The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-06-15
HOW THE BATTLE
WAS FOUGHT.
The Terrific Destruction Done
by Fleet at Santiago.

hI0S6tODs J& - - uuS oo
American feet this morning engaged
the Spaniea batteries defending the
entrance of the harbor of Santiago
de Cuba, and after three hours
bombardment silenced nearly all the
forts. destroyed several earth works,
and rendered the Estrella and Cata
line batteries. the two principal torti
fcations, useless
The feet formed in double column
elk miles off Moro castle at 6 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 eecond line, the New York
leadiag, with the New Orleans,
Yankee, Iowa and Oregon following,
turned westward
The Vixen and Suwanee were far
out on the left flank, watching the
rifemen on shore The Dolphin and
Porter did similar duty on the right
flank Tue line headed by the New
York attacked the new earthworks
near Moro castle. The Brooklyn
column took up station opposite
the Estre'la and Catalina batteries
and the new esrthworks 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 this morn
ing.
Suddenly the Iowa fired IL inch
she'll, which struck the base of Estrella
battery and tore up the works
Instantly firing began from both
Rear Admiral SIMPSONS and Commo:
dore SchIey's columns. and torrent
of shells from the ships fell upon the
Spanish works.
The Spanlards replied promptly,
but their artillery work was of q
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 manoenvering of the
feet. the ships remaining at their
original stations and firirg steadily.
The equadrons were SO close in
shore that it was difficult for the
American gunners to reach The bat
teries on the hill tops, but their firing
was excellent
Previous to- the bombardment,
orders were issued to prevent firing
on Moro castle. rs the American
admiral had been informed that Lieut.
Hobson and the other prisoners.of the
Merrimac are confined there. In
spite of this. lnweyer, several stray
shots damaged MORO castle some.
what
Commodore SchIey's line moved
closer 10 shore. firing at shorter
range
The Brooklyn and Ttxss caused
havoc among the Spanish shore Cat
teries. quickly nilencing them While
the larger chips were engaging the
heavy batteries. the Suwanee and the
Vixen closed with the small inshore
battery opposite them. raining rapid
FIRE shots upon it, aud quickly plac.
ing the battery out of the fight
The Brooklyn closed to 800 yards,
and then the destruction caused by
her guns end those of the Marblehead
and Texas was really awful In a
few minutes the woodwork of Estrel-
Ia fort was burning. and the battery
was silenced, firing no more during
the engagement. Eastward. the New
York and New Orleans silenced the
Cataline battery in quick order, and
then sbelled the earthworks located
higher up. Late, the practice was
not SO accurate, owing to the eleva-
ton of the guns Many Of the shells.
however, landed. and the Spanish
gunners retired
Shortly after 9 the firing ceased,
the warehips turning in order to per-
init the use of the port batteries.
The firing then became long reve-
bersting crash of thunder. and the
shells rsked the Spanish batteries
with terrible effect Fire broke ovt
in the Catalina fort, and siIenced the
Spanish guns.
The firing of the feet continued
nntil 10 O'Clock, when the Spsnisb
fire ceased. entirely. aud Rear Admi.
ra. Sampson hoisted the cease fir
ing" signal
Generslly. the firing Of the fee.
was very destructive Many of the
earthworks were knQcked to pieces,
and the Estrella aud Catalina forti6ca
tioDs were 90 damaged that it is
questionable whether they will ever