Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-06-09
SCHLEY SHELLED SANTIAGO.
Reduced the Forts at the Entrance
of the Harbor.
CERVERA'S FLEET HID AWAY.
Hundreds of Spanish Undoubtedly Killed
-Schley's Fleet But Little Damaged
The Cruiser ST. Paul Struck by shells
-Schley Did Not Enter the Harbor.

via Nupt hdltitH, l1dltl. say an AihcA
lean fleet of IA warships, including
torpedo boats, under Commodore
Schley began bombardment at 2p m.
with heavy guns on the forts and the
harbor of Santiago de Cuba. The forts
of MORO Castle, La Zocotapa and
Punta Carda suffered heavily. The
cannonading was careful and very per-
sistent and could not have failed to be
destructive. 1t lasted until 3:45. The
city, which is situated near the inner
end of the harbor, escaped damage.
Later advices regarding the bonn
bardment of Santiago's Notifications
are as follows:
The American squadron under Schley
augmented by the torpedo boat Porter,
the auxiliary cruiser st. Paul and the
protected cruiser New Orleans, APP
preached the entrance TO the harbor of
Santiago at about 1890 p. M, the Iowa
leading. Inside the entrance to the
harbor was seen one of the warships of
Cervera's fleet (Cristobal Colon, strip
ped for action. AS the American fleet
drew near, the New Orleans was de-
tached and steamed forward ahead of
the Iowa, Texas and Massachusetts.
One of the forts opened fire on her and
she replied, the other two ships direct
ing their fire at the battery on the
Punta Gorda within the harbor and to
westward of the position occupied by
the Spanish ship. The latter replied
to the fire, and Immediately became a
target for all the American ships en-
gagged in the battle. She was struck
hind protecting headland and none
of the Spanish feet were seen again
during the engagement.
The Iowa, directed by Capt. Fight
ing Bob Evans; the Massachusetts,
Capt. +. j. Higginson: Texas, Capt. j.
w. Phillip, and the New Orleans, Capt.
w. M. Folger, kept up their terrific fire
against the MORO, Zocatapa and Punta
Gorda forts for two hours, their pro-
jectiles, of enormous size. doing ire
mendous damage to the defenses of the
harbor. The masonry at Zocatapa and
MORO was battered almost into dust
and the Spanish artillerymen ana in
fantry could be plainly seen flying to
safety behind the neighborlng hills.
The auxiliary cruiser st. Paul,
which joined Schley's feet just before
the battle took place, was hit by shells
from the forts, but she was not seri-
ously damaged.
After seeking the protection of jut-
ting headland. the Spanish warships
continued to fire projectiles over the
hills toward the fleet, but they had no
range, not even direction, to their shots
and the shells fell harmlessly into
the sea.
That the number killed and wounded
on the Spanish sideis enormous. no one
doubts, for time and again the Ameri-
can shells hit the batteries squarely
and amid the flying masonry and dis
mantled guns the forms of men were
deserted The damage done to the
American fleet cannot be learned. but
it is not thought any person was killed
If, indeed, anyone was wounded.
A dispatch from Santiago, via Cape
Haitien, the day following the bonn
bardment, says: The American squad
ron reappeared off Santiago but con-
tented itself with firing two shots,
which are believed to have been sig
nails agreed upon with the insurgents,
who, numbering over 5000, have con-
centrated three or four miles from San
tiago. Grave events are expected at
| Santiago. The Spanish authorities
have taken extraordinary precautions
and have placed in the narrow pass at
the entrance of the harbor special con-
trivances which permit the closing and
opening Of the port at will.
When the American fleet reappeared
off Santiago Rear Admiral Sampson ar
rived with his flagship, the New York,
and in accordance with instructions he
relieved Commodore Schley assigning
that officer to the command of a divis-
ion of the fleet comprising the former
flying squadron. The American feet
before Santiago included the first-class
battleships Iowa, Oregon and Massa-
chusetts. second-class battleship Texas,
armored cruisers New York and Brook
lyn. protected cruisers New Orleans,
Marblehead and Minneapolis, gunboat
Nashville, torpedo boat destroyer Scor-
pion, dynamite cruiser Vesuvius, tor
pedo boat Porter, auxiliary cruisers
Harvard and Yale and auxiliary gun
boat Eagle.
The condition of the population of
Santiago since the beginning of the
blockade has grown rapidly worse,
and it is now said to be nearly desper-
ate. Food is very scarce and the poor
people are finding il almost impossible
to obtain any because of the enormous
prices. The expectation is general
that Santiago must soon fall into the
hands of the Americans
/
A decree has been published at Mad
rid authorizing an internal loan OF
100000 pesetas at per cent.
1t is feared that Senior Capote. vice
president of the Cuban republic, has
fallen into Spanish hands He was a
passenger on the Boston Fruit Co.
steamer Belvidere which went ashore
on Cape Maysi, bound from Kingston,
Jamaica TO Boston. Later-The pas
sengers and crew of the Belvidere were
rescued by the Norwegian fruit steamer
Kong Erode and all. including Senior
Capote, were safely landed at Phil