The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-05-13
The WinslOW Was RiddIed by
Spanish Bullets
In the Battle of Cardenas Har-
Dor.
AN OFFICIAL REPORT.
by Commander Mer-
ry Who Saw 1t.
He COmmends Highly the BraV-
cry of the men.

washington, May 13.-The navy de-
partment has received additional Off
ciaI advices concerning the battle of
Cardenas Practically only two new
points are developed in the official adj
vices, the one being that the MachiaS,
Commander Merry, was a spectator,
If not an actual participant in the bat
tie, and the other that the conflict lasted
from lao p. m, to 3 p. m, when the YES
sells retired to their outer anchorage.
The report of the fight made to the
navy department is from Commander
Merry, the senior officer. He enclOses
skeleton reports from Commander Todd
of the Wilmington and Lieutenant
BernadOu, commander OF the WinsIOW.
The reports speak in high terms of the
management of the vessels and the con-
duct of the men, Commander Todd re
ferring particularly to the handling Of
the WinslOw in the hot fire as highly
meritorious."
Lieutenant Bernadou's report indi-
Gates that the WinslOw was riddled by
the enemy's fire, but he believes that
she can be so repaired as again to rem
der her efficient.
Appended is the text of the dispatch
received by the department from Com
nander Merry. The dispatch is dated
at Key West and was received at the
department at $40 last night.
The arrival of the Wilmington and
the Winslow off Cardenas this morning
Todd of the Wilmington on the subject
of attacking and cutting out three small
gunboats in the harbor.
1.-The Machias, Wilmington, Hudson
and WinslOw proceeded in as far as the
distractions would allow. The Ma
chlas took position 2,1O0 yards northeast
of Diana Cay. The Wilmington, Hud-
son and WinSlOW entered the inner har-
Dor between Romero and Blanco Gays
where there were no mines, and were
soon steaming into CardenaS bay. At
lao p. M, fire opened from these YES
sells and continued until 8 p. m, when
they started to the outer anchorage.
enclose reports of Todd and Bernadou.''
Commander Todd reports:
'tIt was impossible for the Whining
ton to approach nearer than 1000
yards The Spanish gunbOats could not
be seen from this distance and the
WinSlow was directed to go nearer to
see if she could determine where they
We're lying She had gone only 700
yards inside the Wilmington when she
was nred upon from a gunboat. The
wilmington and the WinSlow returned
the fire. After a rapid exchange of
shots for Is or 20 minutes, in which a
shore battery is supposed to have en-
gagged, 1t became evident that the Win
slow could not steer. At this time the
Hudson came up and opened fire and
the Winslow asked to be towed out as
she was disabled. The torpedo boat
seemed to be the only target at which
the enemy fired. She was struck sew
eraI times. One engine was disabled.
OI1CeT was WOUNDED,
but not seriously. Ensign BagIey was
fatally wounded and died before he
could be brought board the Will
mlngton. John Varverse, Oiler and
John Denfee, f1rst-class fireman. were
Killed on board the Winslow. The 9TH
ef men were fatally wounded, one of
them, ]. V. Meek, first-class fireman
dying in a boat while being transferred
to this ship. The other, Josiah Tunnel
ships cook, first-class died after being
brought on board the Wilmington He
cept on the WinslOW. The handling of
the Winslow in the hot fire was highly
meritorious- The commanding officer
OF the W1nslOw desires through me to
commend to the department the gen
eral conduct of his crew, especially
that of Chief Gunner's Mate Brady
Lieutenant Bernadou of the Winslow
reports:
Il was directed by Commander Todd
the wharf at the eastern end of the
town and examined her character. We
steamed towards Moal at full speed On
approaching within 1900 yards a gun
BOAT and battery on shore opened fire
The Winslow returned and maintained
the fire until the end of the action She
was riddled by shells of calibre of 21s
to 3 inches. She was finally lowed out
OF range by the revenue cutter Hud-
son. Casualties as reported this morn
ing. L desire to express my thanks to
Lieutenant Newcomb, commanding of
ncer of the Hudson, when, being under
heaVy fire, he tOWed this vessel out of
action. My opinion is that the Wins
low can be repaired so as to render her
again efficient. Full report mailed"
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