The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-05

| P''f,' PuR VI IHe small arms Oh
the army iloated ont to sea during
the occasional lull in tho firing of
tho big guns which peppercd tho
rltlo pits until clouds of rod earth
rose above them.
AN 3 inch shell IRON the Newark
dropped in the massive old fort and
clouds of white dust and huge stonos
filled tho air. Whom tho small shells
hit its battlements, almost hidden by
green troopers, fragments of masonry
came tumbliug down. A shot from
the Suwanee hit tho eastorn parupet
and it crumbled away like y ummy
exposed to the air after long years
Amid tho smoke and debris tho flag.
stall was seen to fall forward.
TIE FLAG SHOT DOWN.
"Tho flag has boon shot down."
shouted the ships crew, but when
the smoke cleared away the omblem
OF Spain was sccn to be still tl> ing
and blazing brilliantly IN the sun,
though the flagstaff was bending to.
ward tho earth. Apparently the
flagstaff had boon caught firmly in
the wreckago Of the fort. A few
more shots lovoled the walls until
tho old castle was Il pitiful sight.
When tho firing censod, Lieut..
Delehantey of tho Snwaneo was anxi-
Gus to finish his work, so he signall-
cd to the New York asking pcrmis-
sion to knock down the Spanish flag
eyes," replied Admiral Sampson, if
you can do it in three shots"
BLUES MAGNIFICENT CRAFTSMANSHIP.
Tho Suwanee then lay about 600
yards from the old fort. Sho took
her timo. Lieut.. Blue carefully
aimed the 4 inch gun and the crews
of I'LL the ships Watched the incident
amid Intense excitement.
When tho smoke of tho Snwnnoe's
first shot cleared away, OILY two rod
streamers oe the flag wore left. Tho
shell had gone through tho centre
Of the bunting.
A delighted yell broke from the
crow Of the Suwanee. Two or three
minutes later the Suwaneo fired again.
A hugo cloud Of debris rose from the
base of the flagstaff. For few sec
onds it was impossible, to toll what
had been tho effect of tho shot. Then
it was seen that tho shell had only
added to the ruin Of the fort.
The flagstaff soomed to have a
charmed existence and the Suwanee
had onl ly one chance. 1t hardly
seemed possible for her to achieve
her object with the big gun, such Il
distance and such tiny target.
There was broathless saionco among
tho watching crews. They crowded
on the ships dock and all eyes were
on that tattered rag, bonding toward
the earth from the top Of what once
had been grand old castle. But, il
was only bending, not yot down.
Lieut.. Commander Delchanty and
Lieut.. Blue took their time
The Suwanco changed her position
, slightly. Then pn!r Of smoke shot
out from her side, and up went {
} spouting cloud of debris from the
parapet and down fell the banner oi
, Span.
} Such yels from the flagship vii
probably never be heard again
There was moro excitement than il
} witnessed at tho finish Of college
boat race or a popular race between
, first class thcroughbrcds on som,
} big track.
The Suwanee's last shot ha(
struck right at tho base of the flag
staff AMI had blown it clear of th,
, wreckago which had held it.
. "Well donc," signallcd Admira
, Sampson to Lieut. Commander Del
, chmty.
. GEN. DUFFIELp
At l1:3O Con. Dnlleld signallc
t that his scouts reported that no dam
}. age had been done to the Spanis
: rifle pits by the shells from the ship
+ and Admiral Sampson told him tho