The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-11

Copyright 1898 by Associated Press.)
On board the Associated Press dis
patch boat Kate Spencer, off Cardenas,
May 8, lvia Key West, FLA. MAY 10.-
The little torpedo Boat WiRslow yester-
day morning precipitated the first naval
engagement fought in Cuban waters. On
a reconnaissance in Cardenas Harbor she
drew the fire of three Spanish coast
guard vessels, and Il lively vest pocket
sea fight followed with the tiny gun
boats. As the Winslow was decidedly
in the minority she ran for the open sea,
where her big station mate, the gun boat
Machias, who had been called up by the
firing, took hand in the game with her
over the low sand spit behind which
Spanish boats were sheltered. 1t was
impossible to see whether any of these
landed The Winslow was not touched,
but she claims to have knocked a few
splinters out of the larger coast guard
boat.
The most important result of the Wins
lows reconnaissance was the discovery
that Cardenas harbor is mined. Ii
there were any batteries on shore, the
Spaniards did not think it worth while
to disclose their position. That there
are mines in the channel, is important III
view of the report that it is Cardenas
and not Matanzas, where the landing of
United States forces will be made.
The fight with the Guardia Cost as oc-
cured yesterday morning. Cardenas is
one Of the largest bays along the coast.
the little town of the same name, lying
at the southern end. From the western
shore Iccas Point reaches ont like a
long index finger, almost touching Pie
dras Key Light which in peaceful days
beaconed the harbor entrance. The
light house has been in darkness and de-
serted for many nights.
Feeling safe in the desolation of the
light house and the silence ashore, the
little Winslow crept quietly in, under the
early morning haze, for closer inspec-
tion Of the harbor There had evidently
been a lookout among the dunes along
the sand spit, for the Winslow was all
lowed to feel her way into the harbor
taking notes of changed buoys ana false
marks designed 10 lead a hostile fleet on
WAS puff of smoke among the man
grove clumps along one of the inlets and
SIX pound shell screeched out of the
bushes. Crack came another from the
shelter of a tiny key in the bay, and Il
third from further down the coast. Then
three coast guard boats darted from their
cover, under full head Of steam. like
a Dig gafp1ke after minnow The Wins
lows crew jumped to the two Founders
fore and aft and let the Spaniards have
IT, port and star-board, as they chased
IN. The little gun boats came along
shooting, but after the usual Snanish
fashion, hit nothing but the adjacent
scenery. Then the Winslow scuttled
along for the open sea- using her after
gun as stern chaser and defantly
shooting as she went along. The Snan-
ish boats wasted about sixty shots. and
the biggest boat, mounting a twelve
FOUNDER kept up the bombardment ms
long as the Winslow was in range. The
Spaniards, who had probably heard the
news from Manila. were evidently as
mad as a nest of hornets and kept up
the chase alntil all four of the little craft
were rocking in the swell past Piedras
Keys Just then there was il crash
and roar to seaward and the Machias.
bearing in under canopy of smoke,
sent shell smashing into the pursuing
feet. The little patrol boats spun about
like water spiders and ran to shelter be-
yond the sand spit. The AIachias sent