The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-06-08

! Boat Dandy on santiago, MONDAY noon
via Kingston. jamaica. June i.--tCopy'
rirhtcd Isys by the Associated Prcssl-
Z The American nort this morning engaged
| no spanish batteries defending the en-
trance of the harbor Of Santiago de- cuba
and after three hours hombardmcn' sll-
cnccd nearly nl the forts destroyed sev-
cral carihworks and rendered the EsJrclla
and cave batteries, tho Two principal
/ forts. useless.
The feet formed In double column six
miles On Moro castle At o'clock IN the
I morning and steamed slowly 2Jj yards on
| shore. tho Brooklyn leading followed by
! the Marblchad. Texas and Massachusetts,
and turned westward. The second line
the New York leading. with the New Or
leans. Yankee Iowa and Oregon follow
| Ing. and turned eastward. The Vixen and
suwanec were far out on the left flank
watching the rlncmon on shore. Tho Dol
phln and Porter did similar duty on tho
right hank.
The line headed by the New York, at
| tackled the new carthworks near MORO
castle. The Brooklyn column took up a
station opposite the Estrclla and Cata-
lima batteries and tho new carthworks
along the shore
Tho Spanish batteries remained silent,
as n doubtful whether the Spaninrds
were able to determine the charcter OF the
movement. owing to the dense fog and
heavy rain which were features OF the
weather this morning, suddenly the Iowa
fired a i2-inch she'll which struck the base
of the Estrella battery and tore up the
works Instantly the firing began from
both Admiral SIMPSONS and Commodore
Schlry's columns. and a torrent OF shells
from the ships fell upon the spanish
works. The Spaniar,is replied promptly.
but their artillery work was OF very poor
quality and most of their shots went
Wild The smoke settled around the ships
In dense clouds rendering more difficult
the work OF tho gunners There was no
manccuvcring Of the neet the ships re-
naming at their original station and ir-
ing steadily. The squadrons were so close
inshore that It was difficult for the Amert-
can gunnerS to reach the batteries on the
hill tops, hut their firing was excellent.
Previous to the bombardment orders
were issued to prevent firing on Morro
castle. as the American admiral had been
Informed that Lieutenant Hobson and
the other prisoners of the Morrimac are
confined there, In spite OF this. however,
several stray shots damaged MORO castle
somewhat,
Commodore Schleys line moved closer
IN shore, firing at shorter range. The
Brooklyn and Texas caused Wild havoc
III.
ing them. While the larger ships were
engaged with the heavy batteries the
Suwanee and Vixen closed with the small
shore batteries opposite them. raining
rapid Hro shots upon them and quickly
placing the batteries out Of the lighting.
The Brooklyn closed in to within 500
yards and the destruction caused by her
Guns and those Of the Marblehead and
Texas was readily seen.
The works OF the Estrena fort were
burning and the battery was silenced,
firing no morc during the engagement.
To the eastward the New York and New
orleans Silenced the Cave batteries In
quick order and then shelled the earth
works located higher up, This latter prac-
tiCo was not so accurate, owing to the ele-
walton OF the guns, Many Of the shells,
however, landed, and the spanish guuners
retired,
shortly after o'clock the firing ceased,
the warships turning In order TO permit
the uSo of the port batteries The eX-
change then became a long reverbraung
crash Of thunder and shells, which raked
the Spanish batteries with terrible effect,
Fire broke out In the Catalina fort and
silenced the Spanish guns
The firing OF the fleet ended at 10 o'clock,
when the Spaniards ceased firing entirely
and Admiral Sampson raised the cease
firing signal Many of the earthworks
were knocked to pieces and the Estrella
ana Catalina fortldcations were so badly
damaged that it is questionable whether
they will ever be able to do any effective
work during the war,
After the fleet retired the Spaniards re-
turned to some Of the guns and sent
twelve smells after the fleet but no one
was injured one large shell fell close to
a collier lust in Throughout the entire
engagement no American ship was hurt
and no American was injured,
The Spanlards stuck to their guns and
all evidence to the contrary, their loss
must have been heavy,
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