The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1898-05-17
A FIERCE COMBAT.
Marblehead, Nashville and WindcTn En-.
gage Forts and Ships at CiemRuegos-
Handful of Men Fought Against Fearful
odds and Were INTERCHANGEABLE Was
Cut-The Window Arrives at Key
West With Killed and Wounded.


KEY WEST, Fla, Nav 1e.-Off the
coast of Cienfuegos the cruisers Mar
blehead, Nashville and Window fought
a desperate battle against fearful odds
Wednesday, They were victorious and
now the southern Cuban seaport is
wrlthing in ruin and the dead and dy-
ing fill its streets
1t was determined some time ago to
cut the Spanish cable out of Cienfue-
Cos and thus prevent movements of
American ships on that side being
made known to Madrid. The task was
assigned to the three cruisers. They
drew in close to shore.
They made out new fortification at
the entrance to Cienfuegos BAY, and
the Window, under Capt. Mcclure,
CHANGED its batteries. At 1000 yards
the fort opened fire. The Window re-
piled with her big forward rifle, and
in few minutes left the fortifcation
a mass of ruins
The Nashville and MarbIehead in the
meantime had sailed in close and made
every effort to draw fire from what
have. One battery was visit BILE at the
apex of the bay, and into this shot and
shell were poured.
Under cover Of the cannonade the
Nashville and Marblehead launched
boats and their crews pulled into
where the cable took Off By dint of
rare courage they cut the cable and
started back. Half way across the
bay, masked batteries on either side
of the harbOr opened merciless fusil-
lade, firing shrapnel at the two boat
loads. The boats were riddled and
their occupants were soon struggling
in the water. The treachery was quick
ly atoned for. From the guns of the
Nashville and Marblehead belched
forth rain of shot and shell. Every
shot went true.
Earthworks, guns and Spaniards
were seen flying in the air as each
shell burst. In the meantime Capt.
Mcclure lowered his boats and res
cued the wounded. The bodies of
the four dead were also recovered.
They were placed aboard the Window.
"We avenged Them" said Capt. Nc
Guire.
The Window arrived here Saturday
morning with the wounded, all of
whom are doing nicely. Capt. May
nard, of the Nashville, was struck on
the head by solid shot, but the mis-
sile glanced and only inflicted slight
injury. Lieut. Winslow lost three
fingers of his left hand.
The following gunners were wound
ed: Robert Boltz, John Davis, John
Doran, Ernest Suntzenich. Herman w.
Kochnaister and l. Hendrickson.
Two of the killed were seamen on
the Marblehead
Private Egan, of the Nashville, was
one of the slain The other names are
not known. Hendrickson is shot
through the liver, and DIR. j. c. Travis,
Of the Window, says he can not live.
Nor can Boltz, who has three bullets
through his chest and one through his
mead Hendric1son suffers greatly,
but he repeats: Il would do it again if
L had to-"
The other wounded are doing well.
The Nashville and Marblehead will
take Cienfuegos, if it has not already
been accomplished. The Spaniards
used powerful guns of small caliber
and smOl1eless powder. Their masked
batteries are hard to locate.
The cutting of the cable at Cienfue-
yos is considered by the naval experts
The greatest accomplishment outside
Of Manila, as it renders Blanco impo-
tent He is virtually shut out from
I, Z
Madrid from Santiago de Cuba, over
the English cable This Gomez has
planned to prevent. The Mangrove
Tried to cut this cable three weeks ago,
but failed.
WASHINGTON, May 16.-The following
telegram came to the navy department
Saturday afternoon from Commodore
Remey, at Key West:
KEY WEST, Fla, May 16.-Secretary
Navy: The Window arrived Saturday
morning with the following men dead
and wounded: Patrick Regain, private
marine, dead; Herman w. Kuchneis-
ter, private marine. shot through the
jaw, probably fatal; Harry Henrickson,
seaman, shot through the liver. proba-
bly, fatal; Ernest Suntenich, first class,
fracture of right leg; John j. Doran,
boatswain's mate second class, gunshot
wound in right bullock; John Davis,
gunner's mate third class, wounded in
right leg; VIM. Levery, apprentice
first class, wound left leg, very slight;
Robert Volz, seaman on Nashville,
severely wounded; Lieut.. Cameron,
Winslow, slight wound in hands.
Casualties occurred in cutting the
cable at Cienfuegos. Commander Nc
Calais report, summary: Lieut.. Wins
low placed in command of steam and
sailing launches Of Nashville; Lieut.
Anderson second in command. Boats
were to drag for and cot cables under
the protection of the guns of Marble
head and Nashville. Succeeded in cut
ting cables leading south and west but
not third cable inshore, under the fire
of infantry on shore with Maxim guns
Lighthouse destroyed when enemy
took shelter there. The officers and
men performed their work with the
tmost GOODNESS and intrepidity under
MOCalta'S re-