The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-05-05

The past week has been very
disastrous one to the Sppniards. More
of their merchant vessels have been
captured, and in an engagement
with Commodore Dewey and his
squadron at Manila they suffered
heavy losses and were completely
routed.
THURSDAY.
A full report of the bombardment
of Matanzas by the cruisers New
York and Cincinnati and the Monitor
Puritan reached Washington to-day
from Admiral Sampson. 1t proves
the superior gunnery of the American
ships, nearly every one of their shots
telling heavily. The batteries were
silenced and apparently nearly des-
troyed. Sixty Spaniards are said to
have been killed.
For some days the Cincinnati,
which has been biockading the port,
noticed that large bodies of men were
erecting new batteries on low.
sandy point that runs out near the
entrance to the port. A report was
sent to Admiral Sampson, with mott
fcation that the Dupont had been
fired on by concealed battery.
The Admiral on the flagship New
York left his cruising ground about
noon yesterday and proceeded toward
Matapzas. He found there the moni-
tor Puritan and the cruiser Cincinnati,
which have been blockadlng the port.
The Admiral decided to make
reconnaissance in force for the purpose
of locating the batteries, discovering
the kind of guns they mounted, and,
if possible, stopping the work of forti-
flying.
Matanzas lies at the head of bay
about four miles from the sea. This
bay at it's mouth is three miles wide.
On the west side of the bay is Port
Rubalcava and on the east side Point
Maya.
The New York led the way into
the bay. The Puritan was few hun
dred yards astern on the port side,
and the Cincinnati remained behind a
slightly greater distance astern on the
starboard side. Not human being
could be seen on shore.
Suddenly a small battery on the
eastern side of the bay opened fire on
the New York. Two shells fell short
of the vessels.
The range of the east battery was
nearly 1000 yards, but the flagship
promptly opened fire with one of her
8-inch guns. The engagement in a
few minutes became general.
The New York steamed quickly in
and circled to the westward toward
Point Rubalcava, while the Puritan
swung to starboard to engage the
Maya battery, which was the more
formidable.
The target practice of the flagship
was an inspiring sight. At every shot
from her batteries clouds of dust and
big pieces of stone showed where the
Spanish forts were suffering.
The New York soon reduced the
range from 1000 to 5000 yards, and
soon was tossing shells into Rubal-
cava at the rate of about three a
minute with wonderful precision.
In the meantime the Puritan was
taking care of Point Maya. 1t was
so we'll masked that the only target
was the infrequent smoke from the
battery. But when the Puritan got
the range her shells burst every time
within the fortifcation and great was
the explosion thereof
All this time the Cincinnati had re-
NAMED out of action. One can
imagine the impatience of Captain
Chester and his enthusiastic crew at
not being allowed to take hand in
this, the first battle of the war.
Captain Chester himself slgnaled
for permission to engage, and it was
granted by the flagship. The Cincin'
natl steamed up to within 1000 yards
broadside on, and almost Immediately
her guns were at work.
For twenty minutes the rain of shot
and shell OH the flimsy batteries con-
tinued, when they were practically
silenced.
The New York was just giving the
signal to retire when one defiant shot
was fired from Rubalcava. One oi
the big guns on the Puritan followed
back. 1t was the best shot of the day
1t struck the battery just where the
gun was, tore its way into the earth