The Springfield herald., 1898-05-20
FIVE. SAILORS DEAD.
WERE KILLED AT cARDENAs
Torpedo Boat Winslow Nearly Sunk by
spanish Firc-Foolish Attack by Three
Small Vessels Against the Forts and
and Gunbonts.

Key West, Fla. May 12.-The flrst
| engagement in the present war III
which the Americans have sustained
loss of life has been fought ana fvc
gallant defenders of the flag fell under
the Spanish fire. The engagement was
fought in the Bay of Cardenas, Cuba.
near MatanzaS. and WAS participated
in by the United States sunboat VIII
mington. c. c. Todd, commander: tile
torpedo boat Ninslow and the gunbont
Hudson for the Americans, and several
small Spanish gunboats. covered by
the fire of the forts. The following is
the official list of the dead and wound
ed:
WORTH BAGLEY. ensign U. S. y.
JOHN NARVERES. oiler.
GEORGE b. MEEK, fireman.
j. DENFEE. fireman. first class.
ELIJAH b. TUNNEL, cabin cook.
WOUNDED.
j. b. Bernardo, lieutenant, command
ing Winslow.
William Patterson, seriously but nor
fatally.
Daniel w. Mckcow. quartermaster,
I first class slightly. hurt.
News of thcS Arrangement was
brought by the Hudson this morning
when it arrived at Key West at u.
m, carrying the bodies of the dead,
which We're lying on the deck. covered
by the stars and stripes. The wound
ed were in the bin of the Hudson.
The engagement took place inside
the harbor of the Cardenas. The VIII
mington, the torpedo boat Winslow
and the gunboat Hudson were the only
vessels engaged. They entered the
barber for the purpose of attacking
some Spanish gunboars which were
known to be there. These latter. how
ever, We're not discovered by the Amer
lean force until the Spaniards opened
fire. The land batteries of Cardcnas
supported the fire of the Spanish gun
boats.
The battle. while ii lasted, was ter
rifle. The Wilmington and the Hud-
son We're ahead and opened fire on the
Spanish boats. which We're lying at
the docks. The firing began ut II range
of $500 yards.
A few minutes later the Winslow
came up and also opened fire. In an
instant the entire attention of the
Spanish gunboats and land batteries
was directed upon her
From all sides shot and shell poured
in on the little torpedo boat. The VIII
mington and the Hudson still kept up
their fire, but they could not turn aside
I the terrible storm of fire and death
pouring in upon the torpedo boat.
The crew of the Winslow. however
never faltered for IL second. AT 2:3o II
solid shot crashed into the hull of the
i Winslow and knocked out her boiler.
In an instant she began TO roll and
drift hclp1essly.
Then there was n moment of awful
suspense. \ fierce cheer of triumph
went up from the Spaniards on the
gunboats and in the batteries. aud
again a storm of fire was opened upon
the helpless boat.
! The gunboat Hudson. which was ly-
| ing near by, started to the assistance
the torpedo boat aud tried TO throw Il
line to the mperiled crew. Up to this
| time, with the exception of the one
shot. which disabled the boiler of the
Winslow. the firing of the Spanish gun
boats had been wild. but as the Wins
low lay rolling in the water the range
| grew closer and shells began to explode
| all about her.
1t was difficult for the Hudson to get
| near enough to throw Il line TO the
Winslows crew 50 terrible was the fire
all abou, her.
Finally, after about wenty minutes.
to throw Il line.
Ensign Baglcy and six men We're
standing in Il group on the deck of the
, Wiuslow. "IIeave her. hcavc her.
shouted Baglcy. as he looked toward
the commander of the Hudson and
called for Il line. Don't miss it,
shouted an officer from the Hudson,
and with smile Buglcy called back:
Let her come-its getting too hot here
for comfort This line was thrown
and about the same instant shell
burst in the very midst of the group OF
men on board the Winslow.
Bagley was Instantly killed and a
few more dropped about him. Half a
dozen more fell grooming on tho
blood-staincd deck. One of the dead
men pitched hendlong over the side of
the boat, but his feet caught in the
iron rail and he was hauled back.
Bagley's body was stretched on the
deck with his face completely torn
away and the upper part of his body
shattered.
1t was Il terrible moment. The tor
pc,la boat. disabled and helpless
rolled and swaycd under the FURY OF
the fire from the Spanish gunboats.
When the shell burst in the groul
on board the Winslow, another wild
shout of triumph went up from the
Spanish boats and batteries, and again
n heavy fire was opened on the torpe
do boat.
Finally the Hudson succeeded in get.
ting line on board the Winslow and
was towing her out of the deadly
range when the line parted and again
both boats We're mt the mercy of the
Spanish fire.
A ::05 p. IN. the Hudson managed tc
get another line ON the deck of the
Winslow, but there We're only three
men left at that time to make it fast
The line was finally secured and the
Winslow was towed up to Pedras is
land, where she was anchored with hel
dead and wounded on her decks. There
some men from the Hudson went OF
board the Winslow and took the mos
seriously wounded men off. Three who
We're taken on board the Gunbont Ma
chias died shortly afterward.
Washington officials criticise the ac
ton of Lieutenant Todd in attacking
the forts with such an inadequate
force, and say that ii was unnecessary