Evening journal., 1898-06-24
THE TEXAS HIT.
One Man Killed and Six Wounded by
Bursting Shell.

bursting SHE'LL
KINGSTON, jamaica, June 2S.-Gen-
eral Shafter yesterday had the Cubans
make a demonstration against Mata-
moras and the western outposts with
the idea Of drawing out the Spanlards
In force. While the demonstration fall
ed TO accomplish what General ShafteI
desired, Il resulted in a fine piece of
work by the Texas.
The Texas, unaided, silenced and ap-
parently destroyed q battery which all
the ships In Commodore Schley's divl-
sion OF the fleet had twice nercely bonn
barded without result.
Steaming In so close that she almost
touched the shore, the battleship took
SOcapa battery on the flank pouring in
TO Il 1875 inch and 70 inch shells. The
Spanish forces, that had been driven
from Matamoras field batteries. now
fled from Socapa.
Officers of the Vesuvius, which lay OPP
posite the Texas target say the marks
manship OF the battleship's gunners was
the finest OF the war Admiral Samp-
SON was delighted with the work when
Captain Philip told him, 1--WE have de-
stroyed them"
The Texas was struck by a single
shell, which killed one man and wound
ed six others
The man killed was L. r. Blaxeley.
an apprentice, first class, OF Newport.
The wounded are. r. Russell, appren-
tice. Philadelphia; w. J. Simonson, sea
man, New York H.-As Gee, apprentice,
Philadelphia; j. Il. Lively. landsinan.
Norfolk; G. Il. Mullen. apprentice. New
York; A. Soogvist seaman. New York.
Russell Is very seriously wounded.
The others Will all recover
The shot which struck the Texas was
about the last fired before the Spanlards
abandoned the battery under the heavy
and accurate fire Of the Texas.
This shell entered the battleship 90
feet abaft the stem at a point on the
side about three feet below the main
deck line. 1t cut Jagged. round hole,
from measurements OF which Il Is de-
duced that the size OF the projectile was
6lh inches.
oddly enough, after striking the first
obstruction. It failed 20 explode, pass
ing through a hawser reel and then cut
ting I'm two heavy iron stanchion in
the centar.llne Of the berth deck. leav-
ing it's upper and lower part intact.
Here the explosion occurred. Standing
around at quarters. but not In action,
were the crews of swo Founders looat-
cd in the forward compartment OF the
berth deck.
Blaxeley stood by a chain stopper
about two feet Distant TPe was torn to
pieces. Pieces Of the shell few In all
directions, wounding the others.
Part OF the shell struck the starboard
plates, causing a trifiing bulge outward.
The compartment was filled with smoke,
and the fire hose was ordered into use
TO extinguish the flames.
Other shells exploded near the Texas.
Ensign Anderson. second In command
of the port turret. says a shell exploded
ten yards away on the water. filling the
turret with smoke.
Firing on board the Texas was con-
fined 10 the port battery
Captain Philip spoke highly Of all
his men and officers. The best hits were
scored by Lieutenant Bristol. In charge
Of the port turret
The death OF Blakeley cast gloom
over the crew. For the first time dur
ing the war they witnessed the inn
pressive ceremonies OF a burial at sea-
The Texas steamed out TO sea and
buried Biskeley, returning to her post
on the blockade at O'Clock IN the aft
! oFnOOn