New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-18

lftS pllEdoe had evidently come IN sight. The
early shells were a LITTLE low. The range was
increased 70 300 and then 900 yards
Soon shot struck al the base OF the fort and
people were seen running down the hin Some
fair shooting was done by Corporal Moffatt
and Mester. As each gun fired all eyes
were bent on the little hill surmounted by the
fort II took what seemed a colside able time
for the shell to strike, ther a pun ~ blue smoke
arose from where it landed At the discharge
the echoes sounded and resounded among the
mountains The explosion Of the shell itself was
family heard lonC afic. ard
The Spanish ;rtrenchments stretched a con-
siderable distance the right If the stone build
ing. From them came considerable IRE. At
the.foot ~ the hill the Mausers We're cracking
forth volleys. The powder was not smokeless
entirely. and when the shooting by platoon
a cloud Of blue rose TO tell where the rifemen
were concealed. General Chaffees men were
seen TO be IN action. but 50 far away that they
could be picked out only occasionally. They
moved up under cover as much as possible. ir-
ing they went From time to time single
figures or little groups Of them could he made
out rushing across clear space crouched as
near the ground as they could 90.
A little blockhouse sheltered a body of Span
iards who did effective work IT was AZ the foot
Of one Of the Cobre chain of mountains. and
mile or two 10 the east Of El Caney These
places are extremely strong against infantry at
tack. TNey are Of double thicknesses Of pine
planking. the space between being filed up with
gravel usually. Earth is heaped UP around the
base to a height Of several feet and Just above
It is a narrow slit for the rtfemen. Rife pits
surround them. Thus protected the Spsniards
could pour out a murderous Are with little risk
TO themselves Their rifles can be loaded much
more rapidly than the Krag Jorgensen. and
small body Of men keep Up a fire that to an
unintiatcd person. would seem TO come from
a full company.
Unfortunately General Chaffee had 10 artil-
lery with which 10 batter down the biockhouse.
Captain Capron at one time had piece moved
70 train on the pesthole Of spanaIds. but the
range was 1900 yards and the United states
troops we're scattered all about. that there
was danger Of killing some OF them. The can
non was therefore hauled back to Us original
position
FIRING on THE BLOCTHOvsFs
BY 9 O'Clock the firing was extremely heavy
10 the left where General Ludlow had taken
his brigade II was that the Spaniards
were using the two blockhouses IN III Caney 10
excellent purpose. Up 20 nov the cannon had
been trained only on the stone fort and the
rlfic pits nearby, nut inc CITY Was, uINci va"
circumstances no longer entitled 10 immunity.
At $40 o'clock Are was opened on the two foru-
fed houses at range Of 200 and 300 yards
Many persons including women and children.
were seen to be running out OF the town.
Twenty minutes later shrapnel was fred on the
blockhouses but only for a short time. The
aim was excellent Then the battery took
rest.
Up to now little had been heard al General
Lawton's headquarters Of the course OF affairs
with the two advancing columns An orderly
came riding UP with the reply 10 dispatch
that General Lawton had sent 70 General Chaf-
fee H said that the firing over there was
heavy and many Americans had been wounded.
While General Chaffee was writing his answer
three men u the 1th Infantry were wounded IN
his irnrned ate neighborhood An officer was
shot in the hip one private IN the right i'g
and another In the hip. YET General Chah"e'
although in entirely exposed position "eh'
on with his writing unconcernedy
The gunners were glad Of the respite In
their labors. One or two fell asleep sitting on
their pieces Pals Of coffee were made and
most eagerly drunk. The was now well up
and Il was oppressivey hot. The artleryme
suffered a great deal. working as they were
Captain Cauron improved the time By trying ~
get & place more to the north for some or MS
pieces He could thus have got a nearer shot
at the blockhouse 10 the east ana almost "A
cross fire on the rife pits stretching along the
foot OF the mountain. He sent a cowboy 70 look
for a position that could be reached by the ar
tillerv but was told. after a long search tha'
the country was impossible except along me
roads The pioneer corps Of the lst regiment
was set 10 work a. building road for the ar
,rlorv some Cubans being ordered 10 help by
..ftah yIf-h
cbetes But the difficulties were insurmount-
able Even along the regular roads tho aTu!-
lery was moved with the greateet dinculty' ana
af.e, a rain the task wss monumental one.
7, many had places corduroy roads had been
tuut Inv the troops and the transportation on
cannon and wagon trains Of ammunition ana
food was thus made possible
The first wounded man to reach the hean4ua'-
tere was Il private Of the "a MassachuFet's' VINO
had threc fingers shOt away lie saiH 'h"' h'S
battalion was within Two hundred ysrdS OF 'he
enemy when the Spanards opened IRE INC
greatest difficulty Of the Americans war mat
| ,,ay couh seldom see whence shot came
| They a, first felt like rats In a trap but theF
q, ., ca adopted the tactics OF the Spanlards ana
fought from under cover az much as posSl'I''
The wounded man complained especially 'ha'
,hA regiment had not been allowed 70 ilgh' hreS
for twenty four hours. ana btH STARE" '"'' "
,le with only ten bareback and piece OF bacon
an inch wide
Generals Lawton and Breckenridge rode away
q. 1O.15 10 Join General Ludlow. Five minutes
later Lieutenant Colonel Patterson OF the ga
Infantry. came walking up supported ny TWO
men He had been shot IN the left groin out
cbeerfully assured inquirers thht IL WASH
rouch ms no bone had been touched he ha"
Walked a mile thus hurt. The Coionei "hS
familiar figure at the Army headquarters III
Tampa popularity of his was ms i'n"'' ~
usIL,nq about with his eyeglass hanging on MS