Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1898-06-02
FIGHT AGAIN BEFORE SAMPSON ARRIVED
Full Account Of How SchIey Determined the Presence
of Cervera
INSURGENTS SAID TO BE AIDING OUR FLEET

On Board Associated Press Dispatch
Boat Dandy, PORT ANTONIO, Jamaica,
June 1.-7 a. m.-For an hour, yester-
day afternoon, the Massachusetts,,
Iowa, New Orleans and Vixen, of
Commodore Schley's squadron, ex-
changed shots with the Spanish feet
under Admiral Cervera and with the
land batteries guarding the harbor Of
Santiago de Cuba, behind which the
fleet is hiding. The engagement was
the first which has occurred between
the two naval forces, and was but q
prelude to serious work the latter part
of this week. No attempt was made
by the American commander to bring
off general engagement, it being his
desire to locate the batteries on the
hills above the harbor and to determine
the position of the Spanish fleets.
Shortly before 10 o'clock, Commo-
dore Scheley left the Brooklyn for the
Massachusetts on board of which
battleship he remained during the
fight. at o'clock the signal
Massachusetts, and the New Orleans,
named. The Massachusetts steamed
slowly, until about five miles west of
the harbor entrance, when she turned
in toward the shore and wien about
5000 yards off she turned east again
and bore down on the harbor, the New
Orleans being close UP and the Iowa
half mile behind The flagship grad
ually
INCREASED HER srEED.
and was soon running through the
water at rate of ten knots per hour.
She drew closer and closer to the bat
tories and to the anxleus watchers on
the other ships, it seemed she would
never open fire. When, however, she
passed the harbor entrance by 500 yards
q great cloud of white and yellow
smoke burst from the two 13-inch guns
in her aft turrets and two
shells rose over the hull enc of them
striking the Spanish flagship Crstobal
Colon, as she lay at anchor, the Others
falling close alongside. The two guns
on the forward t1rret were then fired,
and their shells exploding threw up
great jets of spray Close to the Colon.
All the shere batteries took up the
challenge and began rapid fire en- the
Massachusetts,. But she was soon be-
yond their range, and the batteries
thereupon
TURNED GUNS ON NEW ORLEANS.
This cruiser had been directed to pay
attention to the batteries and to draw
their fire as much as possible, and she
obeyed instructions.
Her first shot located large battery
on the hill above Msrro. 1t flew
straight into the fort and must have
caused much damage, as great cloud
of dust and debris rose as the shell
burst A couple more shots sent parts
of the walls of MORO Castle
FLYING INTO THE AIR.
Then the New Orleans confined her
self to the batteries, her fire being rapid
and extremely accurate. The Iowa
came next, and like the Massachusetts,
devoted her attention to the ships lying
within the harbor. Her 12-inch shell:
made the water fly all around that pari
of the harbor in which the Cristobal
aay. The latter, however, was not
seriously damaged and kept up her fir,
until long after the American ships haC
steamed out of range.
After the Iowa came the little Vixen
which let fly with her one FOUNDER an(
glided away After the Vixen had
had passed the forts the Massachusetts
turned again westward, followed by th,
other ships in the same order.
INSURGENTS ARE HELPING.
NEW YoRK, June "A special t,
the Eveaing World, dated Port q,
D-sn Iyaufi fNhA TTnttnl
States feet renewed the attack upol
Santiago de Cuba, this morning. 1
later dispatch say it is reported iron
Santiago that 1900 rebels attacked tn
city, in three columns, and blood
fight is going OH.
ENGAGEMENT EXPECTED.
CAPE HAYTIEN, Hayti, June g.
According to information receive
here from hitherto reliable sonrces,
decisive engagement is expected I
take place in Santiago de Cuba today
SPANISH LOSS NOT HEAVY.
PORT ANTONIO, Jamaica, June L.
delayed in transmission) The AssC
ciated Press steamer Dandy, whic
arrived here tonight reports that tt
fieet of Commodore Schley yestsrds
afternoon attacked the batteries I
Santiago de Cuba and the fleet Of A.
.niral Ccrvera lying In the harbor. III
Spanish flagship, Cristobal Colon, Wi
struck twice by shells from the Mass
.chusetts and the batteries were bad
damaged by fire from the cruiser Ne
Orleans. Three hundred shots we
fired by the Spaniards, and one-feurI
Of that number by the Americans. \
American vessel was hit. and no Of
..on the ships was injured. The Spa
.ish loss was net heavy.