The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-08-12
RIGHT N AFTER THEN
Bancroft's Launch is a Hornet
to Spaniards.
BLOWS UP TWO SHIPS
And Carries Away Another
And Carries Away Another
Bancroft Loses Gne Man.

Kew West. Fla, Aug. u.-12:so.-One
more name has been added to the small list
of the navy's war victims. Emanuel
Kourlouris, a coal passer on the gunboa,
Bancroft, was shot and instantly killed
during a sharp engagement with Spanish
rifemen at a point OF land jutting in
Cortis bay on the south coast OF Pinar
del Rio on August .. 1t is not known
how many Spaniards' lives paid for his.
but the Spanish loss was undoubtedly Sc
we're.
The Bancroft was cruising about Cortis
bay on blockade duty, when a sail was
seen close to the land. about ten miles
| TO the northward The gunboat's steam
! launch was armed with one-pounder,
and Lieutenant Henry B. Wilson, with II
men. all carrying rifles, was sent in TO
| intercept the stranger. She turned out
| to be a Spanish schooner. When first OBJ
| served the Spaniard lay near the wreck
CT the Son Domingo. recently sunk by the
! Eagle. BY the time the steam launch
reached that point the schooner had
worked into port and a party sof Span
| iards. including a body of soldiers. was
attempting to haul her ashore.
| The launch stood boldly IN and a brisk
| fire from her one-pounder speedily scat
tered the crowd. The Spaniards took ref
uge in the high grass on the right shore.
but in spite of the fact that the party in
the launch was ignorant of the enemys
strtngth, the Americans went ahead with
their work with admirable GOODNESS.
James Munroe, a first class apprentice,
swan to the schooner and made line
fast to her, in order TO pull her out. At
the same time Valdemar Hohengreen, an
ordinary seaman, dropped over the side of
the launch and made for pier where a
small sloop-rigged boat was moored. The
launch then commenced 10 haul of the
schooner, but the line parted and while
another was being run to her the Span
iards, who had sought shelter in the
woods, poured in a murderous fire. Kou-
lourie, who was leaning over the side of
the launch was shot through the breast
and fell dead. Fortunately no one else
was even injured
Instantly the men in the launch began
a repid return of fire with their rifles,
while Lieutenant Wilson Unanswered the
launch so as to take line thrown by Ho-
her green from the small boalt, which he
had showed off from the pier. Her bow
was pulled out and the 'one-poundels was
opened on the ambuscade with such well
directed aim that the Spaniards were
routed without a chance to return the
American fire.
The schooner had in the meantime gone
hard aground. and being so damaged as
20 De almost useless. enough shells were
sent into her to finish her destruction.
She was loaded with green corn, grain
and rum.
Commander Glover warmly praised the
gallantry of the launch party, which did
not falter under heavy fire. but directed
all its energies to rescuing Hohengreen,
who, alone on the wharf, was in a prilous
situation
Kourlourie was buried at sea the same
afternoon. Among his effects was found q
letter to his father, addressed to the Isle !
of Siphanto, care of the United States |
minister at Athens, Greece.
The next morning the Bancroft started !
for Sigunea bay. where the gunboat Maple |
had gone to blockade and sound out a !
passage.
on August 4, Commander Clover who |
was senior officer there, transferred mis- /
flag to the Maple, while the Bancroft's /
boilers were undergoing repairs. He took /
the launch with him under Ensign Vogel- |
sang, still armed with her one-pounder.
They proceeded TO the northwest ex- /
tremity Of the Isle of Pines, and there !
saw sloop and a large schooner an /
chored in shore. The launch went in after /
them. but as soon as she was observed (
approaching, the crews Of the Spanish
vessel took to their small boats. The
sioop was aground and toward this vessel
nsign Vogelsang headed the launch. As
the latter drew near TO the sloop. a party
of Spaniards on shore opened fire on the
Americans. Then the launchs one-poGnder
again opened on the enemy. But before
she had fired many SHELLS the Maple
opened fire with her six-pouuder and
swept the brush-lined beach. While the
dense foliage ashore gave the enemy
decided advantage, no Americans were hit.
but it is safe to say that under the Ma
Pies heavy fire large number Of Span
ards were kiIlel orwounded.
The slaop turned out to be a trading
vessel with no cargo on board, and not
being worth the trouble Of sending to an
American port few shots from the Ma
pie put her under water.
The schooner, however. proved TO be Of
value. she was che Carmita, loaded with
wood and charcoal. she was hauled oUt
md anchored until the next morning,
when the Maple, towing the schooner and
aunch. resumed her journey to SgGnea
pay.
Commander Clover says that al extern
i've ,rade in wood. charcoal and spoages,
vich some chickens and fruit Is being car
lei on between Batabano. on the souta
.oast OF Cuba. from which port there is a
= il4c cad running into Havana There are.
.3wever, 10 signs OF foreign products get-
ing into any ot the ports between Baia-
,auo and Coloma, and ire ccnnrn@Z1ef
1t-L-s N SO. -rodur.s haze entersa on