Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-06-09

taken.
The feet of United States ships un-
der command of Admiral Sampson
bombarded the Spanish Notifications
guarding the entrance to the harbor
of Santiago de Cuba on Monday morn
ing. In three hours the deadly hail
of shot and shell poured against the
works accomplished their purpose, and
only crumbling ruins remained OF what
had been solid masses of masonry and
formidable batteries. Not one Ameri-
can was killed, and but one of our
ships was struck, the Massachusetts,
being struck by comparatively harm
less shell. The fleet formed in double
line at six clock in the morning, and
steamed to within about two miles of
shore. The Brooklyn led the first line,
and was followed by the Marblehead,
Texas and Massachusetts,. 1t turned
westward. This line was commanded
by Commodore Schley. The second
line, the New York leading, with New
Orleans, Yankee, Iowa and Oregon,
following in the order named, turned
eastward. 1t was commanded by Adj
miral Sampson. The Vixen and Suwa-
nee were far out on the left flank,
watching the riAemen 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 Castle. The Brooklyn column
took up a station opposite the Estrella
and Catalina batteries and the new
earthworks along the shore. A dense
fog and rain prevailed. Suddenly
the Iowa fired l2-inch shell which
struck the base of the Estrella battery
and tore up part of the works. Soon
firing began from both Admiral Samp-
sons and Commodore Schley's col
umns, and torrent Of shells from the
ships fell upon the Spanish works.
The Spaniards replied promptly, but
their artillery work was poor and
most of their shots went wide. Smoke
settled around the ships in dense
clouds, rendering accurate aiming diff
fcult.
Commodore Schley's line finally
moved closer in shore, firing at shorter
range. The Brooklyn and Texas
caused wild havoc among the Spanish
shore batteries, quickly silencing many
of them. The Brooklyn approached
within eight hundred yards Of the
shore, and then the destruction caused
by her guns and those Of the Marble
head and Texas was awful. In few
minutes the woodwork of the Estrella
fort was burning and the battery was
silenced, firing no more during the
engagement. The New York and the
New Orleans silenced the Cave bat
terry in quick order and then shelled
the earthworks higher up. A short
time after 9 o'clock the warships
turned in order to permit the use Of
their port batteries. The firing then
became a long reverberating crash Of
thunder, and the shells raked the
Spanish batteries with terrible effect.
Fire broke out in the Catalina fort
and silenced the Spanish guns there.
The firing of the fleet continued un-
til 10 o'clock, when the Spanish fire
ceased entirely, and Admiral Samp-
son hoisted the "cease-fring' signal.
Generally, the fire of the feet was de-
structive. Many of the earthworks
were knocked to pieces, and the Es-
trella and Catalina Notifications were
so damaged that it is questionable if
they will ever be able to do any effec-
tive work during the war. Through
out the engagement no American ship
was hit and no Americans were in
iured. 1.-THE Spaniards stuck to their
guns their loss must have been heavy.
Later in the day the American ships
moved closer toward the mouth Of the
harbor, where the old cruiser Reina
Mercedes had been seen attempting to
place explosives ABOUT the null OF the
Merrimac to blow her to pieces and
clear the channel A 13-inch shell
from the Oregon landed squarely abatt
the cruisers pilot-house and tore all
her upper works to shreds. One Of
her officers, FIVE sailors and a marine
were killed. A second lieutenant and
sixteen seamen were severely wound
ed. A perfect shower of she'll and
shot fell upon and around the ole
cruiser, and she was so badly damaged
that her crew, by orders of Admira
Cervera, abandoned her and sough
the shore for safety.
Tuesday morning five American
! va rshins destroved the Notifications o