The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1898-12-24
FIGHT OF NJ NGRO &.
ENGAGED TWO GuNBOATS IN
SHALLOW WATER.

) Stopped by q White FIax Goes
Il Aground and Is Stranded for Hours
After the Battle -- Details Of the
Battle. 5ss
Further details have been received
OF the bombardment Of the port OF Cal
BARREN, on the northeast coast OF the
province Of Santa Clara, Cuba, by the
Mangrove. The Mangrove left here to
4 protect the landing Of an expedition I'M
4 der Colonel Bosas, which had gone
ahead on the schooner Adams and Del
lie. When the Mangrove reached San
ia Maria Key, near Caibarfen, she
found the Cuban party had safely, dis
embarked, but feared to advance he
cause OF the presence of the Spanish
gunboat Herman Cortes and similar
gunboat, which were evidently making
Caibarien their base. On Saturday
AFTERNOON the Mangrove anchored at
Key Francis, Just outside Caibarien,
pnd as she lay there the Herman Cor
tes came out and ran around the key
. to get peep at her, scurrying back
into the harbor as soon as she saw she
was discovered. The Mangrove fol-
lowed as far as the shoal water would
permit but could only get about half
way up the harbor. The next morn
ing Captain Stuart, the commander Of
the Mangrove, sdecided to have shot
at the gunboats. He was alone and
the odds against him were heavy, but
he did bold thing. Sounding her
way inch by inch the Mangrove crept
along the channel, drawing eight feet
OF water In an average of eight and a
half, until about o'clock she sighted
both the Spanish gunboats. The Her
nan Cortes was anchored near the
shore, about a thousand yards to the
right Of the town, with her broadside
to the sea. The small gunboat lay at
the wharf. The Spaniards were evil
IDENTIFY anticipating battle The shore
was crowded with Spaniards, citizens
and soldiers, while the roof of every
building that commanded view of the
harbor was literally covered with peo-
pie anxious to see the fight. The Her
nan Cortes carried two 47-inch guns
and four one-pounders, while her
smaller companion was armed with
three one-pounders and a. Hotchkiss
rapid-fre gun. The Mangrove, whose
entire battery consists Of only two six
Founders, worked into a range of 5000
yards. The channel was so narrow
that only one gun could be fired at a
N.A ~,
port gun at the Herman Cortes. The
shot fell short. Instantly the whole
line shore burst into flame, both gun
boats and the field pieces pouring in a
heavy; fire upon the American vessel
Every shot of this volley struck the
water ahead of the Mangrove, which
continued pumping away at her port
six-pounders. She concentrated her
fire on the Herman Cortes, and the I'VE
or six shots fell on the Spaniards deck
between the bow gun and amidships,
scattering body of men. Some of
the. latter must have been killed, al
though the Spaniards later denied that
they suffered any loss. For awhile no
Spanish gun was fired, but soon the
Spaniards got the Mangrove's range
and a. veritable avalanche of shot and
shell was hurled at her It was moth
ing less than a miracle that the loss of
life was not heavy. Shells from the
big gun of the Herman Cortes dropped
within twenty feet Of the tug, several
bursting, and the fragments clipping
bits off her hull. Others went whiz-
zing through her shroulds, and Mauser
bullets peppered the surrounding wat
'ers like a summer shower. In the very
midst of all this, and while the Man
grove was swinging cautiously around
to bring her starboards gun into play,
the watch shouted, Flag Of truce!"
And sure enough not only one, but
three white flags .could-~be seen, one
flying from the small gunboat and two
from the government houses on shore.
The Mangrove acknowledged the sig
nal and presently small boat came
out with Spanish officer, who clam
bered aboard the Mangrove, and, in
exceedingly nervous tones, announced:
peace is proclaimed, and I have in
structions for your commanding officer
from the military commander of this
district"
He added that during the engage
ment the Spanish authorities in Cal
BARREN had wired the military COM
mander of the district that the Amer
ican. ships were bombarding the port
and that Immediate response had been
received informing them that peace
had been restored and the firing should
cease. The Spanish crew OF the small
boat which brought this officer to the
Mangroye said the Spaniards had not
lost man, but the officer himself
made no allusion to the fight, which
had lasted an hour and ten minutes.
AS the Mangrove was creeping her
way. out Of the narrow channel she
went aground and lay there FIVE hours.
. Had the same mishap befallen her dur
Ing the engagement the chances are.
that she would have been captured
indianapolis Sentinel.