, 1898-08-16
LAST FIGHT IN CUBA
BCMBARDMENT OF MANZANILLO
BY AMERICAN SHIPS LAST
FRIDAY.
The Fight Stopped by a Telegram form
General Greeley Announcing the
Signing of the Peace PrOtOcol-As
Usual, No American Sailors or
Ships Were Hurt.

Manzanillo, Aug. 10. via Hayti, Aug
l5.-Manzanillo, on the south coast OF
Santiago province and UcSt of Santiago
de Cuba. was bombarded for over
twelve hours. beginning yesterday
about $50 o'clock in the afternoon,
when the seCond-rate protected cruiser
Newark lay 5000 yards off shore and
threw G-inch shells, and the gunboats
Suwanee, Osceola, Hist and Alverdo at
ranges from 600 to 500 yards swept the
shore battery with 4-.nch guns every
half hour through the night. At dawn
today white flags could be seen all over
the town and also on the hills. Soon a
small beat was observed coming out to
the Newark under a white flag.
The unconditional surrender of the
town was demanded by Captain Good
rich and a refusal of the demand was
followed by a sudden determination to
clean out M~anZanillo.
The Newark left Guantanamo on
Tuesday afternoon with the Resolute,
the latter with Colonel Huntington and
the First battalion of marineS on board
for an important position to the west
ward. On Wednesday afternoon they
met the Suwanee and Hist off Cape
Cruze. which. with the Alverdo and
Osceola. We're to help the Newark
blockade Cienfuegos.
After a conference with the COM
marGing officers, Captain Goodrich de-
cided to take Manzanillo before pro-
ceeding further. The vessels arrived
off the town about noon on Friday, af-
ter some brilliant navigation work
through shoal waters.
Lieutenant Victor Blue, commanding
the Alverdo, was sent ashore with the
demand for the surrender Of the town.
The Spanish refused to surrender. and
at Las p. M. the signal was given to
clear the ships for action.
The Newark flew a white flag from
her foremost until 3:35 O'Clock, when
the new ensign which was presented
to the vessel by the school children of
Newark was run up. 1t was then
threatening rain. but the signal, Begin
firing" vas given.
The %gunboats. which were stationed
Down the south channel, fred from
there. The Newark vas lying with
the town on her sta!board beam.
The firing was begun by the New
ark with the starboard battery. The
first shell fell into the Spanish bat
teries and the next two near them. A
little later the guIboats opened fire.
There was no Spanish reply, and no
Spanish flag could be seen in the town.
Manzanillo lies north and south on a
low hill which slopes to the shore.
There are batteries all along the water
mounted. There are blockhouses north.
south and back of the town. A force
of Cubans were in the rear of the place.
The shells from our warships struck
nj the town. razing buildings and caus-
ing clouds of dust. At i:15 p. m. it was
thought that a white flag was seen fly
ing on a Spanish g%unboat. which was
lying close in front Of the town. and
the American %gunboats moved in. the
Alverdo flying a white flag. An order
to cease firing was given. When our
gunboats We're about 800 yards from
the shore the Suawneegrounded.
Suddenly the whole water front was
ablaze with fire from the Spaniards,
and a number of shots were fired from
the bl%ockhouse. The Americans an
severed the fire fiercely, and finally, af-
ter fifteen minutes they slowly drew
off. The Spanish fire then slackened,
but followed the gunboats out. Some
of the shots fell 1000 yards from the
Newark. which had resumed firing
when the enemy opened on the SUI
vance and other vessels. No one was
hurt on the gunboats. Meanwhile the
Cnbans in the rear of the town began to
fire on the Spaniards from the north.
They had no artillery. but their rifle
fire grew so annoying to the enemy
that they finally answered with field
pieces. which soon caused them to cease
firing.