Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-08-25
STORM OF STEEL.
The MangroVe Ran Into Hornets
Nest at Caibaren.
The Little American Gunboat was Assailed
by Two spanish War Vessels and by
the Batteries on Shore-Sews of
Peace was Received in the
Midst of the Fray.

| Key West, Aug. lS.-Details have
been received here as to the lombard
ment of the port of Caibaren, on the
north coast of the province of Santa
Clara, Cuba, last Sunday by the Man
grove. The Mangrove left here last
week to protect the landing of an eN-
| pedition under Col Bozas, which had
| gone ahead on the schooners Adams
and Dellie. When the Mangrove
reached Santa Maria hey, near Cal
barren, she found the Cuban party had
safely disembarked, but feared to ad
vance because of the presence of the
Spanish gunboat Herman Cortes and a
smaller gunboat which were evidently
making Caibaren their base. On Sat
urday afternoon the Mangrove an
chored at Key Francis, just outside
Caibaren, and as She lay there the
Herman Cortcs came out and ran
around the Key to get a peep at her,
scurrying back into the harbor as
soon as she was discovered. The Man
grove followed as far as the shoal
water would permit, but could only
get about half way in the harbor.
The next morning Capt. Stuart,
| commander of the Mangrove, decided
to have "A shot at the gunboats. He
| was alone and the odds against him
were heavy, but he did bold thing.
Sounding her way, inch by inch, the
| Mangrove crept along the channel,
drawing eight feet of water in an aver
age depth of sh feet until about 8
o'clock she sighted both the Spanish
gunboats. The Herman Cortes was
anchored near the shore, about 1000
yards to the right of the town, with
her broadside to the sea. The small
gunboat lay at the wharf. The Span
iards evidently were anticipating a
battle. The shore was crowded with
| Spanards, citizens and soldiers, while
the roof of every building that com
manded a view of the harbor was lit
orally covered with people anxious to
see the fight.
The Herman Cortes carried two 4. Z
inch guns and four 1-pounders, while
her smaller companion was armed
with three 1-pounders and Hotchkiss
! rapid fire gun. The crews of both,
numbering between 75 and 100 men,
could be seen on the decks. Ashore
were several 1-pound field pieces,
while the Spanish troops were armed
with Mauser rifles. The Mangrove,
| whose entire battery consists of only
two 6-pounders, worked into a range
| of 5000 yards. Tne channel was so
narrow that only one gun could be
fired at Il time. AT 1O:45 Il. IN. she
got up her port gun at the Herman
Cortes The shot fell short. Instant
" the whole shore line bursted into
| fame. both gunboats and the field
pieces pouring in "A heavy fire upon
the American vessel. Every shot of
this volIey struck the water ahead of
the Mangrovc, which continued pump
ing away with her 6-pounders. She
concentrated her fire on the Herman
Cortes and the next five or six shots
fell on the Spaniard's deck between
the bow gun and amtdships, scatter
ing a body of men. Some of the lat
ter must have been killed. although
the Spaniards later denied that they
suffered any loss.
For "A while no Spanish gun was
fired. but soon the Spaniards got the
Mangrove's range and veritable
avalanche of shots and shells was
hurled at her. 1t was nothing less
| than a miracle that her loss of life
was not heavy. Shells from the big
| gums of the Herman Cortes dropped
| within 20 feet of the tug, several
| bursting and the fragments chipping
bits off her hull. Others went whz-
zing through her shrouds, and Mauser
bullets peppered the surrounding
| water like a summer shower.
+l, l,+ Of al &c nd Nx-hi la
the Mangrove was swinging cautious
Iy around to bring her starboard gun
into play. the watch shouted: Flag
of truce" and sure enough not only
one but three white flags could be
seen, one flying from the small gun
boat and two from the government
| houses on shore.
The Mangrove acknowledged the
signal and presently small boat
came out with Il Spanish officer, who
clambered aboard the Mangrove and
announced: Peace is proclaimed and
| have instructions for your command
ing officer from the military com
| mander of this district" He added
that during the engagement the Span
fsh authorities in Caibaren had wired
the military commander of the district
that the American ships were bonn
harding the port, and that immediate
response had been received informing
them that peace had been restored
and the firing should cease. The crew
of the boat which brought this officer
to the Mangrove said the Spaniards
had not lost man. The fight lasted
an hour and ten minutes.
| wheeler win Command at Montauk.
| Washington, Aug. 1S.-Gen. Wheeler
was at the war department yesterday
and had an interview with the secre-
tary. Gen. Wheeler received orders
to assume command at Camp Wikotf
until the arrival of Gen. Shafter.