New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-14
CARDENAS CLOSED UP TIGHT.
THE SPANISH GUNBOATs NO LONGER
CHALLENGE THE FIRE OF OUR SHIPS.
THE ENEMY's GARRISON STILL. DEFIANT AND
EVIDENTLY STRENGTHENING THEIR WORKS
-cDNMANDER Topps STORY OF

EVIDENTLY STRENGTHENING THEIR WORKS
COMMANDER ToDp's STORY OF
THE wINsLOws FIGHT.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
OF Cardenas May 13 by Dispatch Boat TO
Key West, Fla.-Cardenas Keys are no longer
a menace to vessels Of the bockading squad
ron The Wilmington has taken UP It's patrol
within them. less than three miles from shore
rowboat could now slip into the bay. The
town and garrison are completely locked IN
Spanish gunboats no longer venture 20 run out
along the Keys and challenge warships 10 tol-
low than Since the fight Wednesday after
noon the gunboats have been moored TO the
wharf and FIRE from the Wilmington has not
been invited II Is evident. however. that the
Spanish garrison is defiant. with eowerIul
glasses signs OF activity on shore are dIsuh-
guished There appears 10 be conslderaoie
body OF cavalry. with some Infantry. "he'ne'
additional earthwork. are being thrown up can
not be learned The battery which was siienced
Wednesday was close 10 the wharf, on the east
side Of the bay Field pieces were used as wei
as guns IN the battery. The shell which struck
the torpedo boat Wnslow and killed Ensign
Baglev and members OF the crew was 4-inch
one Previously blockading vessels had lain
we'll out TO sea- because It was reported that the
channels between
as the Bay OF Cardenas Three weeks ago.
when the torpedo boat FOote was making
soundings in these channels. gunboats fred at
her and this was reported by Blanco to Madrid
az "repulse Of American warships" This week.
when the Wilmington. which Is OF hght
draught came TO relieve the Machias. II had
Cuban pilot aboard The Machias' commander
reported that the enemy seemed to be laying
more mines The pilot took the Wilmington
through treacherous channels. along with the
Winslow and the auxiliary tug Hudson. Al
one time the Wilmington had less tnan one
foot Of water under her keel Commander TOGO
tells the rest Of the story:
we were within eighteen hundred yards
which was as far In as Il vas safe for the VII
mlngton 70 go I sent the Winslow IN ABOUT
Ave hundred yards further TO see what could
be learned Of the vessels. Then. suddenly hrlnS
was opened a. by the Spanish suhpoa's
from a shore battery TO the left. and by heid
pieces II wa. a rafting fire. We replied IN
stantly The first shot from the shore damaged
the Winsow's steering gear. She might nave
come hack and repaired II. but she remained
right there Then came the shot when s'ruc"
her fair killing two Of her crew instantly and
rounding Ensign Bagley and the others. who
afterward died All this time the Winsio~ was
returning the fire She got the mud and the
Wilmington could not 20 70 her assistance
The Hudson went In and pulled her out WINE
We kept them engaged on shore The spah'aF"s
were using smokeess powder. and IL was o''"-
cult 10 locate their guns on that accouh" 4"'s
seemed 20 think the Wilmington was larger
shin than she e. because most ~ ther pro
tectiIes went over US Pieces ~ shell struck 'he
sides Of the vessel. but 10 iamage vas iohe'
Their 1,nboats were first % stop firing. but N
hal, an hour We had senced their battery
aIso and since then we have heard nothing from
them
". had no means o, fnding on. what losses
thew suffered Some buildings close 70 the wharf
.oot Gre from our .hot and burned ,or some
Tine T understand the largest n, these was
hotel After II was all over our men picked up
uhaf seemed 10 be Mauser bullets Judge be-
.,d.s their battery and FOUR or 1--WE pieces Of
osld artillery. the spaniaris had their troops
.bootinR AZ our boats with rife-. We ala" "a"
two trains pulling out % ne town AZ great
soeec whether they had hTo lsh' soldiers ana
munitions in or whether taese trains we're car
rving something away We could not tel Since
Wednesday afternoon everything has been quiet
o, shore but Judge they have pretty strong
force there II the gunboats come out from the
wharf ne are ready 20 engage them
While the wilmington by picking her way In
through the channels has shown that they are
not mined she has also shown that The spanish
derences are pretty thorough. These are being
,rsnr,hAned all the time The trains which
wer. seen leaving Cardinals had probably
brought munitions and supplies from Ci"niuexos
on the south coast. The steamer Montserrat'
which reached that port before the blockade
vas established. carried from spain immense
Quantities OF arms Fifteen cara We're required
- ,-ansnort them from Cienfueg0s They We're
meant for Havana Matanzas and Cardenas.
The latter place probably receiving iis
quota The garrison has undoubtedly been
strengthened by this addition. However. should
the policy DE % reduce Cardenas. II could BE
done. though the discovery that the lo", nat
land surrounding the place has not prevented
masked batteries being thrown W Will be rea-
son for caution.
The bay Is probably mined. but vessels %,
heavier draught than the Wilmington could
probably pass through MORO channel % its en-
/ trance. Moro lighthouse. seven miles on shore.
hao la4v q. n nd 90