The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-09

Copyright 1893 by Associated Press.l
Key West, Fla May S-Only poor
craftsmanship on the part Of the Span
ish gunners saved the Eicksburg and
the cutter Morrill, from destruction off
Havana yesterday morning. For Owes
half an hour they were under the fire
OF the guns Of the Santa Clara watei
batteries, but both escaped without mate
rial injury. although shrapnel shells from
eight inch guns exploded all about them
and both now show the pitted scars Of
the Spanish bullets.
The willy Spaniards had arranged i
trap to send couple Of orr ships t.
the bottom. They baited it as man
would bait trap 4 small schooner
was sent out from Havana harbor short
ly before daynight yesterday morning
to draw some of the Americans into the
ambuscade The ruse worked like
charm. The yicksburg and the Morrill,
in the heat of the chase and in their
contempt for Spanish gunnery walked
straight into the trap that had been set
for them. Had the Spaniards possessed
their souls in patience but five minutes
longer. not even the bad gun practice
would have saved our ships and TINS
morning two more Of our vessels wouid
Hn IT the bottom. within two lengths
az the wreck of the ill-starred Maine.
Tsriday evening the \ Icksburg and the
Morrill,. cruising to the west of Morr"
Castle. were fired upon by the big guns
of the Coiimar batteries Two shot'
were fired at the NickSburg anu one q.
tbc Merrill Both fell short, and both
,.assels without returning the fire steam
oil ont Of the range. 1t would nave
haan folly to have done otherwise. But
Yesterday morning the Spaniards had
iotter iuck. The schooner they had sem
out before daylight ran off TO the east
ward hugging the shore with the wlno
~ nor starboard quarter. About three
,,,iIaa east Of the entrance OF the harDoA
ebo come over on the port tack. a llgh'
haze fringed the horizon, and she was ho'
discovered until three miles off the shore
whom the MayfoWer made her out and
sjgnalled the Mogrill and Nicksburg.
Cantain Smith. Of the Morrill, and
: Conmmnnder Lilly. of the Nicksbnrg, I'M
mediately slapped on all steam and start
cd in pursuit..
The schooner instantly put about an'
ran for Morro Castle. On dong So sl'
would, according to the we'll CONCEIVED
Spanish plot. lead the two American Wa
ship directly under the guns Of IN
Santa Clara batteries These WORKS arr
Il short mile west Of Moro, and are
part of the defense of the harbor Iheft
are two batteries, one at the shore. WhlcI
has been recently thrown up, of sah'
and mortar with wide embrasures f0
cight-inch guns. and the other on th'
crest Of the gulf at that point TIL;
upper battery mounts modern ten an,
twelve inch krnpp guns behind six
foot stone parapet in front of which ar,
twenty feet Of earthwork and n beltin.
of railroad iron. This battery is con
sidered the most formidable of HI
yana's defenses. eXceDt Moro Castle
1t is masked and has not been absolute
ly located by the American war ships
1t is probably due 10 the fact that th
Spaniards did not desire to expose IL
position that the Vicksburg and Morri
are now afioat. The vessels were abou
six miles from the schooner when tn
chase began They steamed after he
at full speed the Morrill, leading unit
within "A mile and half of the SAINT
Clara batteries. Commander Smith,
the Nicksburg, was the first TO reai2
the danger into which the rockies
pursuit had Ted them. He concluded
was time to haul off. and sent sht
across the bow Of the schooner I'll
Spanish skipper instantly brought h
vessel about, but while she was sti
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