The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-06-08
STORY OF THE FIGHT.
How the American Fleet Battered
Down the Santiago Fortifications.

Down the Santiago Fortifcations-
| Copyright, 1898, by Associated Press.)
On Board the Associated Press Dis
patch boat Dandy, off Santiago de Gu
| ba, Monday (noon), via Kingston, ia
| maica, June S.-The American fleet
this morning engaged the Spanish bat
| teries 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 Catalina batteries, the two princi-
pal Notifications useless.
| The fleet formed in double column six
| miles off MORO castle at o'clock in the
morning and steamed slowly 5000 yards
off shore, the Brooklyn. leading, fol-
| lowed 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 turned
eastward.
The Vixen and Suwanee were far out
| on the left flank watching the rifle men
| on shore. The Dolphin and Porter did
| similar duty on the right flank. The
| line headed by the New York, attacked
| the new earthwOrkS near, MORO cas-
| tie. The Brooklyn column took up a
| station opposite the Estrella and Gaia
lima batteries and the new earthWOrkS
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.
Suddenly the Iowa fired a u incTNshelI
which struck the base of Estrella, bat
terry 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 maneu-
Ver1ng of the fleet, the ships remaining
at their original station and firing
steadily.
The squadrons were so close in shore
that it was difficult for the American
gunners to reach the batteries on the
hilltOps. but their firing was excellent.
PREVIOUS to the bombardment, or
ders were issued to prevent firing on
MORO castle, as the American admiral
had been informed that Lieutenant
Hobson and the other prisoners of the
NIerrimac 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 batter
les, quickly silencing them. While the
larger ships were engaging the heavy
batteries the Suwanee and Vixen
closed with the small inshore battery
opposite them, raining rapid fire shots
upon it and quickly placing the battery
out of the fight.
The Brooklyn closed to 800 yards and
then the destruction caused by her
guns and those of the Marblehead and
Texas was really awful. In a few min
utes the woodwork of Estrella fort was
burning and the battery was silenced,
firing no more during the engagement.
Eastward, the New York and New Or
leans silenced the Catalina 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,
landed and the Spanish gunners re-
tired.
Shortly after 9 o'clock, the firing
ceased, the warships turning in order to
permit the use of the port batteries.
The firing then became a long reVerber-
ating crash of thunder and the shells
raked the Spanish batteries with ter
rible effect. Fire broke out in Cata-
lima fort and silenced the Spanish guns.
The firing of the fleet continued until
10 o'clock when the Spanish ceased en-
tirely and Admiral Sampson hoisted the
cease firing signal.
Generally the firing of the fleet was
very destructive. Many of the earth
works We're knocked to pieces and the
Estrella and Catalina Notifications
were so damaged that it is questionable
whether they will ever be able to renew
any effective work during the war.
After the fleet retired, the Spaniards
returned to some of their guns and sent
twelve shells after the fleet. But no
one was injured.
One large shell fell close to the collier
Justin.
Throughout the entire engagement no
American ship was hit and no Amer
lean was injured.
If the Spaniards stuck to their guns |
and all evidence is to the contrary,
ni1- los TTcyf1 1rax Il