The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1898-05-20
FIVE AMERICANS KILLED
BY THE SPANISH.
BATTLE IN CARDENAS BAY.
The Torpedo Boat winslow Wrecked by
Shore Batteries Three American
Boats and Spanish Boats and
Forts Engaged-The Amer
leans Were Taken
by Surprise

first dead fell Wednesday in fierce
and bloody combat off Cardenas, on
the north coast of Cuba. Five men
were blown to pieces and five were
wounded on the torpedo boat Wins
low The dead are: Worth Bagley,
ensign; John Varveres, oiler; John
Daniels and John Meek, both first
class firemen; Josiah Tunnel (colored)
cabin cook
The wounded are: r. e. Cox, gun
ner's mate; D. McKeown, quarter
master; j. Patterson, fireman; +.
Gray, and Lieutenant j. Ii. Bernar-
dou.
The engagement took place inside
the harbor of Cardenas. The gun
boat Wilmington, the torpedo boat
Winslow and the guuboat Hudson
were the only vessels engaged. They
entered the harbor for the purpose of
attacking some Spanish gunboats
which were known to be there. These
latter, however, were not discovered
by the American force until the Span
iards opened fire. The land batteries
of Cardenas supported the fire of the
Spanish gunboats.
The battle, while it lasted, was ter
rife. The Wilmington and the Hud-
son were ahead and opened fire upon
the Spanish boats, which were lying
at the docks. The firing began at
range of 3, 500 yards.
A few minutes later the Winslow
came up and also opened fire. In an
instant the entire attention of the
Spanish gunboats and land batteries
was directed upon her.
From all sides shot and shell poured
in on the little torpedo boat. The
Wilmington and the 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
The crew of the Winslow, however,
never faltered for second. At 2:45
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 there was
moment of awful suspense. A fierce
cheer of triumph went up from the
Spaniards on the gunboats and in the
batteries and again u storm of fire
was opened upon the helpless boat.
The gunboat Hudson, which was
lying near by, started to the assist lance
of the Winslow She ran alongside
the torpedo boat and tried to throw
line to the imperiled crew. Up to this
time with the exception of one shot,
which disabled the boiler of the Win
slow, the firing of the Spanish gun
boats had been wild, but as they saw
the Winslow rolling in the water they
sighted closer and the shells began to
explode all about her.
1t was difficult for the Hudson to
get near enough to throw a line to
the Winslow's crew, SO terrible was
the fire all about her
Finally, after about twenty min
utes, the Hudson approached near
enough to throw line.
Ensign Bagley and six men were
standing in group on the deck of the
Winslow
"Heave her, heave herr' shouted
Bagley, as he looked toward the COM
mander of the Hudson and called for
line.
Don't miss it," shouted an officer
from the Hudson, and with smile
Bagley called back. 'Let her come.
It's getting too hot here for comfort"
The line was thrown and about the
same instant shell burst in the very
midst of the group of men on board
the Winslow.
Bagley was instantly killed and a
few others dropped about him. Half
a dozen more fell grooming upon the
men pitched headlong over the side
of the boat, but his feet caught in the
iron rail and he was hauled back.
Bagley lay stretched upon the deck,
with his face completely torn away
and the upper part of his body shat
tered.
1t was terrible moment The tor
pedo boat, disabled and helpless, |
rolled and swayed under the fury of
the fire from the Spanish gunboats.
When the she'll burst in the group |
on board the Winslow, another wild !
shout of triumph went up from the |
Spanish boats and batteries and again |
a heavy fire was opened on the tor
podo boat.
Finally, the Hudson succeeded in |
getting 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.
The line was finally secured and the
Winslow was lowed up to Pedras
island, where she was anchored with |
her dead and wounded on her decks.
Then some men from the Hudson |
-. loo-1 A. o,1 fn0lr