Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-08-16
PEACE PREVENTS A HOT FIGHT
CUSHING AND GwNN ABOUT TO AT.
TACK THREE GUNBOATs.
Former Was Anxious to AvenEe the
Disaster at Cardenas Early In
the War, When Ensign Bag
ley and Four Comrades
Were Killed.

tenant Alber, Gleaves. will doubtless go
the distinction of having had the last naval
engagement of the Spanish-American war.
Had the peace negotiations been protracted
a little longer, the Cushing would unques-
tionably have ended the conflict by glor-
iously avensing its beginning. when En-
sign Bagley and his four comrades of the
Winslow were killed at Cardenas. At the
very moment the orders for raising the
blockade reached the Gushing. she was max
ing in for the three Spanish gunboats which
had wrecked her sister boat. intent on sink
ing them or herself going down in the ef-
fort They were the Ligero. Alerta and
Antonio Lopez.
A few days before, the Gushing destroyed
six small sloops and a two-masted schooner.
the Triumpho, OF twenty-five tons.
After some brief service at the very
opening of the war, the Cushings ma
chinery was disabled and, although she was
entirely repaired within six weeks. she was
kept here until a week ago. much 10 the
chagrin of Lieutenant Gleayes and despite
his urgent appeals for active service.
Eventually Commodore Howell allowed the
Gushing to go to the blockade, and on
August she went over to Sagua la Grande
with orders to stop the inside traffic in
the shallow water behind the keys. where
the gunboats could not enter.
Reaching Cardenas, the next day she
was Joined by the torpedo boat Mckee,
under Lieutenant Kneppes. and both pro-
ceeded to Sagua. Learning that there were
two gunboats in that harbor. the Cushing
and Mckee cleared for action and went in
to see il any steamers were anchored in
side. As they got under way, the convert
ed yacht Viking. with the senior ofiicer OF
that blockading station on board. came up
and halted the two torpedo boats. which
were obliged to return to anchor under the
lighthouse.
That night. however. the Viking left and
Lieutenant Gleaves. being then the rank
ing officer, took the Gushing and Mckee
across the shoals to the Boca Cristo chan
mel and there captured six small cargo
boats of about four tons each. which were
lying at anchor and had been abandoned
by their crew. This was done In full view
OF the gunboats, which. from distance OF
two miles, contented themselves with mr.
ing on the torpedo boats without coming
out. The shots were not returned.
The sloops, not being worth towing to
Key West, were burned the next day. On
the sth the Siren arrived with the torpedo
boats Gwnn and Rogers. and assumed COM
mand of the blockadiug station.
The Gushing again asked permission 10
20 In and engage the gunboats. but was
again refused and was ordered. with the
Gwnn, to Cardenas, to prevent inland
traffic between that place and Santa Clara.
They left the next morning and, after
chasing and holding up the hospital ship
solace, the American schooner Dellie,
which, with the consent Of the authorities.
was carrying a Cuban expedition, the Man
grove and the schooner Anna E. Krause.
from Baltimore for Galveston. all or any
of which it was hoped might be ship Of
the enemy and offer fight. they put into
Cardenas bay last Thursday.
Here the two-masted schooner Triumpho
was sighted at anchor on the east side OF
Hijo key, about q mile distant. The tor
pedo boats could not enter the shallow
water, so a cutting out expedition, COM
posed Of a boat from each Of the torpedo
boats, both commanded by Cadet David
Boyd. of the Gushing. who Is a survivor
of the Maine, was sent in. AZ they ap-
preached the schooner her crew abandoned
her. She was anchored on a lee shore and
a fresh wind made it impossible to get
he- of, SO Cadet Boyd. acting under or
ders, set fire to and destroyed her.
On Friday both of the dauntless little
fighters again went into the bay. further to
the westward, and found few sloops
standing out, all the other vessels having
scurrled back toward the town. The Gwnn
gave chase to one sloop, and, after firing
MANY shells, hove her to. The Cushing was
meanwhile chasing a second vessel but the
latter had too big a lead. and. abandoning
the pursuit, the Gushing went to the
Gwnn's assistance. The latter's prize had
six Spaniards on board. and the two tor
pedo boats were about to tow her out when
the three Spanish gunboats which wrecked
the Winslow were seen getting under way
A good fight was promised. and. to save
time, the sloop was abandoned. the Span
iards on board of her showering blessings
on their magnanimOus captcrs. The decks
of the torpedo boats were again
cleared for action. and. although the con-
test would have been An unequal one,, the
Spanish boats carrying stronger batteries.
all were ready for the daring attempt when
the auxiliary yacht Stranger appeared with
the news that peace had been restored and
the blockade raised and the boats were or
derad Immediately hack tn Key West.