. which
eppered the rifle pits until clouds Of red
nth rose above them. An S-inch shell
ON the Newark dropped in the massive
ID fort, and clouds of white dust and
uge stones filed the air. When the
nall shells hit it's battlements. almost
dden BY green creepers, fragments Of
asonry came tumbling down. A shot
ON the Suwanee hit the eastern parapet,
~ ft cr,tmhled away like n mummy ex-
,sed to the air after long years. Amid
e smoke and debris the flagstaff was
en- to fall forward.
1.-THE flag has been shot down" shouted
e ships crew, but when the smoke
cared away the emblem Of Spain was
en- 10 be still flying and blazing brilliant
i'm the sun, though the flagstaff was
nding toward the earth. Apparently
Q flagstaff had been caught firmly in
e wreckage of the fort.
A few more shots levelled the battle
ents, until the old castle was a pitiful
,ht.
A BANNER FOR A TARGET.
When the firing ceased Lieutenant
eutenant Delhanty, OF the Suwanee.
Is anxious to finish his work. so he
;nalled to the New York. asking per-
ssion TO knock down the Spanish flag
Yes" replied Admiral Sampson, 'ff
u can do it in three Shots"
rhe Suwanee then lay about 1000 yards
I'm the old fort. She took her time. !
eutenant Blue carefully aimed the 4 !