The herald., 1898-04-29
LOSS OF LIFE PROBABLE
DESTRUCTION OF DEFENsEs Is
CERTAIN
MARKSMANSHIP OF GUNNERS
Races the Earthworks and Rouses
Admiration Of Naval Experts at
Home and Abroad
Associated Press Special Wire

ASSOCidlcu IIeoS SpeCldl WIN
ON THE FLAGSHIP, OFF HAVANA.
April 2S, 10 p. m., via Key West, Fla, April
2s.-(Copyright. 1881 The bombardment
of the Matanzas batteries is now matter
of history. The Flagship has returned to
her station Off El Moro. AS already
briefly stated in these dispatches, the bonn
bardment accomplished it's purpose. and
that without any loss of life on the Ameri-
can side. 1t is believed the Spaniards must
have sustained some loss of life in addition
to having their nearly completed earth
works and Notifications torn up by the ex-
plosion Of shells. The capture Of the city
was not at all contemplated. the object be-
ing to stop the erection of the batteries.
This engagement, the first in which the
United States navy has participated for
about thirty years. occurred quite uneX-
pectedly. The New York was lying about
twenty miles east of Havana at 1890 yes
terday morning when Rear Admiral Samp-
son decided to steam to Matanzas. At the
entrance to the harbor the Monitor Puritan
and the cruiser Cincinnati met the flag.
ship. A stiff wind was blowing and the
waves poured over the low bow and stern
Of the monitor. At slow speed the flagship
proceeded toward the harbor, the Puritan
following half a mile astern and the Gin
cinnati about two miles to the westward
Rear Admiral Sampson and Capt. Chad
wick stood on the high bridge, carefully
surveying the forts which had had the
temerity to fire on the United States tor
pedo boat Foote. When about three miles
from Punta Corda the extreme point of
the eastern end of the harbor, long yell
low streak was seen on shore. 1t looked
like a newly erected earthwork. Still the
New York steamed slowly ahead until 1t
was ascertained without any doubt that
the Spanish troops were busy erecting what
seemed to be q sand battery and had al
ready gotten several guns into position.
Rear Admiral Sampson decided this was
detrimental to pacific blockade. "Gen-
eral quarters" was sounded. The men
rushed to their guns. When the New
York was about 1000 yards from Punta
9Gorda' her helm was put to starboard. AMI
, commence firing the bugler blew. Naval
Cadet Boone, in charge of Waist" the
S-inch gun amidships on the port side, had
the honor of firing the first shot, The flag
ship shook from stem to stern as the first
projectile aimed by the United States at
the shore of Cuba flew from the muzzle of
the big gun. This was at 1886 p. m. Fifty
pairs of glasses were leveled from the flag
ship at the shore. 1t seemed minutes be-
fore the yellow smoke cleared away, but in
reality it was less than five seconds. Then
q little cloud of dust was seen to rise at the
right of the earthworks. For the first at
tempt at 1000 yards 1t was by no means
bad shot.
Without the aid of glasses the objective
point could be clearly defined. With a
deafening report the S-inch gun in the for
ward turret let fly its iron missile. 1t
LANDED high. The after turret came next
with the same sized projectile. A shout of
delight went up from the flagship as a
dense cloud rose slowly from the very CEN
, ter of the earth works, showing how true
had been the aim. Then from the entire
kort side fearful fusillade was poured on
the shore, the four turret guns firing al
most simultaneously, and the 4-inch guns
adding their smaller hail. When the
smoke blew away, Punta Gorda was dotted