The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-10

Hcae iiahui, OF oaGiiaYC &c COOa,
Monday, noon, via Kingston, Jamai-
ca, Tuesday, June 7, noon.-Tho
American fleet this morning engaged
the Spanish batteries defending the
entrance of the harbor of Santiago do
Cuba, and after three. hours bom-
bardment silenced nearly all the
forts, destroyed several earthworks
and rendered tho Estreila and Cave
batteries, the two principal forts, use
less
Tho fleet formed in double col
umn six miles off Moro Castle, at 6
o'clock in tho morning, and steamed
in slowly 5000 yards off shore, the
Brooklyn leading, followed by the
Marblohead, Texas aud Massachu.
setts, and turning westward. Tho
second line, the New York loading,
with tho Now Orleans, Yankee, Iowa
and Oregon following, turning west.
ward. The Vixen and Suwaneo
were far ont on tho left flank, watch
ing the riilemon on shore. The Dol
phin and Porter did similar duty on
the right flank. Tho line heade | by
the Now York attacked the now
earthworks near Moro Castle. The
Brooklyn's column took station op..
posite tho Estrella battery and near.
the now earthworks along tho shore.
The Spanish batteries remained
silent. 1t is doubtful whether tho
Spaniards were able to determine
the character Of the movement, ow-
ing to tho dense fog and heavy rain,
which were tho features this morn
ing. Suddenly tho Iowa fired r.
inch shell, which struck tho base Of
Estrella battery and tore up ,ho
works INSTANTLY firing began from
both Rear Admiral Sampson's and
Commodore Schley's columns, and'a
torrent of shells from MI the ships
fell upon tho Spanish works
The Spaniards replied promptly,
but their artillery work was ofja very
poor quality, and most of their shots
went wide. Smoke settled around
the ships in depso clouds, rendering
accurate aiming difficult There was
no manoeuvring of the fleet, the ships
remaining at their original stations
and firing stoadiIy. Tho squadrons
were 30 close in shore that it wap diff
cult for tho American gunners to
roach tho batteries OH tho hill tops,
but their firing was excellent.
Previous to the bombnrdment or.
ders wore issued to prevent firing on
Moro Castle, as the American ad-
mirai had been informed that Lieut.
Hobson and the other prisoners Of
the Merrimac were confined there.
In spite of this, however, several
atray shots damaged MORO Castle
somewhat.
Commodore Schleys limo moved
closer in shore, firing ut shorter
range. The Brooklyn and Texas
caused havoc among tho Spanish
shore batteries, quickly silencing
them. While the larger ships wero
engaging the heavy batteries tho
Suwanoo and the Vixen closed with
the small in shore battery, opposite
them, raining rapid fra shots upon
it, and quickly placing the battery
out Of the fight. -.
The Brooklyn closed to eight
hundred yards, and then tlrc de-
struction caused by her guns and
those of tho Marblchead and Texas
was really awful. ,-..,'
In fow minutes tho woodwork of
Estrella Fort was burning and the
battery was silenced, firing no more
during the engagement.
Shortly after 8 tho firing censod,
the warships turning in order to
permit the uso Of the port batteries
Tho firing then became long, rev.
erberating crash Of thunder, aud the
shells raked tho Spanish batteries
with terrible effect. Fire broke ont
in tho Catalina Fort aud silenced the
Spanish guns. .a = ..
The firing Of the fleet continued
until 10 o'clock, when the Spanish
fire coased entirely, and Rear Al.
miral Sampson hoisted tho e."Conso
firing" signal. 4....,' -.
Generally the firing Of the fleet
was worry destructive Many Of tho
earthworks were knocked to pieces,
and the Estrella and Catalina forti
fications we're 80 damaged that it is
questionable whether they will ever
be able to renew effective work
during the war;. After the fleet had
retired the Spaniards returned to
somo other guus and seut twelve
shells Of the fleet. But no one WA
injured. One large shell fell clos