The silver lance., 1898-05-20
FIVE SAILORS DEAD.
WERE KILLED AT CAHDHAo
r..,.n, Ho.s Winslow Nearly Sunk BY
spanish Fire-Foolish Attack py Inroe
Small Vessels Against the Eorss ana
and GunbOat0.

Kew West, Fla, May 1.-THE nrst
enlightenment in the present war IN
which the Americans have sustained
loss of life has been fought and nve
gallant defenders of the flag fell under
the Spanish fire. The engagement was
fought In the Bay Of Cardenas, Cupa,
near Matanzas, and was partclpateu
in by the United States gunDoat VIII
mington, G. C. Todd, commander; the
torpedo boat r'inslow and the gunDoat
Hudson for the Americans, and several
small Spanish gunboats, covered by
the fire of the forts. The following is
the official list of the dead and wound
ed:
WORTH BAGLEY, ensign U. 8. N.
JOHN VARVERES, oiler.
GEORGE B. MEEK, fireman.
]. DENFEE, fireman, first class.
ELIJAH B. TUNNELL, cabin cook.
WOUNDED.
J.B. Bernardo, lieutenant, command
ing Winslow.
William Patterson, seriously but not
fatally.
Daniel w. McNeow, quartermaster,
first class, slightly hurt.
News of the engagement was
Drought Dy Iue IluuSOH lHlS HoIhluS
when it arrived at Key West at 8 a.
M, carrying the bodies of the dead,
which were lying on the deck, covered
by the stars and stripes. The wound
ed were in the bin of the Hudson.
The engagement took place inside
the harbor of the Cardenas. The Will
mington, the torpedo boat Winslow
and the gunboat Hudson were the only
vessels engaged. They entered the
harbor for the purpose of attacking
some Spanish gunboats which were
known to be there. These latter, how
ever, were not discovered by the Amer
lean force until the Spaniards opened
fire. The land batteries of Cardenas
supported the fire of the Spanish gun
boats.
The battle, while it lasted, was ter
rifle. The Wilmington and the Hud-
son were ahead and opened fire on the
Spanish boats, which We're lying ut
the docks. The firing began at range
of $500 yards.
A few minutes later the WinslOw
came up and also opened fire. In an
instant the entire attention of the
Spanish gunboats and land batteries
was directed upon her.
From all sides shot and shell poured
in on the little torpedo boat The Will
mington and the Hudson still kept up
their fire, but they could not turn aside
the terrible storm of fire and death
pouring in upon the torpedo boat
The crew of the Winslow, however
never faltered for second. At 2:35 a
solid shot crashed into the hull of the
WinslOw and knocked out her boiler
In an instant she began to roll and
drift helplessly.
Then there was moment of awful
suspense. A fierce cheer of triumph
went up from the Spaniards on the
gunboats and in the batteries, and
again a storm of fire was opened upon
the helpless boat.
The gunboat Hudson, which was w.
ing near by, started to the assistance
Of the Winslow. She ran alongside
the torpedo boat and tried to throw a
line TO the imperiled crew. Up to this
time, with the exception of the one
shot, which disabled the boiler of the
Winslow, the firing of the Spanish gun.
boats had been wild but as the Wins
low lay rolling in the water the range
grew closer and shells began to explode
all about her.
1t was difficult for the Hudson to get
near enough to throw a line to the
Winslow's crew so terrible was the fire
all about her.
Finally, after about wenty minutes,
the Hudson approached near enough
to throw a line.
Ensign Bagley and six men were
standing in group on the deck of the
WinslOw. "Heave her. heave her.
shouted Bagley, as he looked toward
the commander of the Hudson anC
called for a line. Don't miss it,
shouted an officer from the Hudson.
and with a smile Bagley called back;
LET her COMETS getting too hot here
for comfort" This line was thrown
and about the same instant shell
burst in the very midst of the group OF
men on board the Winslow.
Bagley was Instantly killed and a
few more dropped about him. Half a
dozen more fell groaning on the
blood-stained deck. One of the dead
men pitched headlong over the side of
the boat, but his feet caught in the
iron rail and he was hauled back.
Bagley's body was stretched on the
deck. with his face completely torn
away and the upper part of his body
shattered.
1t was terrible moment. The tor
peda boat. disabled and helpless,
rolled and swayed under the fury of
the fire from the Spanish gunboats
When the shell burst in the group
on board the Winslow, another wild
shout of triumph went up from the
Spanish boats and batteries, and again
a heavy fire was opened on the torpe-
do boat.
Finally the Hudson succeeded in get
ting line on board the Winslow and
was towing her out of the deadly
range, when the line parted, and again
both boats were at the mercy of the
Spanish fire.
At 3:05 p. m. the Hudson managed to
get another line on the deck of the
Winslow, but there We're only three
men left at that time to make it fast.
The line was finally secured and the
Winslow was towed up to Pedras is
land, where she was anchored with her
dead and W0undad ON har doalrs Thor,