The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-05-19
NO. 81


of triumph went up from the Spanish
boats and batteries and again a heavy
fire was opened on the torpedo.
Finally, the Hudson succeeded in
getting line on board the Winslow
and was towing her out of the deadly
range, when the line parted, and again
both boats were at the mercy of the
Spanish fire.
At 3 80 p. M, the Hudson managed
to get another line on the deck of the
Winslow but there were only three
men left there at that time to make it
fast. The line was finally secured and
the Winslow was towed up to Pedrse
Island, where she was anchored, with
her dead and d-wounded>on her decks.
Three who were taken on board the
gunboat Machias died there shortly
afterward
At 3: rs p. M. Yesterday the Hudson,
with the dead bodies and some of the
wounded started for Key West, arriving
here at s O'Clock this morning.
Lieutenant Bernadou, with the sur
geon bringing him over told the story
OF the battle to the reporter of the AS
sociated Press as calmly as if talking
of the weather. He began 1--WE went
under full speed to attack the Spanish
boats in the harbor, and you know the
result. We went under orders from
the commander of the Wilminstcn.
Our boat is badly damaged, but she
will be brought here for repairs, and I
think she will be ready for service
again in two weeks"
Continuing, the Lieutenant said
"The Winslow was the worst injured,
and had five of her men killed and 1
don't know how many injured. We
we're ordered to attack the Spanish
guDboats at Cardenas, we steamed in
under full head of steam and were
fired upon as soon as We were in range.
The Spanish boats were tied up at
the docks and had a fair range on us.
The batteries on shore also opened on
us, and l think we received most of
the fire. 1 do not know whether any
one was hurt OH the Wilmington or on
the Hudson, but 1 think not.
II have no fault to find with the
Winslow's crew. They acted nobly all
the way through. The men who were
killed all fell at the same time. We
were standing in group and the aim
OF the Spanish was perfect. A shell
burst In our very faces"
The dead and wounded brought here
by the Hudson we're taken In small
boats to the Government dock. This
was the first news of the engagement
to reach Key West.
No time was lost in ministerlng to
the wounded. A quick call was sent
to the Marine Hospital and an ambul-
ance came later down to the dock. The
dead were taken to an undertaken shop
and the wounded were conveyed to the
hospital.
In the meantime, the news had
spread and crowds gathered about the
dock, but there was no sort of de-
monstration. The success of the
American ships in every action thus
far has been SO overwhelming that 1t is
hard to realize that death has at last
come to some of our men.
Ensign Bagley was about 26 years
old and while the fleet was stationed
here he was ono of the most popular
men in the service. The news of his
death came as terrible shock to all
who knew him.
It has always been foregone conciu-
sion that the torpedo boat men were
among the first to fall, as their work is
most dangerous, but, in spite of this,
when the fleet was stationed here and
consignments we're made, all the young
men OF the service were eager for tor
pedo boat duty.
The Hudson shows the effect OF the
firing. Her smokestacK is punctured
with bullet holes and her cabin and
decks are smashed and splintered.
Key West, Fla, May Pit Is now
known that the American boats made
furious havoc with Cardenas harbOr
and town. The captain of the Hudson
said Ss'I know we destroyed large
part of their town near the wharves,
burned one of the gunboats and l
think destroyed two other torpedo
destroyers. We were in vortex of
shot, shell aud smoke, and could not
tell accurately but we saw one of their
boats on fire and sinking soon after the
action began. Then large building
near the wharf, I think the barracks,
took fire and many other buildings
we're coon burning. The Spanish had
masked batteries on all sides of us, hid
den in bushes and behind houses.
They set a trap for us. As soon as we
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