Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-05-01


out is being kept.
On Board the Flagship New York, April
25. via Key West. April so.-The full details
Of the Cabanas affair are that the New
York was lying quietly outside the pic
turesque harbor of Cabanas, about two
miles off shore, an inspection trip of the
coast having just been completed. The
flagship was accompanied by the torpedo
boats Porter and Ericsson. A return to
the station off Moro castle. Havana, was
contemplated, the band was playing its
usual dinner music, when, from hill to
the eastward Of Cabanas harbor came the
sound of volley firing. 1t was plainly small
arms attack. though no smoke was seen.
The enemy was thought to be hidden close
to the beach and in front of a ruined white
building, which sloped as II it had once
been the hacienda Of a tobacco plantation
Now and again individual firing was heard
and well regulated volleys continued at
intervals. 1t was conjectured that one
troop of cavalry. dismounted, was doing the
firing at the officers Of the flagship who
stood on her deck trying to ascertain def
more amused than annoyed at this novel
method Of attacking an armored cruiser
However. Rear Admiral Sampson and Cap
tain Chadwick decided that the lesson
taught at Matanzas must be taught again
at Cabanas
Man TIE port battery was the order.
At a few minutes past o'clock, the four
inch guns in the after port battery sent a
shot flying over the water into Cuba's
soil. raising little cloud of dust about
100 yards in front Of the hacienda, and above
where the Spanish cavalry stood. Before
the hills, growing dim in the evening mist
had ceased echoing, and reverberating
the first report, the other four-inch gun in
the after battery had landed its projectile.
A few more shots from this battery were
fired, but the ground was evidently damp,
no dust arose. and it was hard to tell where
the shells fell. They were fired at 3,4O0
yards range. The Spaniards were not
heard from after the first shot.
The New York then turned her bow east
ward. The target practice was apparently
over for the evening. Her starboard bat
teries now bore on the coast.
A moment or SO later Captain Chadwick
saw the Spanish cavalry, then mounted,
ascending hillside toward the hacienda
and he personally trained a four-inch gun
and planted two shots. the second one
Pumping right among the spaniards, who
scattered in all directions.
The New York then steamed ahead
towards Moro castle and the band of the
flagship continued it's musical programme
Most Of the crew was on deck watching
this little lesson given to the Spaniards,
but there was no excitement.
The trip which ended in the target prac-
tice at Cabanas commenced about noon
when the flagship, with the Ericsson and
Porter, started westward. The admiral
was anxious personally to investigate the
blockaded harbors. Upon this occasion
the first good view of the city of Havana
was obtained, the New York steaming
within range of her batteries. The palace,
the cathedral and parade and the "forti-
fications' were plainly visible in the bright
sunlight Havana then looked anything
but the "city of saffron dirt" as some peo-
pie thought she looked.
When out Of range Of the Santa Clara
batteries. after passing the Iowa, Detroit
Margrove and Mayfiower, the flagship pro-
! ceeded westward. steaming about two
| miles distant from the shores. When
| Mariel, twenty-five miles from Havana,
was reached, the flagship came to a stand
still and the gunboat Castine, which was
| guarding that port, was hailed. Captain
| Berry thereupon went on board the flag
ship and had consultation with the ad-
miral A careful inspection of Mariel har-
bor revealed the presence of two small
! Spanish gunboats and four schooners, we'll
| in behind an old-fashioned Martello tower
| on one side and a flimsy little fort on the
other.
The combined battery Of the two "forti-
fications' is one muzzle loading cannon.
| The last blockhouse of the westward
| trocha loomed up on a sharp bluff shad-
owing the little town.
After lying for forty minutes close in to
this picturesque harbor, with its low. red
rooted warehouses. royal palms and noun
famous setting, the admiral proceeded to
Cabanas, saying jokingly to the corre-
| spcEdent:
"Mariel looks altogether too peaceful to
J be disturbed"
! 1t is believed, however, that, in spite of
its peaceful appearance. mines have been
laid beneath the smooth waters of Ca
| banas harbor.
| WILL WATCH MAILS CLOSELY