The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-05-19
FIRST AMERICAN BLOOD.
NORTH CAROLINA BOY FALLS
FIRST.
Ensign Worth Bagley Killed.

O~GoeOJ -SoSO~s
KEY WEST, Fla, May 12-When tn
United States gunboat Hudson came VI
to the government dock at o'clocl
this morning the bodies OF five deat
men were lying on her after-deck
They were the remains of Ensign w
Bagley and four members OF tie crey
OF the torpedo boat Wlnslow, who Were
killed in an engagement in Cardena
harbor yesterday afternoon. The bodie:
were covered by the stars and stripes
In the cabin of the Hudson was Cap
tain John B. Bernadou, of the Wins
low, who is slightly injured In the left
leg, and several others of the Winslow's
crew, who are slightly wounded.
The dead are
ENSIGN WORTH BAGLEY.
JOHN VARVERLES, oiler.
JOSIAH TUNNETI, cabin cook.
J. V. MEEKS, fireman.
J. DANIEL, fireman.
The engagement took place inside
the harbor of Cardenas. The gunboat
Wilmington, the torpedo beat Winslow
and the gunboat Hudson were the only
vessels engaged. They entered the
harbor tor the purpose of attacking
some Spanish gunboats which were
known to be there. These latter, how
ever, were not injured by the Amerl-
can force until the Spanish opened fire.
The land batteries of Cardenas support
ed the fire of the Spanish gunboats.
The engagement comm enced at 2 O5
p. m, and lasted for about an hour.
The wounded are:
r. E. Cox, gunners-mate; D. Nc
Keon, quarterinaster; J. Patterson, fire.
man F. Gray, and Lieut.. J. B. Berna-
dou.
All are slightly wounded, except
Patterson, whose condition is serious.
The bottle, while 1t lasted, was terri
BILE. The Wilmington and the Hud-
son were ahead and opened fire on the
Spanish boats which were lying at the
docks. The firing being at a range of
$500 yards. A few minutes later, the
Winslow came up and also opened fire.
In an instant the entire attention Of
the Spanish gunboats and land batter
les was directed upon her. From all
sides shot and shell seemed to pour in
upon the little torpedo boat.
The Wilmington and the Hudson
still kept up their fire but they could
not turn aside the terrible storm of fire
and death pouring in upon the torpedo
boat.
The crew of the Winslow, however,
never faItered for a second. At 2 :35
D. M, solid shot crashed into the hull
of the Winslow and knocked out her
boiler. In an instant she began to roll
and drift helplessly.
Then there was a moment OF awful
suspense. A fierce cheer OF triumph
went up from the Spaniards on the
gunboats and In the batteries and
general storm of fire was opened up on
the helpless boat. The gunboat Hud-
son, which was lying nearby started to
the assistance of the W1nslow. She
ran alongside the torpedo boat and
tried to throw line to tae imperilled
crew.
Up to this time, with the exception
OF the one shot, which disa bled the
boiler of the Winslow, the firing of the
Spanish gunboats had been wild, but
as the Winslow lay rolling in the water,
the range grew closer and shells began
to explode all about her. It was dit
fcult for the Hudson to get near enough
to throw line to the Winslow's crew,
so terrible was the fire alb about her.
Finally, after trying for about twenty
minutes, the Hudson approached near
enough to throw line. Ensign Bag
ley and six men were standing In a
group on the deck of the Winslow.
"Heave her, heave her." shouted
Bagley as he looked toward the COM.
mander of the Hudson, and called for
a line.
"Don't miss it," shouted an officer
from the Hudson, and with smile
BagIey called back:
"Let her come. It's getting too hot
here for comfort"
The line was thrown and, at the
same instant, shell burst in the very
midst of the group of men on board
the Winslow.
Bagley was instantly killed and a
few others dropped about him. Half
a dozen more fell groaning on the
blood-stained deck. One OF the dead
men pitched headlong over the side of
the boat but, his feet caught in the
iron rail and he was hauled back.
BagIey lay stretched on the deck,
having been killed instantly.
1t was a terrible moment.