The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-06-11
spanish GUNS SLENCED.
Admiral Sampson Gave His Gunners
Three Hours of Good Tar
get Practice.
. TERRIFIC STORM OF SHOT AND SHELL.
Moro Castle, Where the Heroes of the
Merrimac Adventure, Brave Hobson
and His Men, Were Confined, Alone
Spared by the Attacking sQuadrons-
Nearing the End.

~ 4@Ao
DISPATCH Boat DANDY, OFF SANTIAGO
DE CUBA, June Z, via Kingston, Jamai-
ca, June S.-The American fleet Mon
day morning engaged the Spanish
batteries defending the entrance of the
harbor of Santiago de Cuba, and after
a three hours bombardment, silenced
nearly all the forts. destroyed several
earthworks and rendered the Estrella
and Cayo batteries and the two princi-
pal Notifications useless.
The fleet formed in double column
six miles off Moro castle at six o'clock
in the morning, and steamed slowly
5000 yards off shore, the Brooklyn
leading, followed by the Marblehead:
Texas and Massachusetts,, and turned
westward.
The second line, the New York lead.
ing, with the New Orleans, Yankee,
Iowa and Oregon following, and turned
eastward.
The Vixen and Suwanee were far out
on the left flank, watching the rifle
men on shore. The Dolphin and Por-
ter did similar duty on the right flank.
The line headed by the New York at
tackled the new earthworks neal Moro
castle. The Brooklyn column took up
a station opposite the Estrella and
Catalina batteries, and the new earth
works along the shore.
The Spanish batteries remained
silent. 1t is doubtful whether the
Spaniards were able to determine the
character of the movement, owing to
the dense fog and heavy rain, which
were the weather features of the morn
ing. Suddenly the Iowa fred a 12-inch
shell, which struck the base of Estrella
battery and tore up the works.
,, Instantly firing began from both
Rear-Admiral Simpsons and Commo-
dore Schley's columns, and a torrent of
shells from the ships fell upon the
Spanish works.
The Spaniards replied promptly, but
their artillery work was of a very poor
quality and most of their shots went
wide. Smoke settled around the ships
in dense clouds, rendering accurate
aiming difficult. There was no
vering of the fleet, the ships remaining
at their original stations and firing
steadily.
The Squadrons were SO close in shore
that it was difficult for the American
gunners to reach the batteries on the
hill tops, but their firing was excel.
lent.
Previous to the bombardment, orders
were issued to prevent firing on MORO
castle, as the American admiral had
been informed that Lieut.. Hobson and
the other prisoners of the Merrimac
are confined there. In spite of this,
however, several stray shots damaged
MORO castle somewhat.
Commodore Schley's line moved
closer in shore, firing at shorter range.
The Brooklyn and Texas caused wild
havoc among the Spanish shore bat
~teries, quickly ~silencing them.
While the larger ships were en-
gaging the heavy batteries, the Suwa-
nee and the Vixen closed with the
small in-shore battery opposite them,
raining rapid-fre shots upon it and
quickly placing it out of the fight.
The Brooklyn closed to 500 yards,
and then the destruction caused by
her guns and those of the Marblehead
and Texas was really awful. In a few
minutes the woodwork of Estrella fort
vas burning and the battery was ST.
fenced, firing no more during the en-
gagement.
Eastward, the New York and New
Orleans silenced the Cayo battery in
quick order, and then shelled the earth
works located higher up.
Later, the practice was not so accu-
rate, owing to the elevation of the guns.
Many of the shells, however, Ian ded,
and the Spanish gunners retired.
Shortly after nine the firing ceased,
the war ships turning in order to per-
init the use of the port batteries. The
firing then became a long reverberating
crash of thunder and the shells raked
the Spanish batteries with terrible eff
feet. Fire broke out in Catalina fort
and silenced the Spanish guns.
The firing of the fleet continued I'M
til ten o'clock, when the Spanish ceased
entirely, and Admiral Sampson hoisted
the cease firing" signal.
Generally, the fire of the feet was
very destructive. Many of the earth.
works were knocked TO pieces, and the
Estrclla and Catalina Notifications
were SO damaged that it is question
able whether they will be liable to renew
effective work during the a
After the fleet retired the Spaniard 5
returned to some of their guns and
sent IL shells after the feet, but no
one was injured.
Throughout the entire engagement
no American ship was hit and no Amer
lean was injured.
If the Spaniards stuck to their guns,
but all evidence is to the contrary,
their loss must have been very heavy.
MONDAYS Bombardment at Santiago
Claimed as a Spanish Victory.
HAVANA, June S-Details from Span
ish sources received here of the bonn
bardnent Monday morning of the
forts of Santiago de Cuba say the
warships of the United States fred
,bout / zoo proiectiles of all kinds.