Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1898-07-05
PLUCKY LITTLE CRAFT
The Hornet, Hist and Wampatuck
Sink Spanish Gunboats.
FIGHTING OFF MANZANILL0
The American Auxiliary Gunboats DO bat
tie Against a Spanish Fleet Of Nine
Warships Supported by Land Bat.
teries and Armed Pontoons.

Playa del Este, July 5.-Three vessel!
of Admiral SIMPSONS fleet have re-
turned from an adventurous expedition
to Manzanillo, during which they sunk
two Spanish gunboats, one sloop and
one pontoon, disabled Spanish torpedo
boat, considerably damaged several Of
the enemy's gunboats and compelled the
commander of a troopship to run her
ashore.
One of Admiral SIMPSONS vessels, the
Hist, was struck II times, and another,
the Hornet, was disabled by shell,
which hit her main steam pipe. She
was towed out of danger by the Wam-
patuck.
Admiral Sampson sent the Hist, the
Hornet and the Wampatuck to Manza-
milo to destroy four Spanish gunboats
which the admiral had been informed
were lying in that harbor. Instead Of
finding only that array OF fighting craft
the American vessels encountered in
crescent formation nine vessels, includ-
ing a torpedo boat and a cruiser.
They also found themselves flanked
by land batteries and armed pontoons,
while a heavy battery Of field artillery
was in position on the water front to
aid in making warm the reception Of
SIMPSONS vessels.
In addition to this formidable display
the Spaniards showed several guns in
the fort on the hill, while the shore for
two miles was lined with soldiers who
maintained a fierce fusillade.
Cndaunted by this formidable array.
the three little American vessels steam
ed into the harbor and began an attack
Their fire was returned by the Spanish
vessels, and for two hours a hot fight
was waged. Shots repeatedly went
straight from the guns OF each combat
ant doing much damage when they
struck.
During the engagement the Hist was
made the main target for the Spanish
gunners, who showed greater adeptness
IN their aim than have the Spanish gun
hsrs stationed in the forts along tho |
coast. They succeeded IN hitting the |
1lst II times but the pNcky little craft
"l.nstood the heavy fire CALAMITY. |
AGAIN and again she ran close I'D to thr |
enemy's vessels, persistently refusing to |
araw away because Of the accuracy OF
the Spanish aim, "a
But for the accident to the Hornet tn.
american vessels would not have with
arawn from the scene after lighting two
hours When the firing was hottest a
sneil went scurrying in the direction OF
me Hornet. striking the main stean,
pipe Oh That vessel, scattering over tn.
ieek and doing considerable damage,
Hist Kept Up Sharp Fire
AS soon as the Hist and the wanro
.uck discovered that the Hornet MO,
disabled their captains decided tb.t -
ou'u pe useless to fight longer against
uon superior enemy. Accordingly the
y an 1I hastened to the rescue OF
ne hornet, the Hist meantime keen;ne
lp IT'S sharpest fire.
A'et the Wampatuck had succeeded
:. se'.lhs line to the Hornet she
.eah,eu out to sea with the disabled
esse' IN tow. The Hist followed close
Ter pouring shot at the enemy rntn
ut of range. ui''i'
Dut.hs the engagement the American
succeeded in sinking one Of m.
h sunooats, one sloop and ono
..ooh' ihey also disabled the enc
W peoo boat, did much DAMAGE n !
re.al Oh the gunboats in the harho,
na maze marked impression On ~
pahisn land batteries. Thew a,.o AZ.
overed the Purisima Concencinn u.s. ,
~" W. large transports lying In tho har
~ ms We're not enough exciteue,+
~ one small auxiliary cruiser tho t,,s.
oheo her nose into Neguira bav 80
49, e. Spanish gunboat lvins
lere, She Immediately opened ers ing q
ie spaniard, which, taken so comn,a, on
w surprise, replied feebly and inae
n minutes. ~ the Hist IN
me Hist subsequently had L
~ s experience with a shin ladan 4
,'n spanish troops. and again tba ~,
70 d,ne came out with new laurs,s
discovered the troopship sone as
me- out from shore and uis
han her. The ship did NOT s.as
men the Hist fired shot acro o. sop =
wv. instead, her captain sant t" ner
ard the shore. sent her to-
l ne captain Of the Hist knar.
q a'S sn .ake his little craft just as fsr ne
!. spaniards could go with tha t tar as N
q ~ !, 50 ne started in hot pursuit af,p, 81
: larger vessel. He could NO, a. ai.ef n
,, snip but he drove her arro, ap'ore Is
" i.hout attempting to save tha;n u =
.he spaniards scrambled osh he.l yes 4