Evening star., 1898-06-20
FlEET'SFiRE WELL DIRECTED
Story in Detail of Last Bombardment of San
tiago's Forts
Flag at HaIf-Mast on MORO Castle
Gave Rise to Fear HObson
Was Killed.
fconrricht. 1873. by the Associntsd Press.l

'topyElsHI 1919. Nv tne -NSsotidtSu
Off Santiago de Cuba. June Is. via King
ston. Jamaica, June ia careful inspec-
tion 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 bat
teries were demolished beyond repair.
The vultures which circled on level wings
over the hills as thick as swallows around
chimney for hours after the firing ceased
furnished gruesome evidence of the fatality
among the Spanish soldiers. Hundreds of
troops could be seen from the ships digging
in mounds of earth piled up by the explo-
sion of the projectiles from the heavy guns
for bodies. while their heads were famed
by the wings of the black scavenSerS of the
battlefield. There were two spots one on
the east and the other on the west of the
harbOr entrance which were denuded of
the foliage. The hilltops seem literally
blown away. These marked the places
where the 2OO-pound charges of gun cotton
blown by the Nesuvius landed.
Thought Ii Was ror nup>on.
But the most ominous token of death flew
from MORO Castle. The saffron flag of
Spain was half-masted on the keep for sew
eral hours. The significance of this is not
known. 1t is not customary to half-mast
flags but possibly some Spanish leader was
killed by the heavy fire of our guns, though
some officers of the squadron believe that
the flag was half-masted as a notification
TO the Americans that Lieut.. HobsOn and
his brave men were dead. If such is the
case, they must have been wantonly muir
dered- The Spanish might seek TO lay their
dea IN to the bOmbardment. but not shot
from the American ships struck the fort
Neither Admiral Sampson nor Commodore
Schley believes that Lieut.. Hobson and his
party have been killed. We have seven
teen prisoners taken at Guantanamo. in
Guiding a lieutenant. besides Il number in
the United States, for reprisals ex
change.
Wen Driven to Fight.
There was evident decentralization among
the Spanish troops during the lombard
ment. Officers could be seen with drawn
swords. driving the men to the guns, but
even then they could not be forced to stay
SO long as our guns were directed at them
The fifteen minutes night work of the
NesuvIus had shattered their nerves.
1t is believed by some that the 13-inch
proJectiIe fired from the Texas. which was
reported 10 have exploded the powder mag
aZine 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.
\ dramatic incident of the bombardment
was the act of n Spanish officer who
bravely along the parapet, under a
heavy fire. encouraging his men to stand
by their guns. Shot and shell rained about
MN, and after one terrific explosion he
was seen no more and the parapet had dis
appeared. He could not have escaped
death. The aim of our gunners was su-
perb. and not only were the coast forts
annihilated, but the batteries Cayo
Smith. up the harbor. were destroyed Had
all the ships used smokeless powder, as
did the New Orleans, there would remain
10 signs Of guns or fortifications to indi-
cate that there had ever been any defenses
there.
No Casualties in Our Fleet.
There were no casualties in the fleet al
though the ships held a fixed position, as
II inviting the Spaniards to fire upon them
The half-stripped ships gunners never
worked with more enthusiasm. The words
of Rear Admiral Sampson were:
First silence the batteries on the shore
and then continue firing until the fortifica-
tionS are reduced"
In thirty-eight minutes the order was
given to cease firing. and the message went
to each ship from the admiral We'll DONE
and the officers and men turned in for
breakfast. Every detail of the engagement
had been executed to the letter. from the
opening of fire by the New York. to the
last shot from the Iowa. The Spaniards
were evidently surprised while strengthen
Ing their fortifcatiOns.