The times., 1898-06-23
How the Yankee Fought.

New York. June 22.-This account of
Yankee manned by the New York Naval
Reserves. in the recent operations by the
fleet in front OF Santiago, was received
yesterday by L. A. Willard, of No l42
Front Street. who has two sons, F. A
Willard. jr,, and Eugene Sands Willard
serving as seamen on board the cruiser:
United States Ship Yankee, off Santi-
ago. Cuba. June s. 1898.
The day before yesterday (Nfonday)
we bombarded the forts and batteries
at the entrance of this harbor. and it
was a thrilling sight-one seldom seen
nowadays. The Yankee had a position
in the front rank and did herself proud
amid the terrible roar and rain of shot
and shell. Ii lasted three hours or more,
and although the Spaniards fired at us
many times. we fortunately were not hit.
AT one time we sailed in alone and sim
ply smothered one fortifcation The
Spanish gunners were poor shots. and
the terrific explosion of shells around
them forced them away from their guns,
many of which were silenCed, and one
battery blown UP and burned. The smoke
thick at times could see
nothing Of either forts or ships, Some
shells we could see were fired right at us
from the forts but they flew over us or
were short All the fellows stood up 10
their guns like veterans and we were
at all times alongside the flagship New
York.
THE Dolphin is the amusement of the
fleet. She sailed in shore and silenced
small battery near US and in the aft
ernoon caught train going along the
shore railroad and chased it into a tun-
mel, where she kept it and destroyed the
track. 1t may be there still. We were
very close in and could imagine the fright
of the people on board.
I'VE ran down very early yesterday.
about forty miles. TO place called Bay
of Guantanamo, to protect the St. Louis
| from a Spanish gunboat and fort while
| she cut the cables, the last two connect
| ing Cuba with the outside world. With
| us was the Marblehead and we arrived
before breakfast, cleared for action and
sailed up the bay together It was
beautiful spot. In the distance we could
! see the Spanish gunboat steaming proud
| iy out toward US. but a few shots from
| both of US soon sent her off home at full
| speed. 1t was very amusing. Her shots
| as well as those from the fort, fell very
| near US, one landing right in front of our
gunport, where we were looking out, but
nothing touched us. We shelled the fort
| from a distance of over three miles and
| made it very warm for them inside while
| their shots simply amused US. they were
so wide.
Bold cliffs at the entrance and many
! little bays mark this beautiful harbor
| 1t is a fine place for small boat sailing.
| The towns of Santa Rosa and Santa Ca
! talina were so far up a river. as was al
| so the fort that We drew too much wa
| ter to get very near, but We made a
wreck OF fishing village and target of
a blockhouse at the entrance of the har-
| Dor. until it was burned up
This part of Cuba is superb. and.
| should judge, very healthy. but the
| towns are away back from the coast so
| that we seldom see them from the sea.
| Last night we arrived back here and
| Joined the fleet, which is lying off the
| harbor. as usual waiting for troops
which we need badly to capture this place
and hold it.
1T was a grand sight watching the
big ships in the engagement and the
forts must have been perfect helIs. The
cliffs under the forts were almost torn
away. We could not shell the MORO
fort because of twelve men from the
Iowa being captives there. but 1t must go
next time.
I'VE have received no mail for some
time, and we seem to be entirely cut off
from home and the outside world 7
hope something happens soon to settle
this fleet of 'Spinyards' as we call them
They don't seem to want to fight, and it
Is very tiresome work watching them
| night and day never knowing when they
are coming
II think the Lord must be with the
Americans In this war. AS marvellous as
1t may seem, none of the ships has been
hit and nobody killed in two engage
ments here. and we must have slaugh-
tered Spaniards the other day
'We are both well, and fast becoming
hardened veterans at everything, and
hope the same good luck will stay with
US