Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-06-23
American Gunners Demolish Sand.
COS Forts Beyond Repair.
lOBSOS and HIS BRAVE COMPANIONS
- Appreciation That They Have Been
Murdered -lnhabitants Of CaimAnsra
Preparing to Burn the City and
Seek Refuge In the Hilla

nent Thursday morning shows the
American gunners spread wreck and
ruin everywhere. Some Of the batter
iss were demolished beyond repair.
The vultures which circled over the
Hills as thick as swallows around a
ehimney for hours after the firing
ceased furnished gruesome evidence OF
4he fatality among the Spanish SOL
aiers. Hundreds Of troops could be
seen from the ships digging In
nounds Of earth piled up by the
explosions Of the projectiles from the
heavy guns 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 Of the har-
Dor entrance, which we're denuded Of
NE foliage. The hill tops seem literally
blown away. These marked the places
where the 2OO-pound charges Of gun
cotton thrown by the Vesuvius landed.
But the most ominous token OF death
asw from Moro castle. The saffron
0ag Of Spain was half.masted for sew
sral hours The significance Of this
\ not known. 1t Is customary
70 half.mast flags, but possibly
some Spanish leader was killed by the
heavy fire Of our guns, though some
SlAcers Of the squadron believe that
she flag was half.masted as notiAca-
Eon to the Americans that Lieut. Hob
con and his brave men were dead. II
such Is the case they must have been
Wantonly murdered. The Spanish
night seek to lay their death TO the
Commandment, but not shot from
tho Americans struck the fortress
Neither Admiral Sampson nor Com
modore Schley believe that Lieut.
Hobson and his party have been killed.
We have II prisoners taken at Guam
tansmo, including lieutenant, be-
aides number In the United States,
Tor reprissls or exchange.
There WAS evident decentralization
emong the Spanish troops during the
bombardment Officers could b. seen,
with drawn swords, driving the men
70 the guns, but even then they could
mot be forced to stay so long Us our
guns were directed on them. The 10
minutes' night work of the Vesuvius
had shattered their nerves. 1t is be-
lieved by some that the l3-inch pro.
jectile fred from the Texas, which
was reported to have exploded the
powder magazine In one Of the western
batteries, did not fall in the battery,
but went beyond and blew up one OF
the ships In the harbor.
From the foretop Of the Brooklyn,
1900 yards distant, the men in the
grounds could be noticed, but o minute
later dust and flying debris would take
their places and when the smoke
saised away only spot Of red earth
could be seen-guns and gunners had
been swept away. 1t was the most
deadly and destructive bombardment
Of the war thus far. Scarcely a shot
from the big guns Of the squadron
went astray. The aim of our gunners
was superb and not only were the
forts annihilated, but the batteries
On Cayo Smith, up the harbor were de.
stroyed. Had all the ships used
smokeless powder, as did the New
Orleans, there would remain no signs
Of guns or Notifications to indicate
that there had ever been any defenses
there. There were no casualties on
our feet, though our ships held fixed
position. The half-stripped ships gun
ners never worked with more enthusi.
asm. The words Of Rear Admiral
Sampson were: First silence the bat.
teries on the shore and then continue
airing until the Notifications are re.
duced," This order was strictly obeyed.
1t was the first time that such instruc.
lions had been given and the men re.
sponded with a will. In 3S minutes
the order was given to cease firing
and the message went to each ship
from the admiral "well DONE" and
the officers and men turned In ior
breakfast Every detail Of the en-
gagement had been executed TO thu
letter, from the opening OF fire by thu
New York to the last shot from thu
Iowa. The Spaniards were evidently
surprised while strengthening theil
Qualifications
THE TORCH TO BE APPLIED.
OFF GUANTANAMO, June 2O.-Cubar
scouts reported yesterday that the in
Asbitants Of Caimanera have strewr
the sSreets with straw and oil, will
the intention Of destroying the cit,
md fleeing to the hills Caimaner,
lies four miles up the bay from CAM
NcCslla under the guns Of the Amer
ican ships and the situation Il
desperate. Starving and famine
stricken, convinced Of the ulti
mate triumph of the American arm
md without faith in the protection
pf the Spanish soldiery, the people ar,
believed To have determined to leav,
their houses In ashes behind them ant
seek safety In the hills to the north
The situation Of the besieged is a fear
full one, The people are eating horse
and mules and are securing the hill
for fruits and herbs. OCCASIONAL,
brief bombardments by the American
fleet leaves the helpless citizens terror
stricken, no preparations for defens,
being made. 1t is also stated that the
Gnanish Uunhoat Mt Caimanara ho,