Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1898-06-04
FORTS BATTERED INTO DUST
HARBoR OF SANTIAGO DE CUBA
American Squadron Does Not Lost
, Observation-Disclosures, Texas and
New Orleans Keep Up II Terrihc
Fire for Two HOurs-Spanish Tor
Dedo Boats Frustrated.

Nov York. June An Evening Jour
nal special from Cape Haitien says the
tornedo boat Porter arrived at Mole st.
Nicholas at | o'clock this morning with
dispatche, for Washington, She left I'M
mediately. but before going to sea the tol-
lowing story of the bombardment OF San
tiago was obtained:
The American squadron, augmented by
the to,pedo boat Porter, an auxiliary
cruiser and the protected cruiser New
Orleans, approached the entrance to the
harbor of Santiago at about l2;3o p M
the Iowa leading. Inside the entrance
to the harbor was seen one Warshlp OF
Ceryera fleet. stripped for action
As the American fleet drew near, the
| New Orleans was detached and steamed
forward ahead of the Iowa, Texas and
! Massachusetts. One OF the forts opened
| fire on her and she replied, the other ships
directing their fire at the battery on Pun
| ia Gorda. within the harbOr and to the
westward of the position occupied by the
! Spanish ships
The latter replied to the fire and inn
mediately became the target for all the
American ships engaged in the battle. she
The Iowa, directed by Captain "lEght-
inc Bob" Evans the Massachusetts, the
Texas and the New Orleans, kept up
terrific fire against the forts for two
hours, their projcctiles, OF enormous size,
doing tremendous damage to the defenses
of the harbor. The masonry of Socapa
l,t4,V,I lpnnGt into HIlSt
and the forms of Spanish artillerymen
and infantry could plainly be seen flying
to safety behind the neighboring hills,
The auxiliary cruiser, which joined
Schleys fleet Just before the battle took
place, was hit by shells from the forts,
and it is thought was seriously damaged.
After seeking the protection OF Jut-
ting headland, the Spanish warships con
tinued to fire proectiles over the hills
toward the fleet. but they had no range,
not even direction, to their shots, and the
shells fell harmleesly into the sea.
That the number of killed and wounded
on the Spanish side is enormous. no one
doubtszfor time and again the American
shells hit the batteries squarely, and amid
the flying masonry and dismantled guns
the forms OF men were seen. The dam
ace done to the American fleet can not
be learned but it i, not thought that
any person was killed, if indeed, any was
wounded.
aThe Madrid Report
Madrid. june 1.-The minister of ma
rine received dispatch saying the Amer
lean squadron suffered a check before
Santiago.
The fire from the Spanish forts and the
feet of Admiral Ceryera is alleged to
have rcpulsed the American ships which
are said to have, retreated damaged.
The Spanish fleet, it is claimed, did not
suffer
Torpedo Boats Fooled.
New York. June IA dispatch to the
World from Port Antonio, Jamaica, says:
The first engagement between Commo-
dore Schley's squadron and the Spanish
ships of Cervera took place Sunday night
about midnight. Two torpedo boats made
a desperate effort to destroy the Amer1-
can ships. They were stopped in the nick
of time owing to the vigilance of the men
under Captain Philip of the Texas.
The torpedo boats had cleared the har
Dor and were creeping along III the sha-
dow of the Castle Moro and the noun
tain at the entrance to the harbor, They
had travelled two miles to the westward
when the officers of the deck on the Tex
as sighted them. Two of the searchlights
of the Texas were turned on them and
1.-THE next instant the men who had been
sleeping at the loaded guns were aroused
and at work.
The flashing of the lights told the Span
| iards that they were discovered and they
made a quick rush with all speed on to-
ward the Brooklyn and Texas. Before
their bows had swung around the crews
of the port batteries of the Texas We're
pumping steel at them. The rapd-tire
| guns were used.
| The din of the guns of the Texas alarm
ed the whole fleet. The machine guns OF
| the BROOKLYN were at work few sec
onds after the Texas had started i'll. The
other ships were lying further off shore.
The call to general quarters was sound
ed on each of them i'll the belief that all
of Cervera's fleet was coming out in
desperate effort to escape. Searchlights
were played on the waters by all the
ships.
Driven Back to Port.
The Texas and Brooklyn poured such
furious shower of shells at the torpedo
| boats that the latter were forced to turn
about and seek safety in the harbOr.
What damage they sustained is unknown.
The torpedo boats took shelter under
the forts and no attempt to pursue them