Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1898-06-09
OUR FLAG ON CUBAN SOIL.
Santiago's Forts Attacked and q
Force of Marines Landed.
Enemy's Guns Are sIlsnced by sampson's
Fleet, Our older Boys Are Safely
Entrenched and the City win
Soon be Captured.

Washington, June s.-Advices from
Kingston, Jamaica, report the reduc-
tion of the forts at the entrance to
entrenchment of marines under pro-
lection of the heavy guns of the feet
The bombardment was furious, a large
number of shells taking effect.
Cubans joined with the fleet and at
tackled the city while the bonn bard
ment was in progress.
report of landing of regulars is
expected, when steps will be taken to
occupy the city and capture Cervera's
fleet.
The fleet formed In double column
six miles off Moro Castle at o'clock
In the morning and steamed slowly to
within 1900 yards of the shore, the
Brooklyn leading, followed by the
Marblehead, Texas and Massachusetts,,
and turned eastward. The second line,
the New York leading, with the New
Orleans, Yankee, Iowa and Oregon fol-
lowing, turned westward. The Vixen
and Suanee were far out on the left
flank watching the riflemen on shore.
The Dolphin and Porter did similar
duty on the right flank.
The line headed by the New York
Morro Castle. The Brooklyn column
took up station opposite the Estrella
and Catalina batteries and the new
earthworlxs along the shore.
The Spanish batteries remained
silent, as if doubtful whether the
Spaniards were able to determine the
character of the movement, owing to
the dense fogs and heavy rains which
were the weather features of the morn
ing.
Suddenly the Iowa fred a 12-inch
shell, which struck the base of Estrella
battery and tore up the works In
stantly firing began from both Admiral
SIMPSONS and Commodore Schley' S
columns, and a torrent of shells from
the ships fell upon the Spanish works.
The Spaniards replied promptly, but
their artillery work was of very poor
quality, and most of their shots went
wild. Smoke settled around the ships
in dense clouds, rendering more diff
cult the work of the gunners. There
was no maneuvering of the fleet, the
ships remaining in their original sta
tions and firing steadily. The squad
rons were so close inshore that it was
difficult for the American gnnners to
reach the batteries on the hill tops, but
their firing was excellent. Previous to
the bombardment, orders were issued
to prevent firing on Merro Castle, as
the American admiral had been in
formed that Lieutenant Hobson and
the other prisoners of the MerrimaC
were confined there. In spite of this,
however, several stray shots damaged
Moro Castle somewhat.
Commodore Schley's line moved
closer inshore, firing at shorter range
The Brooklyn and Texas caused wile
havoc among the Spanish shore bat
teries, quickly silencing them.
While the larger ships were engaging
the heavy batteries, the Saunee anC
the Vixen closed with the small inshor,
battery opposite them, raining rapid
fire shots upon it and squiclxly placing
the battery out of the fight.
The Brooklyn closed to 500 yards ant
then the destruction caused by he
guns and those of the Marblehead anc
Texas were really seen. The Estrelll
fort was burning and the battery wa
silenced, firing no more during the en-
gagement. Eastward, the New Yorl
and New Orleans silenced the Cay
battery In quick order and then shelle
the earthworks, located higher up.
Later, the practice was not SO ac
curate, owing to the elevation of tn
guns. Many of the shells, however
landed, and the Spanish gunners re
tired
Shortly after the firing ceased, tn
!. warships turning in order to permi
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