The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-20
COMPARTMENTS RUIN
American Ships Demolished Some
OF Santiago Batteries.
VuL 1URES As THICK AS SWALLOWS.
GrucSomc Evidence of the Fatality
Among the Spanish.
HILL TORS WERE BLOWN AWAY.
False Reports that Hobson and His
Men Had Been Murdered.
THE BA1TLESHlP TEXAS GOOD WORK
There Were No Casualties on the
Flect-The Most Destructive Bom-
bardment of the War.
HILL TORS WE'RE BLOWN AWAY.
False Reports that Hobson and His
Men Had Been Murdered.
THE BA1TLESHlP TEXAS GOOD WORK

Copyrighted. 1898, by Associated Press.)
On Board the Associated Press Dispatcn
Eoat rauntless, Off Santiago de Cuba, sat-
urday. June Is, Noon. via Kingston, ia
maica, June 19.--Noon. careful iuspec-
tion OF the Notifications along the crest Of
the hills defending Santiago harbor show
the bombardments spread havoc and ruin
everywhere. Some OF the batteries we're
demolished beyond repair.
The vultures which oirced on level wings
over the hills, as thick as swallows around
a chimney, for hours after the firing had
ceased, furnished gruesome evidence Of the
fatality among the Spanish soldiers.
Hundreds OF troops could be seen from the
ships digging in mounds Of earJh piled up
by the projectiles. for bodies. while their
heads were famed by the wings of the
black scavengers of the battlefield
There were two spots. one on the east
and the other on the west entrance to the
tartor, denuded of foliage. The hill tops
seem literally blown away. These marked
the places where the two hundred pound
charges of gun cotton blown by the Vesu-
vius landed.
But the most omlnous token OF death
flew from Moro castle. The saffron nag
of Spain was half masted for several hours,
The significance OF this is not known,
1t is not customary to half mast flags
but rossiby some Spanish leader was killed
by the heavy firing OF our guns, though
some officers of the squadron beiieve th'
flag was half masted as notification &c
the Americans that Lieutenant Hobson anc
his brave men are dead. If such is the case
they must have been wantonly murdered
The Spanish might seek to lay their death
to the bombardment, but not shot from
the American, ships struck the fortress
Neither Admiral Sampson nor Comma
dore Schley believe that Hobson and hii
party have been killed. We have seven
teen prisoners taken at Gysntsnsn,s. 10
cluding a lieutenant, besides number III
the United States, for reprisals.
Fifteen minutes night work OF the Vesn'
yIus had a shattered effect on the enemy
Tht 13-inch projectile fired by the Texas
which was reported to have exploded the
powder magazine of one OF the western pat
teries did not fall in the battery, but wen
beyond and blew UP one OF the ships in the
harbor.
A dramatic incident Of the bombardmen
was the act of Spanish offi:er who brave
| ly ran along the parapet under heSvy fir'
| encouraging his men TO stand by their guns
| Shot and shell rained about him and ate
| one terrific explosion he was seen no more
! and the parapet also had disappeared HI
| could not have escaped death
| From the foretop OF the Brooklyn, 29ot
yards distant the men in the grounds
| could be noticed, but a minute later dls
| and fIying debris would take their places
| and when the emoke cleared away only
| spot OF earth could be seen--gunners ane
guns having been swept away.
| 1t was the most deadly and destructive
| bombardment of the war thus far. Soareel,
a shot from the big guns of the squadron
went astray. The aim OF our gunners wa
| superb.
The batteries on Cayo Smith, up the har
Dor. were destroyed. Had all the ship'
used smokelsss powder as did the New
Orleans. there would remain no sign, o
guns or Notifications to indicate that Their
had ever been any defenses there.
There were no casualties In the feet
although the ships held fixed position
as IL inviting the Spaniards TO fire upol
them. The half stripped ships gunner
never worked with more enthusiasm.
The worIs of Rear Admiral Sampst
were: First silence the batteries on III
shore and then continue firing until forti
fications are reduced
This order was strictly obeyed.
II was time such instructions wsre give
and The men went to work with VII
In thirty eight minutes thu order wa
given to cease firing and the messag
went 10 each ship from the admiral's shir
Every detail OF the engagement had bee
! executed to the letter from tic openin
Of FIRE by ths New York TO the last she
from tho Iowa.
rhe spaniards were evidently surprise
while STRENGTHENING their foriiic"tloni
THE first shot 81 the New York lande
full and fair on tho top OF the bill
the east where the guupers ware alread
at FORK erecting new pieces.
The Garth seemed to rise In c,oui an
whtn the 12-inch shells Of the Iowa an
1.-The Ia-inch batteries Of ih1 Oregon 'aphe
sousrely and fairly great cheer wer
:, up from the ships.
. The western SQUADRON got into line an
? began fling before the eastern on II
= and TIE ffYert OF the shots could be pla'rl
: seen. The spanish gunners 1T the b7'
! lferies could be noted nnd quick hre vs.
!. rafurnfi hut nrav for brief time dI
g they withstand the terrible assault {
the feet. -
STANDARDS DrNOHAIIzED.