Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-07-07
THE NAVAL ENGAGEMENT.
An Old Fort Reduced by the Fleet Good
shooting ut the spanish Flag by ON
GERS Of the Suwanec.


beaten shore the smoke of an approaching
train from Altaros was seen. 1t was COM
posed of open cars fun of Gen D,ufiicd' $
troops. AT cutting. a mile cast of Aqua
durcs, the train stopped and the Cuban
scouts proceeded along the railroad track
ana the troops got out of the cars and
soon formed in Il long thin line standing
out wildly against the yellow rocks that
rose perpendlcularly above, shutting them
off from the main body of the army which
is on tho other side of the hill several
miles north.
From the quarter of the flagship there
was II signal, by vigorous wig wagged
letter, and n few minutes later from Il
clump OF greens at the waters edge came
an answer from the army This was the
first cooperation for offensive purposes
between the army and navy. The Land
ing of the army at Balquiri and AltaroS
was purely naval affair.
With the flag in his hand the soldier
ashore looked like a butterfly.
Are you waiting for us to begin" was
the signal made by Rear Admiral Samp-
son to the army.
Gen. Dufiicld is ahead with the scouts
came the answer from the shore'to the
flagship.
By this time 1t was O'Clock and the
admiral ran the nagship's bow within
three quarters Of Il mile of the beach. She
remained almost as near during the fore
noon. and the daring way she was ham
died by Capt. Chadwick within sound of
the breakers. made the Cuban pilot On
board stare with astonishment.
The Suwance was In company with the
Dagship, stll closer in shore, and tho
Gloucester was to the westward near
MORO Castle. From the southwark the
Newark came up and took position to
the westward. Her decks were black with
81 a. a Ham - Il
of the flagship and was told to dsombark
the troops at Alciras.
Then Admiral Sampson signallcd to
Gen Dufield:--
when do you want us to commence
firing"
In littlp while white nag on shore
sent back the answer
when the rest Of the command arrives
Then | will signal YOU"
II was u long and tedious wait for the
ships before the second nifty carloads of
troops came putting along from Acras
BY $3.50 the last Of the soldiers had left
the open railroad tracks disappearing IN
tho thick brdsh that covered the eastern
side Of AGuadores Inlet.
The water in the sponge tubs under the
brooches Of the big guns was growing hot
IN the burning sun.
Ashore there was no sign from the enc
my They were believed to be on the
western bluff.
Between the bluffs runs rocky gully
leading into Santiago city. ON the eN'
treInity of the western arm was an ut
castclated fort from which the Spdnisf
flag was flying and on the parapet on tho
eastern hill commanding the gully, two
stretches of red earth could easily 10
seen against the brush. These were tho
rifle pits
At 10:l5 signal flag ashore wig-waGget
to Admiral Sampson to commence firing
and Il minute later the New York's guns
blazed away at the rifle pits and at the
old fort.
The Suwancc and Gloucester Joined II
the echoes which rumbed around and fill
ed the gully. All the stored up thunder Of
clouds seemed to have broken loose ant
smoke rose over the hills and the gully
was shut out from view. Then the hrint
became more deliberate.
OF our troops ashore in the brush no
thing could be seen, but the ping
ping" Of the small arms of tho arm!
noated out TO sea during the occasiona
lull in the firing Of the big guns whic!
peppered the rifle pits until clouds of rec
earth rose above them.
An eight inch shell from the Newarl
dropped in the massive old fort and clouds
Of white dust and huge stones filled tn,
air When the small shells hit its battle
ments, almost hidden by green creepers
fragments of masonry came tumblini
down. A shot from the Suwance hit tn
eastern parapet and il Crumhlcd ava!
Ike a mummy exposed to the air afte
long years. Amid the smoke and debrl
the hasstaff was seen to fan forward.
"Thc flag has been shot down" shOute,
the ships crews but when the smols
cleared away the emblem of Spain wa
seen TO be still flying and blazing brilliant
~ in the sun though the nagstaff wa
hcndinS toward the earth Apparently
the flagstaff had been caught firmly Il
the wreckage Of the fort.
u few more shots lcvcllcd tho battle
mcnts until the old castle was II pitfu
sight.
When the firing ceased Lieut.. Dclchan
" of the Suwancc was anxious to fina
rs work, so he sienallcd to the Ney
York, asking permission TO knock dow
the Spanish liag.
Yes" replied Admiral Sampson, 81
you can do it in three shots"
The Suwanoc then lay about 1870 yard
from the old fort, She took her time
Lieut.. Blue carefully aimed the four inc
gun and the crews of all the ships watch
90 the incident amid intense excitement
| When the smoke of the Suwance's frs
! shot cleared away only two red stream
crs of the flag were .elt, Tho shell Ia
| gone through the centre of the buntinl
/ delighted yell broke from the ere,
! of the Suwanec.
/ Two or three minutes later the Suwanc
fired again and huge cloud of debris ros
! from the base of the flag staff
! For few seconds II was impossible
! tell what had been the effect of the sho
Then 1t was seen the shell had only adde
TO the ruin of the fort.
| The flagstaff seemed to have n charm
I,,1 fgt Ia.
one chance left. 1T seemed hardly DO,
siblo for her TO achieve her object wit
the big gun at such distance and sue
Il tiny target.
There was GREATNESS silence among II
! watching crews. They crowded on Il
ships decks and all eyes were on thu
tattcrcd rag hending toward the cart
from the top of what once had been
grand old castle. But 1t was only ben,
ing, not yet down.
Lieut.. Commander Delehanty and Lieu
Blue took their time.
The Suwanec changed her positic
slightly. Then pun of smoke shot o
from her side, up went IA spouting col
Of debris from the parapet and down f.
the banner of Spain.
such yclls from the flagship will pro
ably never be heard again. There vi
more excitement than witnessed at q
finish Of a college boat race or a popul
race between first class thoroughbre
on some big track
The Suwanee's last shot had stru
right at the base of the flagstaff and HI
blown 1t clear OF the wreckage whi'
had held it from finishing its fall,
well done" sgnalled Admiral Samps'
to Lieut., Commander Delehanty.
At ll:20 Gen. Dufield slgnalled that i
scouts reported that no damage had be-
. done to the Spanish rife pits by 4
/. shells from the ships and Admiral Sam
. son told him that they had been hit Sc
oral times but there was no one in d