The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-05-13

United States gunboat Hudson came
up to the government dock ut o'clock
this morning, the bodies OF five dead
men were lying on her after deck. They
were the remains OF Ensign W. Bagley
and four members of the crew OF the
torpedo boat winslow. who were killed
In IN engagement in Cardenas harbor
yesterday afternoon. The bodies were
covered by the stars and stripes. In
the cabin OF the Hudson was Captain
John B. Bernadou, OF the Wlnslow, who
is slightly injured in the left leg and
several others of the Winslow's crew,
who are slightly wounded.
The battle, while It lasted. was terri
fic. The Wilmington and the Hudson
were ahead and opened fire on the
Spanish boats, which were lying at the
docks. The firing began at range OF
$500 yards. A few minutes later; the
Winslow came up and also opened fire.
In an instant the entire attention OF
the Spanish gunboats and land batter
les was directed upon her. From oil
sides shot and shell seemed to pour In
upon the little torpedo boat.
The Wilmington and the Hudson still
kept up their fire. but they could not
turn aside the terrible storm of fire and
death pouring in upon the torpedo boat.
The crew OF the Winslow, however,
never faltered for q second.
AT DDS p. m. a solid shot crashed into
the hull of the Winslow and knocked
out her boiler. In an instant she began
{ to roll and drift helDlesslg. 1t was a
moment OF awful suspense. A fierce
cheer of triumph went up from the
Spaniards on the gunboats and In the
batteries, and again storm of fire
was opened up on the helpless boat.
The gunboat Hudson, which was ly-
Ing nearby, started to the assistance of
the Wlnslow. She ran alongside the
torpedo boat and tried to throw line
{ TO the eimperilled crew. "a.
Up to this time. With the exception of
the one, shot. which disabled the boiler
of the Winslow, the firing OF the Span
ish gunboats3 had been wild, but as tho
Winslow lay rolling in the water, the
range grew closer and shells began to
explode oil about her.
1t was difficult for the Hudson to get
near enough to throw a line to the
Winslow's crew. so terrible was the
fire all about her. Finally, after about
twenty minutes, the Hudson approach
ed near enough to throw atline.
Ensign Bagley and 3 six men were
standing In group on the deck Of the
Winslow. "Eeave, heave, heave her!"
shouted Bagleyas he looked toward the
commander of the Hudson and called
for agline
Don't miss It," shouted an officer
from the Hudson, and with smile,
Bagley called back: Let her come.
It's getting too hot here for comfort"
The Fatal Shot.
The line was thrown and, at the same
Instant, a shell burst In the very midst
OF the group of men on board the Win
slow. Bagley was instantly killed and
few others dropped about him. Half
dozen more fell groaning on the blood
stained deck. One of the dead men
pitched over the side OF the boat, but
his feet caught In the iron rail and he
was hauled back: Bngley lay stretched
on the deck. with his face completely
torn away and the upper part Of his
body shattered. 1t was terrible mo-
ment.
The torpedo boat, disabled and help
less, rolled and swayed under the fury
of the fire from the Spanish gunboats.
When the shell burst In the group on
board the Wlnslow another wild shout
of triumph went up from the Spanish
boats and batteries, and again heavy
fire was opened on the torpedo boat
Finally, the Hudson succeeded IN get
ting line on board the Winslow and
was towing her out of the deadly
range, when the line parted, and again
both boats were at the mercy OF the
Spanish fire.
At $3.50 p. m. the Hudson managed to
get another line on the deck Of the
Winslow, but there were only three
men,left at that time to make 1t fast.
The line was finally secured and the
Winslow was towed Up to Pedras Is
land, where she was anchored, with her
dead and wounded on her deck. There
some men from the Hudson went on
board the Winslow and took the most
seriously wounded men Off. Three who
were taken on board the gunboat Ma
chas died shortly afterward.
At 9:15 p. m. yesterday the Hudson,
with the dead bodies and some OF the
wounded started for Key West, arriv-
Ing here Mt S o'clock this morning.
Commanded Bernadou, of the Win
slow, was wounded In the left leg, but
not seriously. Lying In the cabin OF
the Hudson this morning he received n
representative of the Associated Press
and told the latter the story OF the
fight. He said: Z,
I'VE went into the harbor under or
ders. The torpedo boat WInslow was
the worst injured. She had five OF her
men killed aud do not know how
many injured.
Commander 1!crnndou's Story
1.-THE Winslow was ordered by tho
commander OF the Wilmington to go
into the harbor OF, Cardenas and attack
the Spanish gunboat there. We steam
ed under a full head and were fired up
on as soon as we were In range. The
Spanish boats were tied up at the docks
and had n fair range on us. The batter
les on shore also opened on us and l
think we received most of the fire. l
do not know whether any one was hurt
on the Wilmington, or on the Hudson,
but think not. sl5
81 have no fault to find with the VIM
slows crew. They acted nobly all the
way through, Tho men who. were kill
ed fell at the same time. We we're