Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-05-12
FIRST DEATH LIST
Four Men Killed on Board Torpedo
Boat Winslow in Battle Yes
terday Afternoon.
ACCOUNT OF ENGAGEMENT
For An Hour Shot and Shell from Spanish
Vessels and Forts Rained Upon
the Orew-Three Men Es-
capped Injury.

Key West, Fla, May 12.-There wa
an engagement off Cardenas, near Ma
tanzas, yesterday afternoon. The Unit
ed States cruiser Wilmington, the tor
pedo boat Winslow and the auxiliar
gunboat Hudson were engaged. On
officer and three men were killed an,
several wounded.
| The gunbeai Hudson sr. iued hers; ritl
the bodies OF Ensign VIM. Bagley ant
four others OF the crew of the Winslow
The dead on the Winslow are: En-
sign VIM. Bagley, John Varvorts, oiler
Josiah Tonnett, cabin cook: John V
Meek, fireman; J. Daniel, fireman
Lieutenant j. B. Bernardo was slightly
injured in his left leg.
The engagement took place inside the
harbor of Cardenas. The gunboat
Wilmington, the torpedo boat Wnslow
and the gunboat Hudson entered the
harbor for the purpose of attacking the
Spanish gunboats known to be there
Those, however, were not discovered by
the American forces until the Spaniards
opened fire. The land batteries of Car
dinas supported the fire of the Spanish
gunboats. The engagement commenced
at 9:05 p. M, and lasted for an hour.
The wounded are: b. E. Cox, gunners
mate: D. McKeen, quartermaster; j.
Patterson, fireman: F. Gray, Lieutenant
}. B. Bernardo, commanding Winslow.
All are slightly wounded except Patter-
son, whose condition is serious. En-
sign Bagley was appointed from North
Carolina, September 7, 1895. The bat
tie was terrific while it lasted. The
Wilmington and Hudson were ahead
and opened fire on the Spanish boats
lying at the docks, at a range of $500
yards The WinslOw came up and also
opened fire. In an instant the entire
attention of the Spanish gunboats and
land batteries was directed upon her.
From all sides shot and shell poured in
on the little torpedo boat. The Will
mington and Hudson still kept up their
fire, but could not turn aside the terri
bic storm of fire and death pouring in
upon the torpedo boat.
The crew of the Winslow. however,
never faltered. At 2.35 a solid shot
crashed into the hull of the Winslow
and knocked out her boiler. In an
instant She began to roll helplessly. A
cheer of triumph went up from the
Spanish and again storm of fire was
opened up on the helpless boat. The
gunboat Hudson, lying nearby, ran
alongside the torpedo boat and tried to
throw line to the imperilled crew. Up
to this time, with the exception of one
shot, which disabled the boiler of the
Winslow, the firing of the Spanish gun
boats had been wild, but as the Winslow
lay rolling, shells began to explode all
about her. 1t was difficult for the
Hudson to get near enough to throw
line to the Winslow's crew. so terrible
was the fire all about her.
Finally, after about 20 minutes, the
Hudson approached near enough to
throw line.
Ensign Bagley and six men were
standing in a group on the deck of the
Winslow. "Heave her! Heave her"
shouted Bagley as he looked toward the
commander of the Hudson, and called
for the line.
Don't miss it," shouted the officer
from the Hudson, aud with smile
Bagley called back ''Let her come, it's
getting too hot here for comfort"
The line was thrown, but at the same
instant a shell burst in the very midst
of the group on board the Winslow.
Ensign Bagley was instantly killed
and few others dropped about him.
Half dozen more fell groaning on the
blood stained deck. Bagley's body was
stretched on deck with his face COM
pletely torn away and the upper part of
his body shattered.
The torpedo boat, disabled and help
less, reeled and swayed under the fury
of the ire from the Spanish gunboats.
When the shell burst in the group on
board the Winslow. another wild shout
of triumph went up from the Spanish
boats and batteries and heavy fire on
the torpedo boat was renewed. Finally
the Hudson succeeded in getting line
on board the Winslow and was towing
her out of range when the line parted
and again both boats were at the mercy
Of the Spanish fire.
At 3:05 p. M, the Hudson managed to
get another line on the deck of the
Winslow, but there were only three men
left to make it fast. The line was final
ly secured and the Winslow was towed
to Piedras island, where she was -anch-
Ored. There some men from the Hud-
son went on board and took most of the
injured men off. Three Of the
men taken on board the gunboat
died shortly afterward.
Commander Bernado, Of the Winslow,
whose wound is not serious, said: 'The
crew acted nobly. The men
killed all fell at the same time. We
were standing in group when the shell
burst in our faces"