The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-05-12
Fierce Naval Battle in Carde-
mas HarbOr
Between U. s. and Spanish
War Vessels.
5 REPORTED KILLED.
The GunbOat WinSlOW Sustained
Great Damage.
Spaniards Fired From Ambush,
Aided by Shore Batteries.

Key West, Fla, May 12.-There was
an engagement off Cardenas near Ma
tanzas yesterday at 2 o'clock in the
afternoon. The United States cruiser
Wilmington, commander, C. c. Todd.
the torpedo boat Winslow and the aux
iIiary gunboat Hudson were engaged
One officer ond four men were killed
and several wounded.
The gunboat Hudson has arrived here
with the bodies of Ensign w. Bagley
and four others of the crew of the
Winslow.
The dead are:
ENSIGN BAGLEY.
JOHN VARVORLS, oiler.
JOSIAH TUNNEL, cabin cook.
]. V MEEKS, fireman.
]. DANIEL, fireman.
In the cabin of the Hudson was Cap
tain John 3. .Bernatdow of the Winslow
. who is slightly injured in the left leg,
and several other of the Winslow's
crew who are slightly wounded.
Hudson came up to the government
dock at O'Clock this morning, the bod
les of the five dead men were lying on
her deck. The bodies were covered by
the stars and stripes.
The engagement took place inside the
harbor of Cardenas. The gunboat Will
mington, the torpedo boat Winslow and
sells engaged.
They entered the harbor for the pur-
pose of attacking some Spanish gun
boats, which were known to be there
These latter, however, were not dis
covered by the American force until
the Spaniards opened fire. The land
batteries of Cardenas supported the
fire of the Spanish gunboats.
The engagement commenced at 2:O5 p.
m. and lasted for about an hour The
wounded are:
B. E. Cook, gunner's mate.
D. McKeon. quartermaster.
J. Patterson, fireman.
F. Gray
Lieut. ]. B. Bernatdow.
All are slightly wounded. except Pat
tersOn, whose condition is serious
Ensign Bagley was appointed from
North Carolina September Z 1891
The battle while it lasted was terrific
The Wilmington and the Hudson were
ahead and opened fire on the Spanish
boats which were lying at the docks
The firing began at a range of $500
yards.
A few minutes later the WinsIow
came up and also opened fire In an
instant the entire attention of the
Spanish gunboats and land batteries
was directed upon her.
From all sides shot and shell poured
in on the little torpedo boat The Will
mington and the Hudson still kept up
their fire. but they could not turn aside
the terrible storm of fire and death
pouring on upon the torpedo boat
The crew of the Winslow, however,
never faltered for a second. AT 2:35 a
solid shot crashed into the hull of the
Winslow and knocked out her boiler.
In an instant she began to roll and
drift helplessly.
Then there was a moment of awful
suspense. A fierce cheer of triumph
went up from the Spaniards on the
gunboats and in the batteries and again
a storm of fire was opened upon the
helpless boat.
The gunboat Hudson. which was W.
ing nearby started to the assistance of
the WinslOw. She ran alongside the
torpedo boat and tried to throw a line
to the imperilled crew.
Up to this time. with the exception of
the one shot, which disabled the boiler
of the Winslow, the firing of the Span
ish gunboats had been wild, but as the
Winslow lay rolling in the water the
range grew closer and shells began to
explode all about her
1t was difficult for the Hudson to get
near enough to throw line to the Win
slows crew so terrible was the fire all
about her Finally after about twenty
minutes the Hudson approached near
enough to throw a line.
Ensign Bagley and six men were
standing in a group on the deck of the
Winslow.
Heave her, heave her, shouted Bag
Aey as he looked toward the commander
OF the Hudson and called for a line.
0one miss it" shouted an officer