The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-06-18
GATHERING THE FORTS.
Admiral Sam pson's Fleet San.
tiaso Fort,iicatious for tho Third
Time.

tiaso Fort,ticatious for tho Third
Time.
OFF SANTIAGO. June IL, via Kings
ton, June lS.-Rear Admiral Samp-
sons feet bombarded the batteries at
Santiago de Cuba for the third time at
daylight this morning. For hours the
ships pounded the batteries at the right
and left Of the entrance, only sparing
FL MORO, where Lieutenant Hobson
and his companions Of the Merrimac
sc III prison. The western batteries,
against which the main assault was di.
rected. were badly wrecked. One was
utterly destroyed. In others many
guns We're dismouutcd.
At first the Spaniards replied pas.
sionately and wickedly, but impo.
tently. Soon most of the guns were
deserted. Not q ship was struck nor Il
man injured on the American sly. Ii
is believed the enemy's loss Of life
was heavy.
Began Firing at Daylight.
When the ships got into position it
was still too dark for any firing. The
admiral signaled the ships not TO fire
until the muzzles of the enemy's guns
could be seen by the gun captains.
Fifteen minutes later, at o:sO a. ~. the
New York opened with a broadside
from her main battery at the works at
the east Of the entrance OF the harbor.
All the ships followed with red streams
of flame. The gun captains had been
cautioned not to waste ammunition,
but TO fire with deliberatlon, yet the
fire was SO rapid that there was an
almost continuous roar. The meas.
ured crash Of the l3.inch guns Of the
battleshlps sounded above the o.inch
guns OF the second battery. like thuu.
derclars above the din Of a hurricane.
\ strong breeze from the shore carried
the smoke from the ships seward.
while II let down a thick curtain IL
front Of the Spanish sunuers.
New Orleans Does Good Work.
The batteries on the east of Moro
were harder TO get at, but the New
Orleans crossed the bows of the New
York to within 800 yards Of shore and
played a tattoo with her long o.lrcl
rifles, hitting the batteries repeatedly,
striking a gun squarely muzZse on, hit.
ing Il II its t~4uucllous Il sending 1t
sweeping ,omersau.ts high III the air.
When the order Caue at $50 to cease
firing every gun OF the enemy had
been si.eueed for 10 minutes. but as
the ships drew of some Of the Spanish
courage returned and a hat dozen
shot, were fired spitetu.ly at tie Mas
saCAusetts and Oregon, failing IL their
waaes. At the close OF the action a
stream OF multl.coiCred flags tioated
from the New York, generally compli.
mentiug the ships and especially com.
mending the work Of the Te yas and
New Orleans.
Sampson Highly Grat.Ged.
The destruction done at the western
batteries must have been appal.lLC.
Many IF the guns had been mounted
during the last W. days. From TINS IL
would be inferred that Admiral Ger.
vera nad given up all nope OF extricat.
ing himself from the trap IL which ne
is caught and had removed the guns
from some Of his ships to strengthen
the and de.enses. Admiral Sampson
g highly grat,led at the results OF the
bon bardment. He thinks the western
batteries practically demolished. The
only regret expressed Is that Lieu
tenant Hobson and his crews presence
in f Moro made 1t sacred. Other.
wise II would be a heap Of ruins.
The number Of shots fred was not
known when this dispatch was sent
The New York fred EOS. Probably
5000 shots were fred, Of a total weight
Of 5000. 900 pounds.