The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-18
DAILY, 80 A YEAR.
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WEEKLY 2-TIMES-A-WEEK 81 A YEAR
MANGROvE IN A HOT PLACE.
FIRED UPON THE HERMAN corr
TIES AT CAIBARIEN SUNDAY.

An Avalanche of shot and Shell Fall
UncOmfOrtabIy Close, But Not n
One Took ETect-A Flag of Truce
and Announcement of Peace stops
the Engagemcnt-Mangr the
Protector of "a Landing ExpedI-
tiOn-Spnnish Report of No Loss
observation-disclosures Aground
for Five Hours After the Engages
mcnt.
Kew West, Aug. r7.-Further details
have been received here as to the bombard-
ment Of the port Of Caibarien, on the
north coast Of the province of Santa
Clara, Cuba, last Sunday by the Man-
grove.
The Mangrove left here last week to-
protect the landing OF an expedition under
Col. Bozas, which had gone ahead on ihe
schooners Adams and Della When tho
Mangrove reached Santa Maria key, near
Caibarien, she found the Cuban party had
dlsembarked but feared TO advance be-
cause Of the presence of the Spanish gum
boat Herman Cortes and a smaller gum
boat, which were evidently making
Caibarien their base
Sunday morning Capt. Stuart. the COM
mander OF @e Mangrove. decided to have
shot at the gunboats. Sounding the way
inch by inch the Mangrove crept along
the channel, drawing eight feet of water
In an average depth of eight and half
feet until about o'clock she sighted both
the Spanish gunboats.
The Herman Cortes was anchored near
the shore about 600 yards to the rignt
Of the town, with her broadsde to ihe
sea. Tho email gunboat lay at tue
wharf.
The Spauiards evidently were anticipate
ing a battle, as the shore was crowded.
while the roof Of every building that COM
manded a view Of the harbor was cov-
cred with people anxious to see the fight.
The Herman Cortos carried two 4.7-inch
guns and four 1-pounders, while her small
er companion was armed with three
1-poundors and a Hitehkiss rapid-hre gun.
The crew of both, numbering all between
Is and 100 men, could be seen on the decks
Ashore were several 1-pound field pieces,
while the Spanish troops were armed with
Mauser rifles.
The Mangrove whose entire battery con-
sists of only two 6-pounders, worked into
u
so narrow that only one gun could be
fred at time. AZ 1915 a M she got
up her port gun at the Herman Cortes.
The shot fell short.
Instantly the whole shore line burst into
| hame, both gunboats and the field pieces
pouring in a heavy fire upon the Ameri-
can vessel. Every shot Of this voliey
struck tho water ahead of the Mangrove,
which continued pumping away with her
port G-pounders.
She concentrated her fire on the Herman
Cortcs ana the next five or six shots fell
on the Spaniards' deck between the bow
gun and amldships, scattering a body OK
meme Some Of the latter must have been
killed, although the spanlards later de-
MED that they suffered any loss.
For while no Spanish gun was fired.
but soon the Spaniards got the Mangroves
range and a veritable avalanche or shot
and shell was hurled at her. 1t was moth
ing less than a miracle that her loss of
life was not heavy,
In the midst OF all this, and while the
Mangrove was turning cautiously around
to bring her siarboard gun in play, tho
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 governments
house on shore.
The Mangrove acknowledged the signal.
and presently a small boat came out with
a Spanish officer, VINO clambered aboard
the Mangrove, and In exceedingly nervous
tones, announced: peace is proclaimed,
and ! have Instructions for your commando
ing officer from the military commander
OF this district"
He added that during the engagement
the Spanish authorities in Caibarien had
wired the military commander of the dis
trict that the American ships were bon-
harding the port, and that immediate re-
sponse had been received, informing them
that peace had Deen restored, and the fir
ing should cease.
The Spanish crew of the small boat,
which brought the officer to the Nam
grove said the Spanards had not lost a
man, but the officer himself made no al
luslon to the fight, which lasted an hour
and ten minutes.
AS the Mangrove was creeping out of the
channel, she went aground, and lay there
| five hours. Had the same mshap be-
fallen her during the engagement tho
| chances are that she would have been
sent to the bottom with all on board.
INTERVIEW WITH cot. HAY.
lie VIII Leave London for Wnshing-