Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-06-11
STORMING SANTIAGO.
The First Real Fighting
Since Manila.
SPANISH FORTS COMPLETELY SILENCED


days confirm the story of the renewal
of the fight at Santiago, as stated in
THE ENQUIRER of Wednesday. AS
yet, complete and correct details have
not been received; but from the vari-
Gus accounts that have been published,
it is now practicable to complete rea-
sonably intelligent story of what has
been done.
The navy department at Washing
ton received long official report from
Sampson ON Tuesday, and at 7.30
posted the following bulletin, signed
by the admiral: : "Bombarded forts
at Santiago 7.30 to 10 a. M, today,
June 6. Have silenced works quickly
without injury of anykind, though h
within 1000 yards" This was all
that the department would give to the
public generally; but the newspapers
contain many additional particulars.
At 6 o'clock Monday morning, the
fleet formed in double column, about
six miles off Moro Castle. In one
column was the Brooklyn, followed by
the Marblehead, Texas and Massachu-
setts. In the other column the New
York led the New Orleans, Yankee,
Iowa and Oregon. The first column
veered to the westward and the second
to the east. Outside the lines of big
vessels on either side, were lines Of
small vessels instructed to 60 close
in near the shore out of range of the
heavy Spanish batteries, to look for
masked batteries or forces Of soldiers
along the shore.
The two lines of ships moved slowly
and deliberately until they were with
in about a mile.and-a-half from the
entrance to Santiago channel. There
had been a heavy rain during the
morning, and there was still dense
fog on. The Spaniards did not open
fire, possibly because they were unable
to make out the nature of the move
men.. The Iowa brnke the silence
with one of her big guns. The 12-inch
shell struck the base of Estrella bat
terry and tore up the works. Then all
the ships joined in with noise which
sounded like a prolonged crash of
thunder. The Spaniards began to re-
ply at once with great energy but
none of their shots seemed to take
effect.
Schley took his squadron within
800 yards of the Spanish batteries.
This was point blank range-the
equivalent of about 80 steps for re-
volver-and the destruction that was
wrought by the Brooklyn, Texas and
Marblehead was simply awful. In a
few minutes the Estrella battery was
on fire, and the guns sileuced. On
the east side, the New York and New
Orleans silenced the Cave battery and
then went to work on earthworks
higher up on the hillside; but at a
considerable disadvantage on account
of the elevation. A number of shells
struck the right place, however, and
the gunners ran away.
About 9 o'clock, the ships, all Of
which were broadside to the batteries,
slowly turned themselves round and
put the guns on the opposite side into
service. The firing was continued on
up until 10 o'clock, when the Span
iards ceased to reply and Admiral
Sampson gave the signal for the fleet
to withdraw.
1t was rumored among the ships of
the fleet that owing to the fact that
Lieutenant Hobson was supposed to
be in the Moro, that fortifcation must
not be fred upon. But the rumor
turned out not to be founded on fact.
At least so it is reported. When the
engagement was over it was found
that there were great gaps in the walls
of the Moro Notifications and that
they were unfit for any further resist
ance
From reports by way of Madrid it
is learned that during the lombard
ment Admiral Cervera's squadron Icy
within the bay behind the first line of
channel defenses and ready to oppose
the American ships should they at
tempt to enter. The Reina Mercedes
was sunk by a shell which killed her
commander, Captain Ocosta. Twen-
ty-one marines were killed on the YES
sci, and a lieutenant and II men were
wounded. A big shell from the Brook
yn burst under the port quarter of the
Vizcaya, dismounting a gun, injuring
the cruisers rudder and wounding
several sailors.
LANDING EFFECTED.
During Tuesday the Notifications at
the entrance of Santiago harbor, hav-
ing already been badly knocked up,
were allowed a respite, while the fleet
scattered along the coast and bonn
barded Aguadores, two miles from
Santiago, Daiquiri, fifteen miles east
of MORO castle, and Ciamanera, about
twenty miles east of Daiquiri. The
Spaniards had Notifications at all these
points, and the Notifications resisted
the ships as best they could until they
were all finally silenced.
Marines were landed at Aguadores
and Daiquire and Ciamanera. AT
Aguadores and Daiguiri, the Spaniards
were completely routed by the fire
from the ships and the marines landed
without meeting with resistance. AT
Cionoporo however the Snania rdS