Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1898-06-10
S I.ENCED!
BATTERIES AT SAN.
TIAGO QUIETED.
Simpsons Fleet Does
Effective Work.

KINGSTON, jamaica, June s.---The
American fleet on Monday engaged
the Spanish batteries defending the
entrance to the harbor of Santiago de
Cuba, and after a three hours bonn
bardment silenccd nearly all the forts.
destroyed several earthworlzs, and
rendered the Estrella and Cayo batter.
les, the two principal Notifications,
useless.
The fleet formed in double column
six miles off MORO Castle. at o'clock
in the morning, and steamed slowly
5000 yards off shore, the Brooklyn
leading, followed by the Marblehcad.
Texas and Massachusetts, and turned
westward.
The second line the New York lead.
ing, with the New Orleans, Yankee,
Iowa and Oregon following, turned
eastward.
The Vixen and Suwanee were far
out on the left flank, watching the
rihemen on shore. The Dolphin and
Porter did similar DUTY on the right
flank. The line headed by the New
York attacked the new eartlaworks
near Morro Castle. The Brooklyn col
umn took up u station opposite the
Estrella and Catalina batteries and the
new earthworks along the shore. Inc
Spanish batteries remained silent. 1t
is doubtful if the Spaniards were able
to determine the character Of the
movement, ow ing to the dense fog and
heavy rain, which We're the weather
features of the early morning. Sud-
denly the lewa fired Il 13-inch shell,
which struck the base of the Estrell;s
battery and tore up the works.
Instantly the firing from both Rear
Admiral SIMPSONS and Commodore
Schley s'cosumns began, and a torrent
of shells from the ships fell upon the
Spanish works.
The Spwniards replied promptly, but
their artillery work WIS of a very poor
quality and most of their shots went
wide. Smoke settled around the ships
in dense clouds, rendering accurate
aiming difficult. There was no man
euvering of>thc fleet, the ships remain
ing at their original stations and fir
ing steadily.
The squadrons were SO close in shore
that twas difficult for the American
-s.uners, to reach the batteries on the
hill to1,>. but their firing was excellent.
Previous to the BON bardment orders
Were issued to prevent firing on Moro
Castle,sas the American admiral had
been Informed that Lieutenant obson
andthe' other pri soners of the Merri-
mac axe confined there. IE spite OF
this, however, several stray shots dasa.
aged MORO Castle somewhat.
('OmTnOHOra Sob 1nv:S linn ynO,-oS)
closer in shore, firing at shorter range
The brooklyn and Texas caused wild
havoc among the Spanish shore batter
les, quickly silencing them. While the
larger ships We're engaging the heavy
batteries, the :Suwance and Vixen
closed with the small inshorc battery
opposite them, raining rapid shots
upon it and quickly placing the bat,
terry tout; of the fight.
Elle brooklyn closed to 500 yards,
and then the destruction caused by
her;guns, and those Of the Marblehead
and Texas WIS. really awful. In a few
minutes the woodwork OF Estrclla fort
was burning and the battery was
silenoed, firing no more during the en-
gagnment. Eastward. the New York
and New Orleans silenced the Cavo
bataery in quick order, and then shclled
the eorthworlSs. located higher mp.
Shortly after 9 the firing ceased. the
warships turning in order to permit
the use of the port batteries. The
firing then became u long, reverberat.
ing crash OF thunder, and the shells
rake.d the Spanish batteries with ter
rible effect. Fire broke out in Cata-
lima fort and >silenced the Spanish
guns.
The firing of the fleet continued
until 10 o'clock, when the Spanish fire
ceased entirely and Admiral Sampson
hoistea the ''eease firing" signal
Generally, the fire of the fleet was
very destructive. Many of the earth
works were knocked to pieces, and the
Estrclla AMI Catalina Notifications
were So damaged that it is question
able whether they will ever be able to
renew amy effective work during the
war.
After the fleet retired the Spanish
returned to some of their guns and
sent twelve shells after the fleet, but
mo one was injured. One Barge shell
fell close to the collier Dustin.
Throughout he,entire engagement no
American skip was hit and no Ameri-
'ean was injured. If the Gpaniards
stuck to their guns, ana all evidence is
to the contrary, their loss must have
been heavy.
g MADRID, .Jx1ne 's--Cervera cables
tln.t six American vessels .bolNbarded
SAT- tiago and the coast Notifications.
Six were killed and seventeen wound.
ed ton board the Reina Mercedes.
Three officers We're killed and one, of.
hcer and seventeen mel were wound
ed among the troors. 'Yhe damage in
flicteG on the batteries at La Sacopa and
MORO were unimportals. The Morro
barracks were damaged. The enemy
had ''neyiceable losses"
WAs1EN GTON. June s.-The navy de-
partment has received dispatch from
Admiral Sampson announcing that be-
tween 1850 and 10 o'clock Monday
morning ne bombardcd the Santiago
Notifications and entirely silenced
them.