The record-union., 1898-05-13
FIERCE
BATTLE At
CARDENAS.
American Vessels Engage
Spanish Forces,
Resulting in the Death Of Five
Brave Naval Men.
Torpedo Boat WinsIow Also Disabled
and Rohlu rlomorod
Torpedo Boat WinsIoW Also Disabled
and Badly Damaged.
Furious Havoc Made With the Harhor and
Town of Cardenas, and One Spanish
GunhOat Known to Have
Been Destroyed.

United States gunboat Hudson came up
to the Government dock at O'Clock
this morning the bodies of five dead
men were lying on her deck. They
were the remains of Ensign w Bag
ley and four members of the crew of
the torpedo boat Winsiow. who were
killed in an engagement in Cardenas
harbor yesterday. The bodies were
covered by the Stars and Stripes. In
the cabin of the Hudson was Captain
j. B. Bernadou of the Winslow, who is
slightly injured in the left leg. and sew
eral others of the Winslow's crew who
are slightly injured.
The dead are: Ensign Worth Bag
Icy, John VOrver, oiler; Josiah Tunnett,
cabin cook; ]. V. Meeks, fireman; j.
Daniel, fireman.
The wounded are: B. E. Cox, gun
ner's mate; d. McKeen, quartermas-
ter; j. Patterson, fireman; F. Gray,
Lieutenant j. B. Bernardou. All are
slightly wounded except Patterson,
whose condition is serious.
Ensign Bagley was appointed from
North Carolina on September Z, 1895.
The engagement took place inside the
harbor of Cardenas. The gunboat
Wilmington, the torpedo boat Winslow
and the gunboat Hudson were the only
vessels engaged. They entered the
harbor for the purpose of attacking
some Spanish gunboats which were
known to be there. These latter, how
ever, were not discovered by the Amer
lean force until the Spaniards opened
fire. The land batteries of Cardenas
supported the fire of the Spanish gun
boats. The engagement commenced at
hour.
The battle, while it lasted, was ter
rife. The Wilmington and the Hud-
son were ahead, and opened fire on
the Spanish boats, which were lying at
the dock. The firing began at a range
of 5000 yards. A few minutes later
the Winslow came up and opened fire.
In an instant the entire attention of
was directed upon her. From all sides
shot and shell poured in on the little
torpedo boat
The Wilmington and the Hudson still
kept up their fire, but they could not
turn aside the terrible storm of fire
and death pouring in upon the torpedo
boat
The crew of the Winslow, however,
never faltered for a second. At 2:35
solid shot crashed into the hull of
er- In an instant she began to roll
and rock helplessly. Then there was
moment of awful suspense. a fierce
cheer of triumph went uh from the
Spaniards on the gunboats and in the
batteries, and again a storm of fire
was opened up on the helpless boat
The gunboat Hudson, which was ly-
ing near by, started to the assistance
of the Winslow. She ran alongside
the torpedo boat and tried to throw a
line to the imperilled crew Up to
this time, with the exception of the
one shot which disabled the boiler of
the Winslow. the firing of the Spanish
gunboats had been wild, but as the
Winslow lay rolling in the water the
range grew closer, and shells began to
explode all about her.
IT was difficult for the Hudson to get
near enough to throw a line to the
Winslow's crew, so terrible was the
fire all about her. Finally. after about
twenty minutes. the Hudson ap-
preached near enough to throw a line.
Ensign Bagley and six men were
standing in a group on the deck of the
Winslow.
"Heave her, heave her. shouted
Ragley. as he looked towards the Com
mander of the Hudson and called for
q line.
Don't miss it," shouted an officer
from the Hudson, and with a smile
Baeley called back Let her come. II $
getting too hot here for comfort.
The line was thrown, and about the
same instant shell burst in the very
midst of the group of men on board the
Winslow. Bagley was instantly Kill
ed. and a few others dropped ABOUT
him Half a dozen more fell groanlng
on the bloodstained deck. One OF the
dead men pitched headlong over the