The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-05-12
AMERICAN BLOOD SHED

| from the Hudson and with a smile Bag
| ley called back: Let her come. 1t is
getting too hot here for comfort" The
| line was thrown and about the same in
| slant shell burst in the very midst of
| the group of men on board the WinsIow.
Bagley was instantly killed and
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.
Bagley lay 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
board the Winslow another wild shout
of triumph went up from the Spanish
boats and batteries and again a heavy
fire was opened on the torpedo boat.
Finally the Hudson succeeded in get
ting a 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 Spanish
fire.
to get another line in 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 Pedras is
land, 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 9:15 p. M, yesterday afternoon the
Hudson with the dead bodies and some
wounded left for Key West arriving
here at o'clock this morning. Com
mander Bernadou of the Winslow was
wounded in the left leg but not serious
Iy Lying in the cabin of the Hudson
this morning, he received a representa-
tive of the Associated Press and told
the latter the story of the fight. He
said: 1--WE went into the harbor under
orders. The torpedo boat Winslow was
the worst injured. She had five of her
men killed and don't know how many
injured.
1.-The Winslow was ordered by the
commander of the Wilmington to go
into the harbor of Cardenas and attack
the Spanish gunboats there. We
steamed in under full head of steam
and were fired upon as soon as we
were in range. The Spanish boats were
tied up at the docks and had a fair
range on us. The batteries on shore al
so opened on US and 1 think we re-
ceived most of the fire. I don't know
whether any one was hurt on the Will
mington or on the Hudson, but think
not.
4 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 the group, and the aim of
the Spanish was perfect. A shell burst
in our very faces
The dead and wounded carried by the
Hudson were taken in small boats to
the government dock. This was the
first news of the engagement to reach
Key West.
No time was lost in ministering to the
wounded. A quick call was sent to the
Marine hospital and an ambulance
came Gathering down to the dock. The
dead were taken to an undertaken shop
and the wounded conveyed to the hos
pital.
In the meantime the news had spread
and crowds gathered about the dock,
but there was no demonstration. The
success of the American ships in every
action thus far has been so Overwhelm-
ing that it is hard to realize that death
has at last come to some of our men.
Ensign Bagley was about 26 years oil
age and while the fleet was stationed
here, he was one of the most popular
men in the service. The news of his |
death come as a terrible shock to all |
who knew him. 1t has always been a |
foregone conclusion that the torpedo |
men were among the first to fall, as |
their work is most dangerous, but in |
spite of this, when the fleet was sta |
toned here and changes in assignments |
were frequently made, all the young |
men of the service were eager for tor !
pedo 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.