Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1898-05-03
.N.ARSA|PS NR R. FORTS.
The Batteries at Matanzas Provoke
Hostilities and Are Speedily
Demolished.
The SPANISH LOSS SAID TO Be HEAVY.
The New York, Puritan and Cincin-
natl Engaged in the Work-No
Damage Done to the Fleet-Object
of the Expedition and the Cause
for the Attack.

for the Attack.
Key West, Fla, April 2s.-The flag
ship New York, monitor Puritan and
cruiser Cincinnati, under Admiral
Sampson, bombarded the Spanish bat
teries that were in position and in
course of construction at the entrance
of Matanzas harbor. They were pretty
thoroughly destroyed.
The flagship was first fired upon by
the batteries on Point Rubal Cava and
Point Maya, while the Puritan, New
York and Cincinnati were reconnoiter-
ing for the purpose of locating and ulti-
mately destroying the works the Span
iards were building.
The list of dead on the Spanish side
must be large, but there is no way of
telling the number of fatalities.
The Battle.
The New York steamed in between
the batteries, and opened both broad
sides on the Spaniards.
The Puritan engaged the Cape Maya
battery and the Cincinnati went to
starboard of the New York, close up to
land, and sent broadside of shells into
Ruba Cava.
The batteries returned the fire, but
not one of the shots took effect. They
fired explosive shells, and they all fell
wide of the mark, no damage of any
kind resulting.
Batteries in Ruins.
The batteries were reduced in Just 20
minutes.
The final shot from the enemy came
from Ruba Cava, and drew from the
guns, which struck the battery and
blew up section of it.
The United States ships did not retire
until the Spanish refused to renew the
engagement. They left the batteries in
ruins.
Object of the Expedition.
Admiral Sampson made up his mind
! when he went to Matanzas Wednesday
that something must be done. These
batteries had twice fired on the torpedo
boat Foote, and he decided that the
work of fortifying must be stopped if
possible.
New York Leads the Way.
The New York was the first to go into
the bay. The Puritan came next, few
hundred yards astern. The Cincinnati
! was greater distance behind on the
| starboard side. The ships made almost
| triangle.
The first shot drawn from the shore
| came from Rubal Cava. It was an eight
inch shell. sped toward the New York
| and fell short.
Then another came, another, this
time from Point Maya. This also fell
! wide Of the mark.
During the engagement not soul
could be seen on the shore, and the puffs
of smoke came up from the batteries as
if by magic.
Good Marksmanship.
The New York tossed the shells into
Rubal Cava at the rate of about three g
| minute, and the craftsmanship could
not have been better.
When the Puritan finally got its
range her shells burst every time within
the Notifications of Point Maya, and
there was cloud of dust followed by
the collapse of the hard materials OF
which the Notifications were composed
The cir was literally filled with the
debris, and there was almost con-
tinuous explosion.
"Remember the Mafnev
The Cincinnati was not called into the
work of reducing the Notifications IN
til Capt. Chester signaled for permits.
sion to take hand, and until it was
granted there was great impatience
among the crew of enthusiastic men
who at the report of every shell ex.
claimed: Remember the Maine.'
The Puritan fired the best shot of the
day. It struck the battery, tearing its
way into the earthworks, and exploded
The destruction was great and no doubt
the artillerymen behind the guns were
killed.
The Puritan and Cincinnati were left
| on guard at Matanzas and the New York
| took up her old position.
NIatanzas and It's Interests.
Matanzas is the capital of the province OF
| that name. 1t lies on the Bay of Matanzas
| on the south coast of Cuba, about so miles
| east of Havana. After the colonial capital
| it Is the most important city of the north
coast. Its shipping interests are second
| only to those of Havana. as it is the outlet
| Of many Of the richest agricultural districts
| Of the island. particularly sugar. The pop
ulation of the city is about ,000
Double Suicide in Jail.
Murray, KY, April 25.-Boone Spen-
Ger, in Jail for horse stealing, was vis-
| - al ~, he wv; 70 SATURDAY., ,,l ,,,Lo,, :.