The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-08-16

TWO RATTLING HOT FIGHTS.
Capture Of Il Sloop and a Schooner BY
Our Gallant Jack Tars.

stintly killed during 4 sharp engage
mcnt with Spanish rificmcn at i point
OF land juttin- into Cortcs Bay on the
south coast Of the Province Of Tinar del
Rio on August ID. 1t is not known
how many Spaniards' lives paid for his.
but the Spanish loss was undoubtedlv
severe.
On the morning Of that day the Ban
croft was cruising about Cortcs Bay on
blockade duty when 4 sail was seen
close to the land. about ten miles 10 til"
northWard. The gunhoat'S steam launch
was armed with a ~onc-poundcr and Lieu
tenant Henry :. Wilson with fourteen
men, Ill carrying rifles, put in to inter
ccpt the stranger. She turned ont to
hc i Spanish schooner. By the time
the steam launch reached that point the
schooner had worked into q port and !
party Of Sp9niards including q body
Of soldiers, was attempting 10 haul her
ashore. Tho launch stood boldly in and
brisk firing from her onc-poundcr speed
lily scattered the crowd.
james Munroc, Il first-cIasS apron
ticc. swan to the schooner and made l
line fast to her, in order to pull her
out. Vt the Same time Naldcmar IIo-
hcngrccn, IN ordinary dropped
over the side of the launch and made
~ a az Nltit Il SltitII SioDtt-Ii8Gttl
boat WAS moorcd. The launch then
commenced to haul off the schooner but
the lire parted and while another was
being run the SpaniardS. who had sought
shelter in the woods. poured in Il muir
drrouS riflc-firc. KoUrloIris. who was
leaning over the side Of the launch. was
shot through the breast and fell dead.
Fortunately. no one else was even ia
urcd.
Instantly the men in the launch be-
gan Il rapid return fire with their rifles,
while Lieutenant Wilson manouyred the
launch SO rs TO take Il line thrown by
l~lohcngrc"n from the small boat. which
he showed off from the pier. Her bow
was ptllcd out. and the onc-poundcr WAS
opened on the ambuscadc with such we'll
directed aim that the SpaniardS were
routed without Il chance to return the
American fire.
The schooner had III the meantime
gone hard aground. and being 50 damaged
rs to be almost useless. enough shells
were sent into her to finish her destruc-
ton.
The launch then returned with the
small sloop TO the Bancroft.
Commander Glover warmly praised
the -allantry Of the launch party which
did not faltcr under heavy fire but Iii
rCctcd all its energies to reScuing HoIcn-
green. who alone on the wharf. was in
I p~crilouS situation.
The mex morning the Bancroft started
for Si@unca. whore the gunhoat Maple
had one to blockade and sound out
Il passage.
On August 18th Commander Glover.
who WAS senior officer there. trans
fcrrcd his flag to the Maple while the
fancroftS boilers were undergoing re-
pairs. He took the launch with him.
under Ensign Nogclsang still armed with
her me FOUNDER. They proceeded to the
north extremity Of the Island of Pines
and there saw 4 slool. and q Iarg,
schooner anchored in shore. The launch
went in after them, but us soon as she
WAS observed approaching The crows of
the Spanish vessels took to their small
boats. The sloop ram aground and
toward this vessel Ensign NogclsanG
headed the launch. AS the latter drew
near to the Sloop. Il party Of Spaniards
on shore opened fire on tho Americans.
Then the launcl's onc-poundcr again
opened on the enemy. But before sh,
/ had fired many shells the Maple oncned
fire With her six FOUNDER and swept tho
brush lined beach. While the dense
foliage ashore gave the enemy Il decided
''NdItdS'- io -Aiitl ttdIIS were MT ltul
II Is safe to say that under the Naples
heavy fire 4 larg" number Of Spaniards
We're killed or wounded.
I'll" Sloop turned out to be 4 trading
vessel with 40 cargo on board and not
being worth the trouble Of sending TO IN
American port. Il few shots from the
Maple put her under water.
The schooner. however. proved to be
Of value. She was the Carmita. loaded
with wood and charcoal. She was
hauled cut and anchored until the next
morning, when the Maple, towing the
schooner and the launch, resumed her
journey to Sigunca Bay.