The Portland daily press., 1898-06-20
DEADLY FIRE.
How PertifieaIiOns Of Santiago We're
Reduced.

Copyright, 1898, the Associated Press
On board the Associated Press despatch
boat Daunltess, off Santiago de Cuba,
Saturday, June 1S.--via Kingston, Jam.
June 10. noon.-A careful inspection of
the Notifications along the crest of the
hills defending Santiago harbor since
the bombardment Thursday morning
shows that the American gunners spread
wreck and ruin everywhere. Some of
the batteries were demolished beyond res
pair. The yultures whiohj circled on
level wings over the hills as thick as
swallows around chimney, for hours
after the firing ceased, furnished grues
some evidence of the fatality among the
Spanish soldiers. Hundreds Of troops
could be sesn from the ships digging in
mounds of earth piled up by the explo.
sion OF the projectilss from the heavy
guns for bodies while their heads were
tanned by the wings of the black scarS
engers Of the battlefield. There were two
Spots, one on the east and the other on
tie west Of the harbor entrance which
were denuded Of foliage. The hill tons
seem literally blown away. They marked
the place where the 200 round charges of
gun cotton, blown by the Vesuvius, land.
ed. But the most ominous token of death
new from MORO castle. The saffron flag
OF Spain was half-masted on the keep for
several hours. The significance for this
Is not known. 1t is not customary to
half-mast flags, but possibly some Span
ish leader was killed by the heavy fire of
our guns, though some officers Of the
squadron believe that the flag was half
m a tn ho A
that Lieut.. Hobson and his brave men
were dead If such is the case they have
been wantonly murdered. The Spanish
might seek to lay their death to the boms
bardment, but not q shot from the AIMEE
rtcan ships struck the fortress
Neither Admiral Sampson nor Commo-
dore Schley believes that Lient Hobson
and his party have been killed. We have
II prisoners now at Guantanamo, includ.
ing lieutenant, besides a number In the
United States for reprisass or exchange.
There was evident decentralization
among the Spanish troops during the
bonn bardmenI. Officers could be seen,
the guns, but even then they could not be
forced to stay SO long as our guns were
directed at them. The 10 minutes njoht
work of he Vesuvius had shattered their
nerves. 1t is believed by some that the
12-inoh projeotiles fired from the Texas
powder magazines in one Of the western
batteries. did not fall in the battery, but
went beyond and blew up one of the
ships in the harbor.
A dramatic incident of the lombard
ment was the act of Spanish officer.
who brayely ran along the parapet In
der heavy fire encouraging his men to
rained about him and after one terrific
explosion he was seen no more aud the
parapet had disappeared.
He could not have escaped death. From
the foretop of The Brooklyn, 1900 yards
distant, the men in the grounds could be
noticed. but minute later dust and fly
ing debris would take their places and
when the smoke cleared away only a spot
OF red earth could be seen-guns and gun
ners had been swept away. 1t was the
most deadly and destructive lombard
ment of the war thus far. Scarcely a
shot from the big guns of the squadron
went astray.
The aim of our gunners was superb
and not only were the coast ,,forts annis
hilated, but the batteries on Cayo Smith,
up the harbor, were destroyed. Had ali
the ships used smoksless powder as did
the New Orleans, there would remain no
signs of guns or Notifications to indicate
that there had ever been any defences
there 0sEr
There were no casualties in the fleet,
the ships held fixed position,
as if inviting the Spaniar DIS to fire upon
them. The half stripped ships gunners
never worked with more enthusiasm.
The words of The rear admiral were:
First silence the batteries on the shore,
and then continue firing until the forth
Fl ,ations are reduced"
This order was strictly obeyed. 1t was
the first time that such instructions had
been given and the men responded with
a will. In 3S minutes the order was Civ
en- to cease firing and the message went
to each ship from the admiral: "Well
done." The officers and men then turned
in for breakfast. Every detail of the plan
of engagement had been executed to the
letter, the opening of fire by the New
York to the last shot from the Iowa.
The Spanlards were evidently surprised
while strengthening their Notifications.
The first shot of the New York landed
full fair on the top of the hills to the
east, where the gunners were already at
work erecting new pieces. The earth
seemed to rise in a cloud and when the
i2-inch shells of the Iowa and i3-inch
beauties.of theOregon landed squarely and
fairly, great cheer went up from the
ships The western squadron got into
line and began firing before the eastern
one did, and the effect of the shots could
be plainly seen. The Spanish gunners at
the batteries could be noted aud a quick
fire returned, but only for brief time
did they withstand the terrible assault Of
the fleet.