Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-11
VEST-P0CKET FIGHT.
FIRST NAVAL ENGAGEMENT N
CUBAN WATERS.
THE WlNSLOW BRINGS IT ON.
She Draws the Fire of Three Span
fish Coast-Guard Vessels, hhu
r,,,ds Tint Cardenas Harbor is
Mined.

1copyrighted, 1898, by the Associated
Press)
OK BOARD THE ASSOCIATED
PRESS DISPATCH-BOAT KATE SPEN-
GER. OFF CARDENAs. May D VIA
KEY WEST. FLA, May 1O.-The NIUE
torpedo-boat Winslow yesterday morning
precipitated the first naval engagement
fought in Cuban water. On a recon
noissance in Cardenas harbor she drew
the fire of three Spanish coast-guard
vessels. and a lively yest-pOcket sea-hght
followed. AS the WinslOw was decidedly
i'm the minority. she ran for the open
sea. where her big stauon-mate, the
gunboat Machias, who had been called
no by the firing. took hand in the game
with her finch rifles, and tossed seve-
raj shells over the low sand-spit behind
which the Spanish boats were sheltered.
II was impossible to see whether any
of these landed. The Wnslow was not
touched, but she claims to have knocked
a few splinters out of the largest coast
guard boat.
The most important result of the Wins
lows reconnaissance was the discovery
that the CaIdenas harbOr is mined. If
there were any batteries on shore, the
Spaniards did not think it worth while
10 disclose their position. That there are
mines I'm the channel Is important, in
view of the report that it is at Cardenas.
and not at Matanzas, that the landing
of United States forces will be made.
The fight with the "Guardia COstas"
occurred yesterday morning. Cardenas
IS one of the largest bays along the coast
0f
at the southern end of ii. From the
western shore, Icicas Point reaches out
like long index finger, almost touching
Piedras Key Light, which. in peaceful
days beaconed the harbor entrance. The
lighthouse has been in darkness and de-
serted for many nights.
Feeling safe in the desolation Of the
lighthouse, and the silence ashore. the
little Winslow crept quietly in, under the
early morning haze, for a closer inspcc-
tiOn of the harbor.
SPANIARDS ON THE WATCH.
There had evidently been a lookout
among the dunes along the sand-spit
for the Winslow was allowed to feel her
way into the harbor taking notes Of
changed buoys and false marks designed
10 lead hostile fleet on 10 torpedo
fields. But, suddenly, there was puff
of smoke from among the mangrove
clumps along one Of the inlets. and a G.
pound shell screechcd out of the bushes
Crack came another from the shelter of
a tiny key in the bay, and a third fol-
lowed from further down the coast
Then the three coast-guaTd boats darted
from their cover, under a full head Of
steam. like big garpikes after a minnow.
The Winslows crew jumped 10 the 2
Founders fore and aft. and let the Span
iards have it, port and starboard, as they
chased in. The gunbOats came along.
shooting, but after tho usual Spanish
fashion. hit nothing but the adjacent
along for the open sea, using her after
gun as stern-chaser. and dehantly
shooting as she went along. The Span-
ish boats wasted about sixty shots. and
the biggest boat, mounting a 12-pounder.
kept up the bombardment as long as the
Winslow was in range.
The Spaniards, who had probably heard
the news from Manila, were evidently as
mad as nest of hornets, and kept up
the chase until all four of the little craft
were rocking in the swell past Piedras
Keys. Just then there was crash and
a roar to seward, and the Machias,
bearing in under a canopy Of smoke.
sent shell smashing into the pursuing
feet. The little patrol-boats spun about
like water-spders, and ran to shelter
beyond the sand-spit. The Machias sent
a few shells skipping i'm between the
sand-dunes, but with what effect could
not be seen.
At any rate, there are three prospec-
tive additions TO our mosquito fleet bot
tied up In Cardenas harbor awaiting de-
velopments.