The Monticellonian., 1898-05-20


 WASHINGTON, May 14-The navy de- ,partment has just received dispatch from Commodore Remey, at Key West, confirming the report of a severe en- gagement at Gfenfuegos last Wednes- day He transmits the report of Capt McCalla of the Marblehead, showing that one man was killed, Herman Req. gan, a marine, on the Marblehead and several injured. Severe losses were in. fiicted upon the Spaniards, and the main object of the attack, which was 10 cut the cable, was accomplished:
 Story of the Battle.
 KEY WEST, Fla, May 14-The United States cruiser Marblehead the gun boat Nashville and the auxiliary cruiser Windom, steamed up to the harbor of Ciepfuegos early Wednesday morning with orders to cut the cable connecting Havana with Santiago de Cuba. This task was accomplished, but only after terrific fight between our warships and several thousand Spanish troops, which lined the shore and lay concealed behind improvised breastworks. One man. a marine named Began, of the Marble head. was killed outright in one of the working small boats, and six men were severely wounded. In addition, a large number on board the ship re- ceived minor wounds.
 Capt MaGuire of the Windom be 1ievcs that several of the six badly wounded men who were brought to Key West on the Wndom can not re. cover.
 Following is list of killed and bad ly wounded:
 KILLED.
 Herman Began. q marine, of the Marblehead.
 BADLY WOUNDED.
 John Davis, of New York.
 John J. Donran. of Fall River, Mass.
 Ernest SuntzfaniekIe
 Herman IIoehneister.
 Harry Hendfiekson, all of the Mar blehead.
 Robert Boltz, Carter county, N. C., of the Nashville.
 Soon after the arr1val of the war ships off Gienfuegos four boats were launched and proceeded in shore for the purpose of grappling for the cable in order to cut it. The warships lay to about l.o0o yards or more off the harbor.
 It was observed that the Spanish troops had assembled ashore, but it was not known that heavy guns had been placed in a masked battery, and that the old lighthouse. far out on neck of land, had been transformed into a formidable fort.
 The small boat proceeded cautiously and, for more than an hour, worked unmolested on the cable. Suddenly, just as the work was about completed, the shore battery fired shell at the boats. It was followed by others, and the Spanish infantry opened fire then with their rifles.
 Then, like flash. the Marblehead sent d shell inland, and followed it with perfect shower of shot.
 The Nashville was quick to follow suit, and the little Windom cut loose her four-pounders.
 Meanwhile Spanish bullets fell in the small boats. Though the attack had come suddenly fercely, the blue jack cts were not dismayed, and, protected by the terrific return fire of the war ships, work was continued and the ca ble cut.
 When the boats returned to the ships Began, who was in one of the Marblehead's boats, of which there were two, was found to have been killed. Six men were badly wounded.
 The Spaniards had by this time suf. fered severe loss Their shot from the lighthouse struck the warships several times, and, although they did not do much damage, the fire aroused the determination of the American officers to eXterminate the fort. Thereafter, for a moment, the fire of the warships was concen- trated upon the lighthouse and the inn provised fort was blown to pieces, as there were great numbers of Spaniards in and behind the fort at the time, there is no doubt that many of them were killed
 The Marblehead and the Nashville used their heaviest guns, as well as their small rapidfre guns, and hundreds of shots were thrown into the Spanish troops.
 On board the ships number of men were slightly wounded.
 Commander Washburn Maynard of ahe Nashville was slightly wounded by a spent bullet.
 . The dispatch adds that the Spanish loSs-is-es+inated at 400, and that of the United States fleet four killed and four wounded.
 The lighthouse was demolished it is reported, the arsenal destroyed and the batteries on shore silenced The town was set on fire by shells from the American fleet.