The record-union., 1898-05-11
Gunbodt Machias Comes to Her Res
cue, Dispensing the Enemy.
The Hornet and Winston Having a Lively
Time Smelling Spanish Details at Work
on Government Wires at Man
tanzaS Harbor.

PRESS DISPATCH BOAT KATE
SPENCER (off Cardenas), May 9, via
Key West, May 10.-The little torpedo
boat Winslow yesterday morning pre-
cipitated the first naval engagement
fought in Cuban waters. On a recon-
noisance in Cardenas Harbor she drew
the fire of three Spanish coastguard
vessels, and lively vestpocket sea
| fight followed with the tiny gunboats.
AS the Winslow was decidedly small.
she ran for the open sea, where her
/ big station mate, the gunboat Machias,
which had been called by the firing,
took hand in the game with her four
| inch rifles, and tossed several shells
over the sandpit behind which the
| 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
| boat
! The most satisfactory result was the
discovery that Cardenas Harbor is
mined. If there are any batteries the
Spanish did not think it worth while
| to disclose their position. That there
are mines in the channel is important,
in view of the report that it is .Carde-
mas and not Matanzas where the land
| ing of the United States forces will be
made.
| The fight with the coastguard 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 Icicas Point reaches out
like long index finger almost touch
ing Piedras Key light, which in peace
full days beaconed the harbor entrance.
The lighthouse has been in darkness
and deserted for many nights. Feeling
safe in the desolation of the lighthouse
and the silence ashore, the little Wins
morning haze for closer inspection of
the harbor. There evidently had been
lookout among the dunes and along
the sandspits, for the Winslow was
allowed to feel her way into the harbor.
taking notes Of changed buoys and
false marks designed to lead her onto
the torpedo fields. But suddenly there
was a puff of smoke from among the
mangrove clumps along one of the in
let's, and a six-pound shell screeched
out of the bushes; crack came another
from the shelter of a tiny key in the
bay, and third from further down the
coast. Then three coaStguard boats, de-
tected from their cover, under a full
head of steam, like big pike after a
minnow. The Winslow's crew jumped
to the twopounders fore and aft, and
let the Spaniards have it, port and star
board, as they chased in The little
gunboats came along scooting, but af-
| ter the usual Spanish fashion hit moth
ing but adjacent scenery. Then the
Winslow scudded along the open sea,
urging her gun astern, and defiantly
shooting as she went along.
| The Spanish boats fired about sixty
shots, and the biggest boat, mounting
a twelve-pounder, kept up the bonn
bardment as 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 hor-
nets, and kept up the chase until all
| four of the little craft were rocking in
| Ia CT odd Inc
there was a crash and a roar to sea-
ward. and the Machias, bearing in un-
der canopy of smoke, sent a shell
smashing into the pursuing fleet The
little patrol boats spun about like wa
| ter spiders, and ran to shelter beyond
| the sandpits. The Machias sent a
few shells skipping in between the sand
dunes but with what effect could not
be seen. At any rate, there are three
prospective additions to our mosquito
| fleet bottled up in Cardenas Harbor
awaiting shipment.
/ ACTIVITY OF THE SPANIARDS.
! The Spanish soldiers are displaying
1 much activity along the coast from
| Bahia Honda, fOTfy-nVe miles west OF
| Havana to Cardenas. sixty-five miles
to eastward. AS the ships of the block
aiding fleet have instructions to prevent
the erection of new Notifications and
have at various points shelled working
parties, the task of strengthening exist
| ing defenses and throwing up earth