Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-04-28
DESTROYS SPANISH BATTERIES
!, "a Minutes No, a Spanish Gun Replied IL
the Battle They Began,
tvfRy SHOT BY THE AMERICANS TOLD.
,., r,red so, and the Spanisrds About
ss-spanish OTeiaily Admit Losses
IN KILLED.

Now York. April ga dispatch
,.,o KEY West from a correspondent OF
,ha Herald who was a witness OF the
horbardment of Matanzas by the
American ships. says:
Admiral Sampson this afternoon
hornbarded, sllenced and pretty well
Aas,royed the Spanish batteries In po-
sltlon and in course of construction AT
the entrance Of the harbor of Matan-
gas.
He did 1t with the flagship New
York, the monitor Puritan and the
cruiser Cincinnati.
Not one OF the American ships was
struck the Spanish gunnery being
wild.
There is as yet no means OF knowing
the number of dead and wounded on
the Spanish side. 1t must be consider
able.
While the New York, Puritan and
Cincinnati were accommodating in force
for the purpose of locating and de-
stroying the formidable defenses being
constructed, the flagship was fired on
Inv the batteries on Point Rubalcava
and Point Maya, guarding the en-
trance to the hnrbor,
The New York replied, firing her for
ward s-inch gun on the port side She
steamed boldly in between the batter
les and soon blazed away with both
broadsides at them.
The Puritan steamed in behind the
New York and engaged the fortifica-
lions on Point Maya, while the New
York went to starboard close up to the
land and poured her shells into Point
Rubalcava.
The Cincinnati, which had remained
well astern under orders, slsnaled for
permission to engage, and received It,
and soon was firing her guns at the
forts on the west side of the bay.
The batteries fired explosive shells
and most OF than fell wide of the
mark. one burst just beyond the stern
Of the New York and a shrapnel shell
exploded above her
Il took the three ships just is min
utes to silence the batteries.
The last shot that was fired by the
Spanish came from Point Rubslcava.
The Puritan replied with one of her
l2-inch guns. The shell struck the bat
terry with wonderful accuracy and
blew up a portion Of II,
After waiting in vain for the Spanish
TO renew the engagement the ships
withdrew, leaving both batteries in
ruins.
When Rear Admiral Sampson, on the
flagship New York, left the cruising
ground TO pay visit to Matanzas and
Cardenas he made up his mind that
something had to be done with the very
nEurpsStNp Sran Mich ri 10 70 hp
We're manning the batteries out that
way. They had twice fired on the tor
pedo boat Foote and were very busy
erecting Notifications and placing guns
in position.
At Matanzas'the New York found the
monitor Puritan and the cruiser Gin
clmati. that have been blockadlng the
Port, Admiral Sampson decided to make
reconnaissance in force for the three
iold purpose of locating the batteries,
discovering the kind Of guns they
mounted and If possible stopping the
work OF fertilization.
Matanzas lies at the head OF bay
about four miles from the sea. This
nay at It's mouth Is three miles wide
On The west side of the hay IL Point
huDaleaVa and on the east side Point
Maya.
me points have a very slight eleva-
ZION above the sea. hut the contlglira-
ton Of the harbpr is such as to give the
batteries on them a commanding posi-
ton' Stretching back from these bat
tttes are towering hills and 1t YVES
believed the guns had been mounted
ssppneEhcrc there concealed by the
The NV. York led the way into the
eay OF Matonzas. The Puritan was n
IN huncfld yards astern on the port
cue, Nnd the Cincinnati remained he
h' a eighty greater distance astern
w inc s'arhonrd side. Lines drawn
nm ship To- ship would have made an
utmost perfect triangle.
~ few mihutes before O'Clock
sIsre was a pun pr smoke from the east
nnore ard a. S-inch shell whlzzed TO-
SGuu The New York and fell short.
ana,ssN ned the report died away than
1pm nts. pun of smoke 6onted upon the
1b n' Maya side and easily blew away
n nI, shell also fell short,
We range of the east battery was
,, .y 1000 yards but the ingahip
Inch guns
Inc me engagement In a few minutes
ro,.a general and shore and bay were
LvNefei with the wind blown smoke
while the hollow between the hills
'Y1rea with the cannonadlng.
.,on'lhulng to cut loose with her guns
80 'uail ana port as well as fore and
80 We New York steamed quickly in
vio ,r 'ircled around to the westward to-
va, m%'u rolnt fRubalcava. while the Puri-
~ ~ ss,Mutg to the starboard to engage
we Maya battery.
,,,. ne Naya battery wash more for
,nluanle and the fire from IL was more
MIu,ht, but the shells fell short Tho
r,,n NV iork Ignored this battery after n
n.,an,, and proceeded to pay mn her
,,,,sah ZION 70 the battery on Rubalcavn.
y nun was being pushed to completIon'
nr. VII beautiful sight to see tn TARGET
loon Of AL, o. .he New York. A big bal
t ner Slae, The eye, following the dircc.
49, n VI tne shot, would see an instant
,aier great cloud of dust and frae.
IN ~ OF eoncrete and mortar fy high
a, the VT Then would come the roar
TN my piece; sullen and heavy.