Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-05-12
FIRST FIGHT OFF CUBA
Little TOrpedOhuat WinsIuW Ran
In Shore and Was Chased
by Three Spanish
CoaStguardS.
MANY SHOTS FIRED BUT NO INJURY
The Gunboat MachIas Came
to the Relief of the Wins
low, and Sent the
Spaniards Hurry
Ing to Shelter.

On board The Associated Press dis
patchboat Kate Spencer, off Cardenas,
Cuba, via Key West, Fla, May TO-
This little torpedoboat Winslow, yester-
day morning preeipitated the first naval
engagement fought in Cuban watsrs.
On q Reconnaissance in Oardonas harbor,
she drew the frs OF three Spanish
coastguard vessels, and a lively vest
pocket aeafight followed between tiny
RunhnRts. AS thu Winslow was de-
sidedly in the minority, she ran for the
open ssa, where tho gunboat MRchias,
which had been called up by tho firing,
took hand IN the game with her four ]
inch rifias and tossed seyera shells over
the low SAND spit behind which span
ish boats were shetsrsd. 1t was i'm
possible to see whether any of these
landed. The Winslow waH not touched,
but she claims to have kuockei few
splinters out OF the large coastguard
boat.
The most important result of the
Winslow's reconnaissance was the dis.
covery that Cardenas harbur is mined.
II there were any batteries ON shore the
Spaniards did not think 1t worth while
to disclose their position. That there
are mines In the chRnnel ia important
10 view OF the report that 1t is Car
denas, and not Matanzaa, whore the
landing Of United States forces will be
made.
The fight with the constguards oc
cured yesterday morning. Cardenas is
one OF the largest hays along the coast,
ths little town of the same name lying
at the southern end. From the western
shore Icocas Point reaches out like
long index finger, almost touching
Piedras Key Light, which in peaceful
days beRconed the harhor entrance.
The lighthouse has been in darkness
and deserted for many nights.
Feeling safe in the desolation OF the
lighthouse and the silence ashore the
little Winslow crept quietly 10, under
the early morning haze for closer in
spection of the harhor. There had evi-
IDENTIFY been lookout, for tina Winslow
was allowed to feel her way into the
harbor, taking notes OF changed buoys
and false marks designed to lead hos
tile fleet on to torpedo fields. But sud.
denly, thsre was puff OF smoke from
among the mangrove clumps along one
OF the inlets and six-pound shell
screeched out OF the bushes. Crack
came another from the shelter of n tiny
my ~ Ndo ba1G from Iur-
Their down tho coast Then three coast
guard boata darted from their cover,
under full head of steam, like big
gar-pike after q minnow. The Wins
slows crew jumped to the two. Founders
fore and aft, and let the Spaniar(ls have
it, port and starboard, as they uhased
10. The little RunboatH came along,
shooting, but after the usual Spanish
fashion hit nothing but the adjacent
scenery. Then the Winslow seuttled
along the open sea, using her aft gun
as stern chaser and detlantly shouting
as she went alUng. The Spanish boata
wasted about GO shots, and the biggest
boat, mounting l2pounder, kept up
tho bombardment as long as the Wins
low was in range The Spaniards,
who had probably heard the naws frUm
Manila, were evidently aa mad az
nest Of hornets and kept up the chase
until all four of the little craft were
rocking in ths heavy swell past Piedras
Keys. just then thers was crash and
roar to seward, and tho Machias,
bearing in under a canopy of smoke,
sent shell smashing into the pursuing
fleet. The little patrolboats spun about
like water spiders and ran to shelter be-
hind the sand spit. This Machias sant
few SHELLS skipping in between the
sand dunes, hut with what effect it
could NOT be seen.
The Spanish soldiers are displaying
much activity along the line Of coast
from BahIa Hondu, 40 miles west Of
Havana, to Cardenas, 60 miles to east
ward.
As the ships of the blockadipg feet
have instructions to prevent the GREG
tion of new Notifications, and have at
various points shelled working parties,
the task OF strengthening existing de-
fences and throwing up earthworlss ia
carried on principally ut night, save in
the immediate vicinity Of Havana.
The Hornet and the Winslow, now
blockading Matanzas. have had lively
time for several days. Smelling Spanish
detRila at work on batteries aud tele-
graph lines outside Of the entrance OF
the harbor. There, as at other points,
most Of the work is done at night, and
each morning Rees fresh earthworks
show up like ant hills against the rusty
green OF the coast line.
On Sunday morning the Hornet found
party putting up telegraph line
from the lighthouse and signal station,
mile east of Matanzaa harbor to tho
batteries west of Point Sabanilla, on
the OUTSIDE OF tue buy. The batteries
hare are said to be of some magnitude,
mounting few high. power guns. 10
stop this tslegraphic activity, the
Hornet steamed quietly in and dropped
a shell in the midst Of the workmep,
They scattered like rabbits, and the
line grounded then and there. Several
other telegraph parties have been dis
uouraged In the same way at other
points.
1t is evidently the intention of the
Spanish to establish communication by
wire with all their coast blockhouses
and batteries With a view, possibly, Of
massing troops and guns to oppose a
landing whenever threatened. Here
after they will probably carry their
wires behiDd the first range Of hills,
where the line will be less subject to
the sudden interruption.