The state herald., 1898-06-17

TeSlIHeut u ssphhiSu iLihhliy was
driven headlong from its position, $50
American marines We're landed on the
eastern side of the harbor Of Guam
tanamo yesterday afternoon. The
landing was made under the protection
of the guns of the Oregon, the Marble
head and the Yosemite.
BY this stroke the American forces
gained a most desirable base. They
will now be able to seize the railroad
which runs from Guantanamo to Cal
manera, and they can take, without
trouble, several Spanish ships loaded
with coal now lying in the harbor
whenever the coal is needed for the
American fleet.
This first landing in the vicinity OF
Guantanamo was accomplished In
broad daylight. The Spaniards made
a feeble attempt at resistance, but
they were forced to flee under the
heavy fire of the American vessels. So
hasty was their departure that, when
the Americans landed their first duty
was to haul down the Spanish flag
left by the enemy. In its place was
raised the stars and stripes, at the
sight of which the marines became
wildly enthusiastic.
Captain Goodrell, with sixty marines
from the Oregon, landed at II o'clock
to select camping place. Crest
Heights, post overlooking the harbor
and the town of Guantanamo, was
chosen and made ready for the
marines who We're coming on the PAN
ther. This is fine site, the climatic
conditions being favorable, and the
point being impregnable against at
tack by the enemy.
Before Captain Goodrell and his men
had finished their work, the Yosemite
and the Panther appeared of the
coast. 1t was then l o'clock in the
afternoon. Awaiting the vessels from
besides the Oregon and the
were the Dolphin, the Vix-
en- and two colliers, the Sterling and
Kingston. The work of landing the
men from the Panther began at once.
In whaleboats, towed by launches, the
entire force of $50 men was quickly
put ashore. They formed under COM
mand Of Lieutenant Colonel Hunting
ton, and went up to Crest Heights.
The landing was effected in an hour,
without accident. 1t was known that
5000 Spaniards were assembled with
In FIVE miles OF Crest Heights, and the
work Of fortifying the base was begun
forthwith.
The spirits of the Americans were
high, and the work Of mounting the
guns went forward so rapidly that by
half-past three o'clock the camp Of the
Americans was capable of resisting
any force the Spaniards would be able
to send against 1t.
On Board the Associated Press Dis
patch boat Dauntless, of Guantanamo,
Sunday, June -, via Mole 81. Nicholas,
June 12.-Lieutenant Colonel r. W.
Huntington's battalion OF marines,
which landed from the transport Pan
ther on Friday and encamped on the
hill guarding the abandoned cable sta
ton at the entrance to the outer har-
Dor OF Guantanamo. has been engaged
In heading OF n rush attack by Span
ish guerrillas and regulars since
O'Clock Saturday afternoon. The fight
ing was almost continuous for thirteen
hours, until O o'clock this morning,
when rcinforcements were landed from
the Marblchead. -Four OF our men
were killed and one wounded. The nd.
vance plckcts, under Lieutenants Ne.
willie and Shaw, are unaccounted for.
Among the killed is Assistant Sur
geon John Blair Gibbs, son of Major
Gibbs OF the regular army. who fell In
the Custer massacre. His home was at
Richmond. Virginia. but he has been
practlclng In New York and entered
the service since the war began. He
was very popular officer. The others
killed are Sergeant Charles ii. Smith
OF Smnllwood; Private william Dun.
ply OF Gloucester. Massachusetts, and
Private James McColgan OF Stoneham,
Massachusetts,.
Corporal Glass was accidentally
wounded In the head.
The Spanish loss IL unknown, but 1,
Is was probably considerable. The
splashes OF blood found at daylight al
the positions the Spaniards occupied
indicate fatalities. but their comrades
carried OF the killed and wounded.
The engagement began with dcsul
tory firing nj the plckets n thousand
yards inland from the camp. Captain
Spicer's company was doing guard
duty and was driven In. finally rally.
Ing on the camp and repulsing the enc.
my by o'clock. The bodies of Pri
Yates McColgan and punphy wer,
found, both shot Ia the head. The
large cavities made by the bullets
which, inside n range OF 500 Yards
have a rotary motion. Indicated tina,
the victims We're killed at close range
The bodies were stripped OF shoes, hat,
and cartridge belts and horribly mutt
lated with mnchctes.
When they Were brought in III,
whole battalion formed three sides Of
n hollow square about the camp on IN,
hilltop. Below In the bay tho war
ships were NJ anchor. Inland from IN,
camp Is n deep raylnc and beyond hi,
are high hills. The adjacent countr,
IN heavy with n thickct growth.
The sky was blnnkctcd with clouds
and when the sun set n gale was blow
Ing scaward. Night fell. thick ana i'm
ps.nctrahle.
The Spanish squads concealed In IN,
chnpparcl cover had the advantage
the men furnishing fine tnrgc,
against the sky. The SpanInri,
fought from cover until midnight. din
covcrnblc only by the flashes from
their guns. The rcpcnicrs sounded INK,
crnckcrs In n barrel.
The Mnrblchead launch with n Col
mnchine gun In her bow, pushed n,
the bay, cnilladlng the Spnnlnr,is, an,
u 10 thought that some were killed
The marines truilcd much blood TO N,
waters edge and there lost Il. Shark
src numerous In the vicinity,
Tue Shlpr throw their senrchlIgh,,
ashorr, the powerful eyes swecpin,
the deep troplc foliage and disciosin,
occasionally slgulllinu nnrti,s ~ o.. :.