Evening star., 1898-08-18
LITTLE MANGROVE'S FIGHT
Later Details of Her Brash Attack Upon
Two Spanish Gunboats.
In the Midst of Terrific Shelling
Peace News Came and Both
Sides Stopped Work.

Further details have been received at
Key West as to the bombardment Of the
port of Caibarien, on the north caast of
the province of Santa Clara, Cuba, last
Sunday by the Mangrove.s
The Mangrove left here last week to pro-
tect the landing of an expedition under Col
Bosas, which had gone ahead on the
schocners Adams and Dellie. When the
Mangrove reached Santa Maria Key, near
Caibarien, she found the Cuban party had
safely disembarked, but feared to advance
because of the presence of the Spanish
gunboat Herman Cortes and smaller gun
boat. which were evidently making Caiba-
rten their base.
On Saturday afternoon the Mangrove an
shored at Key Francis, just outside Caiba-
rer and as she lay there the Herman Cor
tes came out and ran around the key to
get a peep at her, scurrying back into the
harbor as soon she saw she was dis
covered. The Mangrove followed far as
the shoal water would permit, but could
only get about half way in the harbor.
The next morning Capt. Stuart. the COM
mander of the Mangrove, decided TO have
shot at the gunhoats. He was alone,
and the odds against him were heavy, but
inch by inch, the Mangrove crepr along
the channel, drawing eight feet of water
In an average depth of eight and half
until about 8 o'clock she sighted both the
anchored near the shore. about a thousand
yards to the right of the town. with her
broadside to the The small gunboat
lay at the wharf.
To See the Fight.
The Spaniards evidently We're anticipat-
ing battle. The shore was crowded with
Spaniards, citizens and solGiers while the
roof of every building that commanded a
view of the harbor was literally covered
Herman Cortes carried two 4.T-nch guns
and four 1-pounders, while ker smaller
companion was armed with three 1-pcund-
ers and a Hotchkiss rapid-fire gun. The
crews of BOTH numbering in all between
seventy-five and one hundred men, could
be seen on the decks. Ashore were several
1-pound field pieces while the Spanish
troops were armed with NaUser rifles.
The Mangrove, whose entire battery con-
sists of only two 6-pounders, worked into a
range of 5000 yards. The channel was so
narrow that only gun could be fired at
a time. AT 10:45 a. she got up her port
gun at the Herman Cortes. The shot fell
short. Instantly the whole shore line burst
into flame, both gunboats and the field
pieces pouring in a heavy fire upon the
American vessel Every shell of this vol
ley struck the water ahead of the Man
grove, which continued pumping away
with her port 6-pounder. She concentrated
her fire on the Herman Cortes, and the
next five or six shots fell on the Spaniards
scattering body of men. Some of the lat
ter must have been killed, although the
Spaniards later denied that they suffered
any loss.
spaniards Got the Range.
For a while no Spanish gun was fired,
but soon the Spaniards got the Mangrove's
range, and a veritable avalanche of shot
and shell was hurled at her. It was roth
ing less than a miracle that her loss of life
was not heavy. Shells from the big guns
of the Herman Cortes dropped within twen-
ty feet of the tug, several bursting, and
the fragments chipping bits off her hull.
Others went whizzing through her shrouds,
and Mauser bullets peppered the surround
ing waters like a summer shower.
In the very midst of all this and while
the Mangrove was swinging cautiously
around to bring her staFboard gun into
play, the watch shouted flag of truce
and, sure enough, not only one, but three
white flags could be Seen,f one flying from
the small gunboat and two from the gov
ernment houses on shore. The Mangrove
acknowledged the signal, and presently a
small boat came out with Spanish officer
who clambered aboard the Mangrove and
In exceedingly nervous tones, announced
Peace Is proclaimed, and l have instruc-
tions for your commanding officer from the
military commander of this district
He added that during the engagement
the Spanish authorities in Caibarien had
wired the military commander of the dis
tfict that the American ships were bonn
harding the port, and that Immediate re-
sponse had been received informing them
that peace had been restored and the fir
ing should cease
The Spanish crew Of the small boat which
brought this officer to the Mangrove said
that the Spaniards had not lost a man,
put the officer himself made no allusion to
the night, which had lasted an hour and ten
minutes "
AS the Mangrove was creeping her wav
Out OF the narrow channel she went
aground and lay there five hours Had the
same mshap befallen her during the en-
nave been sent to the bottom with ali on
board ~ "'A 'ii