The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-05-21
HOT FIGHT AT CIENFUEGOs.
Americans Cut Two Gables. But
Some of Them Fall Before
Spanish Bullets.

KEY WEST. May l5.-The aited
States cruiser Marblehead, the gunboat
Nashville and the auxiliary cruiser Win
dom steamed up to the harbor Of Cierfue
Cos last Wednesday morning, with orders
20 cut the cable connecting Havana with
Santiago de Cuba This task was partly
accomplished, but only after terrific fight
between the war ships and several thousand
Spanish troops which lined the shore and
Law concealed behind improvised breast +
works. The following was the American
loss
Patrick Regain. private marine, killed.
Ernest Suntenich, apprentice, first class.
fracture Of right leg. died after being
brought to Key West
Herman w kuchneisted, private ma
rine, shot through the jaw. probably ia
tally.
Harry Hemickson, seaman, shot through
the liver, probably fatally.
John T. Doran boaswain' ) mate. sec
ond class. gunshot wound in hip.
Jason Davis. gunner mate, third class,
wound III rlSlt lcS
VIM. Levery apprentice, first class,
wound in left leg
Robert NolZ. seaman. severely wounded.
Lieut.. Cameron McR WinslOw. wound
in hand.
Soon after the arrival Of the warships
off Cenfuegos the commanders of the
Marblehead and the Nashville called for
volunteers to man four boats and cut the
cable. and the men responded with jump.
Lieutenant Winslow, of the Nashville,
took command of the Nashvilles boats.
The shore surrounding the entrance of the
harbor was first shelled and then the boats
proceeded in. while the warships remained
900 wards or more off the harbor.
The work of finding the cable was slowly
and cautiously proceeded with. The cable
was deep in the channel and was found
with difficulty. One of the relays had
been cut when the Spaniards opened fire,
The marines in the boats replied and Il
machine GUN on the forward launch sent
in Il stream of bullets, while heavy shells
from the war ships drove the Spaniards
from the rifle pits along the shore, many
Of them seeking refuge in the lighthouse
fort. which was afterwards torn to pieces
bv shell from the Window. With des-
perate courage the American sailors re
manned calmly at their posts and sue
ceeded in dragging up the second relay Of
the cable and seyering it.
1t was observed when the firing began
that the Spanish troops had assembled
ashore. but it was not known that heavy
guns had been placed in a masked batter
ry. and that the old lighthouse, far out
on neck Of land, had been transformed
into formidable fort.
The small boats proceeded cautiously and
worked on the cables. Suddenly, just as
the work was about completed, one shore
battery fired shell at the boats. 1t was
followed by others, and the Spanish in
fantry opened fire with their rifles.
Then like flash, the Marblehead sent
Il shell inland, and followed it with per-
feet shower of shot. The Nashville was
quick to follow suit and the little Window
cut loose with her 4-pounders In the
meanwhile Spanish bullets fell in every di-
rection around the small boats.
When the boats returned to the ships,
Regain, who was in one of the Marble
head s boats, was found to have been killed
and others were seen to be badly wounded.
On the Nashville, Captain Maynard wa.
standing forward, with an ensign, when a
Spanish bullet passed through the ensign 5
shoulder and struck Maynard in the chest,
near the heart, wounding him only slightly.
The Marblehead was struck scores of times
by bullets from machine guns, and the
Nashville suffered to about the same ex-
tent. The Window also had many marks
of the fray