Middletown transcript., 1898-05-14
EVE KILLED.


have said that the Spaniards are off
the New England coast ready to attack
Boston; it is not believed. Rumor
says again they have returned to Csdiz,
Spain, but that has not been verified.
In the meantime active preparations
have been made to occupy Cuba with
an army. On Wednesday the Will
mington and Hudson and torpedo boat
Winslow were looking for four Span
ish gunboats in Cardenas bay which
they engaged with fatal results. Car
denas is a port a few miles east OF
Matanzas. The latter is few miles
east Of Havana. They are all on the
north coast of Cuba, south Of the
Florida peninsula. There were five
killed and Eve wounded on the Win
slow. The story in brief is:
The engagement began at .05 z. M.
and lasted about an hour. The battle
while it lasted was terrific. The Will
mington and the Hudson were ahead
and opened on the Spanish boats.
which were lying at the docks. Firing
began at 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 gun
boats and land batteries was directed
upon her. From all sides shot and
shell seemed to pour in upon the little
torpedo boat. The Wilmington and
the Hudson kept up their fire, but
could not turn aside the terrible storm
of fire and death pouring in upon the
torpedo boat. The crew Of the Win
slow, however, never faltered for q
second. Suddenly solid shot crushed
into the hull Of the Winslow and
knocked out her boiler and steering
gear. ID an instant she began to roll
and drift helplessly. There was a
moment of awful suspense. A fierce
cheer of triumph went up from the
Spaniards on the gunboats and in the
batteries and again storm of fire was
poured upon the helpless boat. Through
the crashing of the guns voice
reached the Hudson through a mega
phone, from the WiDslow, then 100
feet away =
1--WE are totally disabled"
The Hudson started to the assistance
of the WinsloW. She ran alongside
the torpedo boat aud tried to throw a
line to the imperiled crew. Up to this
time, with the exception Of the shot
which disabled the boiler of the Win
slow. the firing of the Spanish gun
boats had been wild, but as the Win
slow lay rolling in the water the range
grew closer and shells began to explode
all about her. The wind and tide
were taking the Winslow ashore. She
was entirely helpless. and the Spanish
batteries expected to make her an easy
prey. Soldiers at the waters edge
were ready to shoot her men with rifles
when she came within range. 1t was
difficult for the Hudson to get near
enough to throw a line to the Win
slows crew, so terrible was the fire all
about her. Finally, after trying about
twenty minutes. the Hudson approach
ed near enough to throw line.
SHELL BURSTS, SCATTERING DEATH.
Ensign Bagley and six men were
standing in group on the deck Of the
Winslow.
"Heaye her, heave herl" shouted
Bagley, as be looked toward the COM
naander Of sns- Hudson and called for
line.
''Don't miss it." shouted an officer
from the Hudson, and with a smile.
Bagley called
'sLet her come. It's getting too hot
here for comfort"
The line was thrown. At the same
instant shell burst in the very midst
of the group of men on the Winslow.
Bagley was instantly killed and few
others dropped about him. Half q
dozen more fell groaning on the blood
stained deck. One Of the dead men
pitched headlong over the side Of the
boat. but his feet caught in the iron
rail and be was hurled back. The tor
pedo boat, disabled and helpless, rolled
and swayed under the fury Of the fire
from the Spanish gunboats.
HUDSON HAULs OFF DISABLED BOAT.
When the shell burst in the group on
board the Windsor another shout Of
triumph went up from the Spanish on
boats and batteries and the firing was
redoubled. Finally the Hudson sue.
ceeded in getting line on board the
Winslow. She was towing her out OF
the deadly range when the line parted
and again the boats were at the mercy
Of the Spanish fire. At last the Hud
son managed to get another line on the
saa1l, oe A. rU;rafnxn a.d fho $hwoo M nY