The record-union., 1898-05-13


Bagley's body was stretched on the
deck, with his face completely torn
away and the upper part of his body
shattered
1t was a terrible moment. The tor
pedo boat, disabled and helpless, rolled
and swayed under the fury of the fire
from the Spanish gunboats.
When the shell burst in the group on
board the Winslow another wild shout
of triumph went up from the Spanish
boats and batteries, and again heavy
fire was opened on the torpedo boat.
Finally the Hudson succeeded in get
ting 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 Span
ish fire.
At 3:05 p. m. the Hudson managed
to get another line on the deck of the
Winslow, but there were only three
men left at that time to make it fast
The line was finally secured, and the
Winslow was toWed up to Pedrias ISL
and, where she was anchored, with her
dead and wounded on her decks. There
some men from the Hudson went on
board the Winslow, and took the most
seriously wounded men off. Three who
were taken on board the gunboat Ma
chias died shortly afterward
At 9:13 p. m. yesterday the Hudson
with the dead bodies and some of the
wounded started for Key West, arriv-
ing here at s o'clock this morning.
Commander Bernandou of the Wins
low was wounded in the left leg, but
not seriously
Lieutenant Bernandou, with the sur
geon bending over him, told the story
of the battle to the representative of
the Associated Press as calmly as if
talking of the weather He began:
I'VE 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 Will
mington. Our boat is badly damaged
but she will be brought here for repairs,
and L think she will be ready for SER
vice again in two weeks
Continuing, the Lieutenant said:
THE Winslow was the worst injured
and had five of her men killed and /
don't know how many injured. We
were ordered to attack the Spanish
gunboats at Cardenas. We steamed
in under full head, and were fired ss,
as soon as we We're in range 1'he
spanish boats We're tied up at the
COCKS, and had range on u.s. The lat
terles on shore also opened on US. and
l think we received most of the fire
L don't know whether anyone was hurt
on the Wilmington or the Hudson. bu;
l think not.
L have no fault to find with the
WinsloW's crew. They acted nobly all
the way through. The men who were
killed fell at the same time We were
standing in a group, and the fire from
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
foats to the Government docks. This
was the first news of the engagement
to reach Key West
NO time was lost in administering to
the wounded. A quick call was Sent
TO the Marine Hospital, and an ambu-
lance came Gathering down to the dock
The dead We're taken to an undertak-
er's shop, and the wounded conveyed
to the hospital.
In the meantime the news had
spread, and crowds gathered about the
dock, but there was no demonstration
Inc success of the American ships in
every action thus far has been so over
Whelming that it was hard to realize
that death had at last come to some
of our men.
Ensign Bagley was about % years
OLD, and when the fleet was started he
was one of the most popular men in the
service. The news of his death was a
terrible shock to all who knew him.
1t has always been a foregone conclu-
sion that the torpedo boats would be
among the first to fall, as the work is
most dangerous, but in spite of this,
when the fleet was stationed here and
changes in assignments We're frequently
made, all the young men of the SER
vice were eager for torpedo boat duty.
The Hudson shows the effect of the
fight. Her smokestack is punctured
with bullet holes, and her cabin and
decks are smashed and splintered.
The Winslow's dead are now lying
at an undertaking establishment. They
were taken there in a rough wagon.
1Ax-4 - ca
The rude conveyance was followed by
large crowd, and all day long the
doors of the shop have been surround
ed by large gathering. Naval Off
GERS marines and sailors came there to
look upon the faces of their dead COM
rades.
Some of the bodies show fearful
wounds. Ensign Bagley was literally
torn to pieces. His body will be en-
balmed and shipped home. Oiler Var
veres had his throat cut open by a
sharp piece of the shell, which appar-
emily severed his windpipe as if slashed
with razor. Fireman Daniels had his
left shoulder ripped up and the right
side of his head torn open. The body
of Tunnel, the colored cook, shows no
wounds. Fireman Meeks was hit in
the groin.
No orders for the disposition of the
bodies have yet been issued.
1t is now known that the American
boats made furious havoc with Car
denas harbor and town. The Captain
of the Hudson said:
Il know We destroyed large part
Of their town near the wharves, burned
one of their gunboats, and l think de-
stroyed two of their torpedo destroy
ers. We We're in a vortex of shot,
shell and smoke, and could not tell ac-
curately. but we saw one of their boats