The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-15
HOT FIGHT At A|B0N|T0
The Spaniards Held an Almost
Impregnable Position.
DRIVEN FROM THE GUNS
Our Advance Made In the Face OF Ter
rife Fire-Spanish Ask Time to
Consider a Proposition
to Surrender.

At the front with General wilson's
command, five miles beyond Coamo.
Porto Rico. Aug. Il. Q2 o'clock even
ing. delayed in neutrality-suspicious.
Wilson moved one Lancaster battery
out TO the front for the purpose of she'll
ing the Spanish position on. the crest
of the mountain at the head OF the pass
through which the road winds. The en-
emy occupied a position of great nat
ural strength, protected by several lines
OF entertainments and a battery OF two
howitzers. The Spaniards were eager
for the fray and earlier in the day had
fired upon Colonel Biddle of the en-
gineer corps, who. with a platoon OF
troop cavalry, was accommodating on
their right flank.
AS our battery rounded a curve in
the road, 1000 yards away, the enemy
opened an artillery and infantry fire.
Four companies OF the Cd Wisconsin
which were posted on the bluffs to the
right of the road were not permitted to
respond to the infantry fire. The guns
advanced at a gallop in the face of a
terrible fire, were unlimbered and were
soon hurting shell and shrapnel at the
enemy at a lively rate, striking the
ments with the regularity Of a trip
hammer. The enemy soon abandoned
one gun, but continued to serve the
other at intervals for over an hour.
They had our range and their shrapnei
burst repeatedly over our men, One
shell burst. the fragments killing Cor
poral Swanson, Company l., and serf-
ously wounding Corporal Yankees. Pri-
vate Bule and Private Vought.
Captain Paget, the British army OFF,
GER who is with the American forces
for the purpose of observing the opera
tions in the field, distinguished him
self by aiding DIR. Woodbury..
Captain Lee and Private Siser OF
Company + were wounded by Mauser
bullets. In about two hours the enemy
abandoned the other gun and the men
began to flee from the entertainments
toward a banana grove. Our guns
shelled them as they ran. One gun was
now ordered to advance to a position a
quarter OF a mile further on II had
just reached the new position when the
Spanish infantry reinforcements filed
into the trenches and fired down a
deadly fire on our men. compelling the
battery to retire at a gallop. Then
both the enemy's howitzers reopened
and shrapnel screamed and Mausers
sang. Another gun galloped from the
rear, but our ammunition was exhaust
A-lthAthdhA nay ICo W do SIfOl III NnS
body by a Mauser just before his gun
retired the ball following a rib. The
orders issued for two companies to ad-
vance were countermanded and the fir
ing ceased soon.
Colonel Bliss of General Wilson's starr
went forward to the enemy's line with
flag of truce and explained that peace
negotiations were almost concluded and
that their position was untenable and
demanded their surrender. The Spanish
have no communication with the out
side world and the commander asked
until tomorrow that he might COM
municate with Governor General Ma
cias. General Wilson and his sta6
viewed to-day's action from a hill at
the right. The enemy's guns were fired
from a high elevation with low velo-
city. The Spaniards had the ranges a.
accurately as they had at Santiago.
Their position from the front Is almost
impregnable.
Estimates OF the strength OF the en-
emy range from 500 TO 1000. Their po-
sition Is five miles from Aibonito.