Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1898-06-03
THE SANTIAGO FIGHT.
Gnnfher Account of the Engagement.
More Serious Work Expected
This Week.

On BOARD THE DISPATCH Boat
DANDY, PoRT ANTONIO, Jamaica. June
2.-For an hour Tuesday afternoon the
Massachusetts, Iowa, New Orleans and
Vixen of Commodore Schley's sqadron
exchanged shots with the Spanish fleet,
under Admiral Cervera, and with the
land batteries guarding the harbor of
Santiago de Cuba, behind which the
Spanish fleet is hiding
The engagement was the first which
has occurred between the two naval
forces and was but prelude to serious
work in the latter part of the week.
No attempt was made by the Amer
lean commander to bring on q general
engagement, it being his desire to locate
the batteries on the hills above the har-
Dor and to determine the position of
the Spanish forts.
Shortly before 10 o'clock Commodore
Schley left the Brooklyn for the Massa-
chusetts, on board of which battleship
he remained during the fighting.
At O'Clock the signal to form column
was hoisted on the Massachusetts and
the New Orleans, Iowa and Vixen fell
In in the order named.
The Massachusetts led When she
A1<th PoooON VAAC ll6bI DOI ny OUO
yards great cloud of white and yellow
smoke burst from the two I3-inch guns
in her after turret and two shells rose
over the hill, one of them striking the
Spanish flagship Cristobal Colon full
and fair as she lay at her anchorage and
the other falling close alongside.
The two guns on the forward turret
We're then fired, and their shell in ex-
ploding threw up great jets of spray
close to the Colon.
All the shore batteries took up the
challenge and began a rapid fire on the
Massachusetts. But she was soon be-
yond their range, and the batteries
thereupon turned their guns on the
New Orleans. This cruiser had been
directed to pay attention to the batter
les and to draw their fire as much as
possible, and she obeyed her instruc-
tions.
Her first shot located large battery
eon the hill above the Moro. 1t flew
straight into the fort and must have
caused much damage as a great cloud
sqt dust aud debris rose as shell burst.
A couple more shots sent part of the
walls of MORO flying into the air and
then the New Orleans confined herself
to the batteries, her fire being rapid and
extremely accurate.
The Iowa came next and like the
Massachusetts, devoted her attention to
she ships lying within the harbor Her
12lnch shells made the water fly all
around that part of the harbor in which
the Cristobal Colon lay. The latter.
however, was not seriously damaged,
and kept up her fire until long after the
American ships steamed out of range.
After the {ixen had passed the forts,
the Massachusetts turned again to the
westward followed by the other ships
IN the same order with the exception of
the Vixen.
After the Massachusetts, had passe1
the point where she could fire into the
harbor with advantage, she turned to
the open sea, the other vessels following
her. That fight was over as far as the
Americans were concerned.
Spanish honor. however, demanded
that some further destruction of gun
powder be made, and the ships doomed
and the batteries roared long after the
American vessels were entirely out of
range
1t is likely that the latter part of the
week will see more serious work. The
dynamite cruiser Vesuyius is coming
and an attempt will be made by her to
explode the tripl row of mines ex-
tending across the harbor mouth With
these out of the way, Commodore
Schley will likely sail into the harbor
for death grapple with the fleets and
batteries.