The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-15
Picket Duty Like Tipping Coins With DEATH Two More
Men Killed by Spanish Bu|Iets-|nsmgents Of No
Value as Allies Of the Party.

Kingston, jam, June 15.-After two
nights of hard fighting the American
flag still floats on Cuban soil over the
encampment of the marine battalion.
and our boys say they will keep 1t there
until the belated troops arrive IL 1t takes
I'll winter. Thus far the mArines have
had the best of the lighting. but the
situation is grave, and they are ex-
hausted with repelling almost incessant
attacks. They nave little chance to rest
or sleep. Were 1t not for the protecting
guns of the fleet the gallant band would
be annihilated by the Spanish troops In
overpowering numbers. AS 1t Is they
probably can hold their position, but
they cannot move forward until REIN
forced by troops.
What first, with the white tents on a
bold eminence against the tropic back
ground. looked like a holiday campaign.
is now grim reality. The tents have been
struck and rolled into breastworks. sup
plemented by trenches around the crest
of the hill. The spot Is lamentably ex-
posed, on bare ground, while surrounding
II or all sides is heavy brush. The least
movement In the camp Is the signal for
instant target practice upon the part of
the Spanish sharp-shooters. whose rifles
carry much further h a ours, though
their owners very rarely hit anything
they aim at. 1t Is impossible accurately
TO estimate the Spanish attacking force.
but II Is numerous enough. About two
thirds of this force surrounds the camp
nightly with q deadly ring. and the
spattfng Of the Mausers. makes things
quite lively, for the Spaniards are dar-
Ing enough to crawl up and a k a pop
shot at the marines from the bushes.
about 30 yards from the camp. At night
the besiegers fight like Indians, and our
old Apache fighters will feel In their ele-
ment. Every yard of chapparel is an
ambuscade, m picket duty 10 Tipping
colns with death.
After the first attack on Saturday night
Colonel Huntington decided another at
tempt would be made Sunday night. and
he caused entertainments to be thrown
up on all sides Of the camp, and In the
trenches the main part OF The battalion
waited for the attack. 1t arrived within
a short time after dark, and from that
time until daybreak the firing vas inces-
SAINT and at times very heavy. On the
American side two men were killed and
four wounded. The dead are: Sergeant
Major Henry Goode of the marines, shot
through the right breast; Private Tau
man. wounded, fell off the cliff and was
instantly killed.
The injured are: Private Wallace
fell off the cliff and sustained a fracture
of the leg; Private Martin. shot through
the left leg; Private Roxbury, shot
through the arm; Private Burke. sho'
through the arm.
The fight was the first Of the war IL
which the Cubans co-operated with TIN
American forces. and their cooperation
was not a glittering success. At ONT
time. during the afternoon. when tn,
marines were firing on a small detach
ment Of spaniards that made their ap
p~earance a short distance from the camp
the Cubans began firing without order
and sent a volley right among the Ameri
cans. There were several very marrow
escapes, but no one was injured.
Lieutenant Neville was sent out Of
scout duty, and, as on the day previous
ne attacked a stone fort. A hot ngh
followed, and the Spaniards were drivei
of with loss. 1t was during this figh
that Wallace and Tauman fell off tn
cliff. Fifteen dead Spaniards. includin
one lieutenant, were found in the fort
During the attack several shots struc
the ships in the harbor. one penetratin
the pilot house of the Associated Pres
dispatch boat Dandy. No n was In
jured on board OF her.
The night attack was a picturesqr
and striking spectacle-the crack OF tn
Mausers; tongues OF fire from every bus
encircling the camp; the twitter of tn
long, steel bullets overhead while tn
machine guns down on the water WEI
ripping open the pickets; the crash of II
field guns as they were driving In cal
mister where the fire of the Spaniarc
was the thickest: the screech, Of II
Marblehead's shells as she took a han
In the fight and the sharp. quick fashir
OF the Colt guns from the effective
placed ship launches.
Admiral Sampson has settled the que
ton as to the whereabouts OF Cervera
squadron. Lieutenant Blue proceed,
with guides to the hills overlooking Il
harbor and the city. lie distinctly ga
~The Easy Foo'