The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-05-18
A RASH ATTACK.
Americans Get the Worst Of q
Fight at Cardenas.
spanish Gunboats, Supported by Land Bat
trries, Disable the Torpedo Boat Wins
low and XIII Five of Her Men-The
Wilmington and Hudson Were
Also In the Fray.

ted States gunboat Hudson came up 10
the government dock yesterday morn
ing, the bodies of five dead men were
!ying on her afterdeck. They were the
remains of Ensign w. Bagley and four
members of the crew of the torpedo
boat Winslow, who were killed in an
engagement in Cardenas harbor We'd
uesday afternoon. The bodies were
covered by the stars and stripes.
In the cabin of the Hudson was
Capt. Bernadou, of the Winslow, who
is slightly injured in the left leg, and
several others of the Winslow crew,
who are slightly wounded. The dead
are:
Ensign Worth Bagley.
John Varveres, oiler. .s
Josiah B, Tunnel, cabin cook
j. " Meek, fireman.
]. Deel, fireman.
The engagement took place inside
the harbor of Cardenas. The gunboat
Wilmington, the torpedo boat Winslow
and the gunboat Hudson were the only
vessels engaged. They entered the
harbor for the purpose of attacking
some Spanish gunboats which were
there. These latter, however, were not
discovered by the American force until
the Spaniards opened fire. The land
batteries of Cardenas supported the
fire of the Spanish gunboats. The en-
gagement last for about an hour.
The battle was terrific. The Will
mington and the Hudson were ahead
and opened fire on the Spanish boats
lying at the docks. The firing began
at range of $500 yards. A few min
utes later the Winslow came up and
also opened fire. In an instant the en-
tire attention of the Spanish gunboats
and land batteries was directed upon
her. From all sides shot and shell
poured in upon the little torpedo boat.
The Wilmington and Hudson still kept
up their fire, but they could not turn
aside the terrible storm of fire and
death pouring in upon the torpedo
boat. ss- ... .t,- .t
The crew of the Winslow never fall
tered for second. At 1886 p. m. a
solid shot crashed into the hull of, the
Winslow and knocked out her boiler.
In an instant she began to roll and
drift helplessly. Then cheer of tri-
umph went up from the Spaniards on
the gunboats and in the batteries, and
again storm of fire was opened upon
the helpless boat.
The Hudson, which was lying near
by, started to the assistance of the
Winslow. She ran alongside the tor
pedo boat and tried to throw line to
the imperiled crew. Up to this time,
with the exception of the one shot
which disabled the boiler of the Wins
low, the firing of the Spanish gunboats
had been Wild but as the Winslow lay
rolling in the water, the range grew
closer and shells began to explode all
about her.
1t was difficult for the Hudson to
get near enough to throw line to the
Winslow's crew, so terrible was the fire.
Finally, after about 90 minutes, the
Hudson approached near enough to
throw line. Ensign Bagley and six
J men were standing in a group on the
deck of the Winslow.
"Heave her." shouted Bagley, as he
looked toward the Hudson and called
| for line. The line was thrown, and
at the same instant she'll burst in
the midst of the group of men on board
the Winslow.
Bagley was instantly killed and a
few others dropped about him. Hall
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.
The torpedo boat, disabled and help.
less, 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 shout OF
triumph went up from the Spanish
boats and batteries, and again heavy
fire was opened on the torpedo boat
Finally, the Hudson got 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.
At $3.50 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 Hedras
island, 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 guuboat
Machias died shortly after.
Lieut.. Bcrnadou, with the surgeon
bending over him, told the story of the
battle. He said: 1--WE went under
full speed to attack the Spanish boat:
in the harbor and you know the result
We went under orders from the com.
mander of the Wilmington, Our boat
is badly damaged, but she will bt
brought here for repairs and l think
she will be ready for service again il
two weeks"
The American boats made furious
havoc with Cardenas harbor and town
The captain of the Hudson said: q,
know we destroyed o large part O
their town near the wharves, burned
one of their gunboats and | think de
svroyed two torpedo boat destroyers.
Has Sobered the Hotheads.
| Uoeb;nrtop Nav 10 Tho catbo ol