Connecticut western news., 1898-06-02

ship of the squadron; Massachusetts, Texas. Iowa, Marblehead, Nashville, Scorpion and two torpedo boats.
 The dispatch says that among the attacking vessels was one which seem ed to be the New York, flying the flag of Admiral Sampson.
 There Is great excitement at Santia- go. the Spanish residents, notwith- standing the repeated boasts of the mill itary and naval officers. fearing that the Americans will soon be in possess sion of the city.
 When the firing began, many of the men in the city whose sympathies have been with the insurgents started for the insurgent lines. which are but a short distance from the town, to offer their services.
 The fighting began at just about 2 o'clock. when the signal to begin the battle was displayed on the Brooklyn. This seems to refute the statement that Admiral Sampson was present, for had he been with the fleet he would, by his rank, have been in command.
 Could Not Run Inshore.
 Owing to the height of the hill on which the Morro castle is situated at the entrance to the harbor it was inn possible for the Americans to run in- shore and elevate their guns to a suffi- cient height to do any damage to the old Qualifications. Consequently the big ships with the heavy rifles stood some distance offshore. from where they could pour in a more effective fire, while the smaller vessels nearer the shore de- voted themselves to attacking the sand and mortar batteries on the shore be- heath the Morro.
 By standing offshore the big ships had plenty of water to maneuver in. They passed to and fro before the en- trance. steadily pouring an awful fire upon the devoted walls of the Morro.
 Some of the shells from the big rifles went clear over the Morro. landing in the Estrella point battery. Santa Cata- lima fort and the other Notifications on the same side of the entrance as the Morro. but to the northward of it.
 The Morro and the other fortifica- tions. with the exception of the Blanco battery, cannot be seen from the city proper owing to the tortuous formation of the waterway, but going to the hills to the westward a fine view could be had of the effect done by the shells that came sailing oyer the Morro.
 Fire Directed Against Morro.
 The firing was apparently directed principally against the Morro, the Fort of La Socopa, on the opposite side of the entrance, and Punta Garda. some distance from the entrance, but which could be reached by an almost straight fire from the sea.
 The forts replied bravely to the fire of the enemy, but, as far as can be learned, did not appear to do any great damage.
 The sound of the cannonading was deafening. The bay is almost entirely surrounded by mountains, and the re- ports of the guns were echoed and re- echoed for minutes after the discharge, making most terrific din.
 "The dispatch intimates that some of the Spanish warships took part in the engagement. but this cannot be verified. It was made known some days ago that two or three of Admiral Cervera' s squadron were lying some distance be- low the city, and it is possible that they we're in the engagement. They could not be seen from the city, and this probably accounts for the indefinite ness of the statements regarding the squadron's participation in the fight. Whether or not the Americans en- | tered the bay is not known. It is re- ported here that they did, but this is doubted as it is scarcely to be sup posed that Commodore Schley would attempt to run the forts through g channel known to be filled with botf ] electrical and contact mines. Again had he forced the passage of the forts and passed over the mines unharmed, Il fs certain that he would have at once proceeded toward the city and engaged the Spanish warships and the batterie! in that neighborhood.
 Judging from the reports of the figh that have been received here, 1t Is al l most certain that little, if any, damag \ was done to the Americans"