The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-03
FLEET AT SAN TACO
Splendid Work Done by
Sampson the First Day.
EAGERNESS TO BEGIN
THE BATTLE OPENED BY THE
NEW PORK.
SHOO TING AWAY THE SPANISH FLAG
Old Spanish Fort Riddled by American Shells
and its Flag Shot Away by The Extra
ordinary Workmanship OF
Lieutenant Blue,
Lieutenant Blue,

Kingston, Jamaica, July :, > H. H.
Before 5 o'clock this morning the crew
of the flagship were astir, eating Il hut-
ried breakfast and at $50, general
ouorters. was sounded and the fiagsh'p
headed in toward Aguadores, about three
miles east of MORO Castle. The other
ships retained their blockading STATIONS.
Along the surf beaten shore the shohe
of an approaching train from Ai,aies
w,s seen II was composed of open
cars full of General Duffield's trops. AL
the cut. a mile east of Aguadores the
train stopped, and the Cuban scouts
proceeded along the railroad track. Inc
troops got out of the ears and soon
formed in long thin line standing OUT
wildly against the yellow rocks tnat
rose perpendicularly above, shuttins
them off from the main body OF the
army, which is on the east side OF the
hill, several miles north.
From the quarter deck OF the
flagship there was slgnal ps
a vigorously wigwagged letter.
and a few minutes later, from a
lump Of green at the waters edge, came
an answer from the army. This was
the first cooperation for offensive pur-
poses btween the army and the navy.
With the flag in his hand the soldier
ashore looked like a butterfly.
Are you waiting for us to- begin,
was the signal made by Admiral
Sampson to the army.
General Duffield is ahead with the
- fhn from the
shore to the flagship.
BY this time it was o'clock, and the
admiral ran the tiagship's bow within
three quarters of a mile of the beach.
She remained almost us near during the
forenoon, and the daring way she was
handled by Captain Chadwick, within
sound of the breakers made the Cuban
pilot on, board stare with establishment.
The Suwanee was in company with
the flagship. still closer in shore, and
the Gloucester was to the westward.
near Moro Gaelic. From the south
ward the Newark came up and took a
position to the westward. Her decks
were black with 1000 or more troops.
She went alongside of the flagship, and
was told to disembark the troops nj
Alcires.
Then Admiral Sampson signalled 10
General Duffield:
when do you want us to commence
firing?"
In little while white. flag on shore
sent back the answer:
When the rest of the command ar
rives. Then / will signal you."
1t was long and tedious wait for the
ships before the second fifty carloads of
troops came putting along from Altares.
BY $50 o'clock. the last of the sol
diers had left the open railroad tracks,
disappearing in the thick brush that COW
cred the eastern side of Aguadores inlet.
The water iii the sponge tubs under the
breaches of the big guns was growing
hot in the burning sun. Ashore there
was no sign of the enemy. They were
believed to be on the western bluff.
Between the bluffs runs a rocky gully
leading into Santiago City. On the ex-
tremity of the western arm was an ole
castellated fort, from which the Spanish
flag was flying, and on the parapet on
the eastern hill, commanding the gully,
two stretches of red earth could easily
be seen against the brush. These were
the rifle pits.
At 1:15 o'clock signal flag ashore
wigwagged to Admiral Sampson to com
mence firing, and a minute later the
New York's guns blazed away at the
rifle pits and at the old fort.
The Suwanee and Gloucester joined in
the echoes which rumbled around and
filled the gully. All the stored up
thunder of the clouds seemed to have
broken loose, and smoke soon rose over
the hills and the gully was shut out
from view.
Then the firing became more DELHI
crate.
OF our troops ashore in the brush
nothing could be seen, but the Ping
ping Of the small arms of the army
Heated out TO Sea during the occasional
lull i'll the firing Of the big guns which
peppered the rifle pits until clouds OF
red earth rose above them
An eight-inch shell from the Newark
dropped in the massive old fort, and
clouds of white dust and huge stones
filled the air. a shot from the Suwanee
hit the eastern parapet and it crumbled
away like n mummy exposed to the air
after the entombment of centuries
Amid the smoke and debris the flagstaff
was seen to fall forward.
."The flag has been shot down.
shouted the ships crew. but when the
smoke cleared away the emblem Of
blazing brilliantly in the sun, though
the flagstaff was bending toward the
earth. Apparently the flagstaff had
been caught firmly in the wreckage nf
the fort.
A few more shots leveled the battle
ments until the old castle was pitiful
sight
When the firing ceased. Lieutenant
Delehanty Of the Suwanee was anxious
to finish his work. so he signalled to the
New York asking permission to knock
down the Spanish flag.
Eyes" replied Admiral Sampson, iii
Won can do it in three shots"
The Snwanee then lay about 1,60f
wards from the old fort. She took hel
time. Blue carefully aimed the foul
inch gun. and the crews Of all the ships
watched the incident amid intense ex
element.
When the smoke of the suwanee's frs