Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-05-19

Vessels were not QhEnaReut except Inht
the Hudson's two ventilators were
slightly scratched by flying shrapnel.
The eneinys loss is largely contectur-
al. one Of their gunboats caught fire.
and the men Of the Hudson think II
sank The flames spread to the bar
racks and swept away several small
warehouses, and for a time the whole
waterfront seemed to be ablaze. The
Iludsons crew also believe that two
Spanish torpedo boat destroyers were
disabled, but they admit that their es-
Innate Of the damage is largely guess
work, as the action was too sharp for
outside observations 10 he made.
The Winslow was within $500 yards
OF the shore when the shells struck her
How she came to be so close was told
by her commander, Lieutenant John 3.
Bernsrdou. He said:
We were making observations, when
the enemy opened fire on us. The VIII
mington ordered us to go in and attack
| the gunboats. We went in under full
! steam. and there's the result"
| He was on the Hudson when he said
| this, and, with the final words, he point
| ed to a huddie OF American flags on
the deck near by Under the stars ana
stripes were outlined Ave rigid forms.
| The story Of the fight as told by the
| Hudson's men Is as follows:
| The Winslnw. the Hudson, the Ma
chias and the Wilmington were among
| the ships off Cardenas on the block
! ade. the Wilmington acting as flag
ship. The Machias lay about IL miles
| out, the Wilmington 500 yards, and the
| Hudson and the Wnslow. being small
boats, were stationed close in on what
/ is called the inside line. AT a quarter
TO o'clock Wednesday morning the
Hudson, under Captain F. H. Newton.
was taking soundings in Diana Cay
pass and Romero cay, just outside Car
denas, so close to shore that she
grounded once, but foated off easily in
TO the shallow water.
Ships Assigned to Duty.
At 1880 the wilmington spoke the
| Hudson and the Winsow and assigned
them to duty, the Winslow to start TO
the eastern shore of Cardenas bay and
the Hudson to the western shore, while
the Wilmington took her station in mid
channel This work occupied two hours.
Nothing was discovered on either shore,
and the boats We're approaching each
other on their return when a puff of
smoke was observed on shore at Car
denas, and shell whistled over them.
The Winslow was on the inside nearer
the shore. The Hudson and the Wins
low reported to the Wilmington, and Or
ders came promptly to go in and open
fire. but the Spaniards had not waited
for a reply to their first shot. The Car
denas harbor shore had already become
one dense cloud of smoke shot with
flashes of fire, and an avalanche Of
shells was bursting about the little
Winslow
This was at 2:05, and for 20 minutes
the firing continued from the shore
, without cessation, but none of the shots
had at that time found their mark,
though they were striking dangerous
, ly near. Meanwhile the Hudson's two
Founders were banging away at a ter
rife rate. How many Of the torpedo
boats shots took effect is not known.
The first two from the Hudson fell
short, but after these two every one
foated straight into the smoke clouds
ashore. The Spaniards aim meantime
was Improving, and 1t was presently
seen that two empty banks had been
, anchored OFF shore as ranges. 1t was
2:S5 o'clock when inch shell struck
the Winslow on the starboard beam
! knocking out her forward boiler and
: starboard engine and Gripping her
4 u.
Directed His Men CooIIy.
Lieutenant Bernardou was standing
forward watching the battle with calm
interest and directing his men as cool
T ly as If they were at target practice,
8 BY the FOUNDER amidships stood En-
r sign Bagley, the oiler. the two hremen
y and the cook. The little boat gasped
and throhbed and rolled heIplessly from
| side n Gida fattt :,
0 not stop for an examination. He knew
4 his boat was uncomfortable. The Hud-
O son was 200 feet off, still pounding away
, with her guns. She was hailed and
. asked to take the Winslow in tow. II
q was vital moment. Guns roared from
a shore and sea. Lieutenant Scott. in
= charge OF the Hudson's after gun, sat
7 on box and smoked a cigarette as he
= directed the fire. Captain Newton stood
near Lieutenant Mead at the forward
. gun and watched its workings with un-
moved interest. Chief Engineer Clutch
In never missed his bell. A group OF
o sailors were making ready to heave a
Il line to the Winsow, and Ensign Bag
Q ley and his four men stood on the port
0 side OF the latter vessel waiting to re-
u ceiVe It. A vicious fire was singing
II about them. The Spaniards seemed Ia
have found ths exact range.
There was a momentary delay in
:. heaving the tow lise, and Ensign Bag
y Sey suggested that the Hudson's men
= hurry. "Heave herr" he called Let
. her come. It's getting pretty warm
y here!" The line was thrown and grab
= bed by the Winslow's men. Grimy with
u sweat and powder, they tugged at II
and drew nearer foot by foot to the
% Hudson.
8, Almost at the same instant another
J. inch shell shrieked through the smoke
10 and burst directly under them. Five
n bodies went whrling through the air
70 Two OF the group were dead when they
20 fell-Ensign Bagley and Fireman Dan.
iels. The young ensign was literally
disemboweled, and the entire lower por.
ton of the fireman's body was tori
st away. The other three died within Q
at few minutes. a flying piece of shrapne
Of struck Lieutenant Bernardou in the
es thigh and Sut an ugly cash, but III,
10 Lieutenant did not know 1t then WITT
III the explosion of the shell the hawsel
r; parted, and the Winslow's helm went
st hard to starboard, and with her steer.
Il ing gear smashed the torpedo boat
e: foundered about in the water at the
n, mercy Of the enemy's fire, which never
n; relaxed.
r The fire Of the Americans was Of tht
usual persistent character, and tht
as nerve of the men was marvellous. Ever
ne after the Winslow's starhoard engin,
at and her steering gear were wrecked thu
little boat continued pouring shot int
the SDaniards on Shnra until abe wa