The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-06-24
BATTERIES RUINED.
American Gunners Demolish Santi-
go's Forts Beyond Repair.
HOBSON AND HIS BRAVE COMPANIONS
An Apprehension That They Have Been
Murdered -Inhabitsnts of Caimanera
Preparing to burn the City and
Seek Refuge in the Hills.


Orr SANTIAGO DE CUBA, June 20-A
careful inspection of the Notifications
along the crest of the ills defending
Santiago harbor since the lombard
ment Thursday morning shows the
American gunners spread wreck and
ruin everywhere. Some of the batter
les were demolished beyond repair.
The vultures which circled over the
hills as thick as swallows around
chimney for hours after the firing
ceased furnished gruesome evidence of
the fatality among the Spanish sol
diers. Hundreds of troops could be
seen from the ships digging in
mounds of earth piled up by the
explosions of the projectiles from the
heavy guns for bodies while their heads
were famed by the wings of the
black scavengers of the battlefield.
There were two spots, one on the east
and the other on the west of the har-
Dor entrance, which were denuded of
the foliage. The hill tops seem literally
blown away. These marked the places
where the 20O-pound charges of gun
cotton thrown by the Vesuvius landed.
But the most ominous token of death
flew from Moro castle. The saffron
nag of Spain was half-masted for sew
eral hours. The significance Of this
is not known. 1t is customary
10 half-mast flags, but possibly
some Spanish leader was killed by the
heavy fire of our guns, though some
officers of the squadron believe that
the flag was half-masted as a notifica-
tion to the Americans that Lieut.. Hob
son and his brave men were dead. II
such is the case they must have been
wantonly murdered The Spanish
might seek to lay their death to the
bombardment, but not a shot from
the Americans struck the fortress.
Neither Admiral Sampson nor Com
modore Schley believe that Lieut..
Hobson and his party have been killed.
We have II prisoners taken at Guam
tanamo, including a lieutenant, be-
sides number in the United States,
for reprisals or exchange.
There was evident decentralization
among the Spanish troops during the
bombardment Officers could be seen,
with drawn swords, driving the men
30 the guns, but even then they could
not be forced to stay so long as our
gnps were directed on them. The IS
minutes night work of the Vesuvius
had shattered their nerves. 1t is be-
heved by some that the 13-inch pro-
5ectile fired from the Texas, which
was reported TO have exploded the
powder magazine in one of the western
batteries, did not fall in the battery,
krff haunnA nd hla,x, q
the ships in the harbor.
From the foretop of the Brooklyn,
$500 yards distant, the men in the
grounds could be noticed, but minute
later dust and flying debris would take
their places and when the smoke
raised away only spot of red earth
could be seen-guns and gunners had
been swept away. 1t was the most
deadly and destructive bombardment
of the war thus far. Scarcely a shot
from the big guns of the squadron
went astray. The aim of our gunners
was superb and not only were the
forts annihilated, but the batteries
on Cayo Smith, up the harbor were de-
stroyed. Had all the ships used
smokeless powder, as did the New
Orleans, there would remain no signs
of guns or Notifications to indicate
that there had ever been any defenses
there. There were no casualties on
our feet, though our ships held n fixed
position. The half-stripped ships gun.
ners never worked with more enthusi-
asm. The words of Rear Admiral
Sampson were: First silence the bat.
teries on the shore and then continue
firing until the Notifications are re-
duced." This order was strictly obeyed.
1t was the first time that such instruc-
tions had been given and the men re-
sponded with a will. In 80 minutes
the order was given TO cease firing
md the message went to each ship
from the admiral, well done" and
the officers and men turned in for
breakfast. Every detail of the en-
gagement had been executed TO the
letter, from the opening of fire by the
New York to the last shot from the
Iowa. The Spaniards were evidently
surprised while strengthening their
Qualifications.
THE TORCH TO BE APPLIED.
OFF GUANTANAMO, June 20-Cuban
scouts reported yesterday that the in
habitants of Caimanera have strewn
the streets with straw and oil, with
the intention of destroying the city
and fleeing to the hills. Caimanera
lies four miles up the bay from Camp
McCalla under the guns of the Amer
lean ships and the situation is
desperate. Starving and famine
stricken, convinced of the ulti-
mate triumph OF the American arms
and without faith in the protection
OF the Spanish soldiery, the people are
believed to have determined to leave
their houses in ashes behind them and
seek safety in the hills to the north
The situation of the besieged is fear
full one. The people are eating horses
and mules and are securing. the hills
for fruits and herbs. Occasionally
brief bombardments bv the American
feet leaves the helpless citizens terror
arfaI - T.. IL