The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-06-20
Flag on MORO Castle Lowered
For Some Hours.
Thought to Denote Death of a
High officer.
FEARS FOR HOBSON
His Death May Have Been Indi-
Gated by the Signal.
Though This Theory Finds Few
Supporters.

Copyright, 1898, by Associated Press.)
On board the Associated Press dis
patch boat Dauntless, off Santiago de
Cuba, June 10, via Kingston, Jamaica,
June 20.-A careful inspection of the
fortifications along the crest of the
hills defending Santiago harbor since
the bOmbardment Thursday morning
shows the American gunners spread
wreck and ruin everywhere. Some of
the batteries were demolished beyond
repair The vultures which circled on
over the hills as thick as swallows
around a chimney for hours after the
firing ceased furnished gruesome evil
dence of the fatality among the Span
tsh soldiers. Hundreds of troops could
be seen from the ships digging in
mounds of earth piled I'D by the ex-
plosions 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 harbOr en-
trance, which were denuded of the fol-
iage. The hill tops seem literally blown
away. These marked the places where
the 2O0-pound charges of guncotton
thrown by the VesuViuS landed. But
the most oninous token of death flew
from MORO castle. The saffron flag of
Spain was half-masted for several
hours. The significance of this is not
known. 1t is customary to haIf-mast
flags, but possibly some Spanish leader
was killed by the heavy fire of our
guns, though some officers of the squad
ron believe that the flag was half
masted as a notification to the Ameri-
cans that Lieutenant Hobson and his
brave men were dead. If such is the
case they must have been wantonly
murdered. The Spanish might seek to
lay their death to the bonn bardment but
not a shot from the Americans struck
the fortress.
Neither Admiral Sampson nor Com
modore Schley believe that Lieutenant
HobSOn and his party have been killed.
We have seventeen prisoners taken at
Guantanamo, including lieutenant,
besides a number in the United States,
for reprisals or exchange.
There was evident Generalization
among the Spanish troops during the
bonn bardment. officers could be seen,
with drawn swords, driving the men to
the guns but even then they could not
be forced to stay so long as our guns
were directed on them. The fifteen
minutes night work of the Vesuvius
had shattered their nerves.
1t is believed by some that the thir-
teen-inch projectile fired from the
Texas, which was reported to have ex-
plOded 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.
A dramatic incident of the lombard
ment was the act of a Spanish officer
who bravely ran along the parapet I'M
DER q heaVy IRE, encouraging his men to
stand by their guns. Shot and she'll
rained about him and after one terrific
explosion he was seen no more and the
parapet had disappeared. He could not
have escaped death.
From the foretop of the Brooklyn, D.
900 yards distant. the men in the
grounds could be noticed, but a minute
later dust and flying debris would take
their places and when the smoke raised
away only a spot of red earth could be
seen-guns and gunners had been swept
away. 1t was the most deadly and de-
struct1Ve bOmbardment of the war thus
far. Scarcely a shot from the big guns
Of the squadron went astray. The aim |
or our Sunners was superb and not only |
were the coast forts annihilated, but |
the batteries on Cayo Smith. up the !
harbor were destroyed. Had all the !
ships used snokeless powder, as did the |
New Orleans, there would remain no |
signs of guns or Notifications to indi-
cate that there had ever been any de- |
fenses there. There were no casualties !
on our fleet, though our ships held a |
fixed position. The half stripped ships |
gunners never worked with more en-
thusiaSm- The words of Rear Admiral /
Sampson were: First silence the bat !
firing until the fOrtificatiOns are re- |
duced."
This order was strictly obeyed. 1t
was the first time that such instruc- |
tions had been given and the men re-
spOnded with will.
In SO minutes the order was given to
cease hrIng, and the message went to I
each ship from the admiral well |
done" and the officers and men turned
In for breakfast Every detail of the
engagement had been executed to the !
letter, from the opening of fire by the
New York to the last shot from the |
Iowa The Spaniards were. evidently |
surprised while strengthening their for |
tlfications.
The first shot of the New York landed |
full and fair on the top of the hills to |
the east where the gunners were al |
ready at work erecting new pieces The |
earth seemed to rise in a cloud and
when the Pinch shells of the Iowa and /
the Pinch beauties of the Oregon land |
ed squarely and fairly, a great cheer |
went up from the ships.
The western squadron got into line
and began firing before the eastern one
did and the effect of the shots could be !
plainly noted. The Spanish gunners at
the batteries could be seen and a quick |
fire was returned, but only for a short
time did they Withstand the terrible as |
saut of the fleet