The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-07-05
EAGERNESS TO BEGIN
THE BATTLE OPENED BY THE
NEW PORK.
SHOOTING AWAY THE SPANISH FLAG
Old Spanish Fort Riddled by American Shells
and its Flag Shot Away by the Extra
ordinary Workmanship of
Lieutenant Blue,

Of santiago de CQDa, july i, Va
Kingston, Jamaica, July >, 5 Il. M
Before ) O'Clock this morning the crew
Of the flagship We're astir, eating 4 hur-
ricd breakfast and at 0:3O, general
quarters was sounded and the flagship
headed in toward Aguddores, about three
miles east of MORO Castle. The other
ships retained their blockading stations.
Along the surf beaten shore the smoke
Of an approaching train from Altares
was seen. 1t was composed OF open
cars full of General Duffield's trops. At
the cut, a mile east Of Aguadores the
train stopped, and the Cuban scouts
proceeded along the railroad track. The
troops got out of the cars and soon
formed in a long thin line standing out
wildly against the yellow rocks that
rose perpendicularly above, shutting
them off from the main body OF the
army, which is on the east side OF the
hill. several miles north.
From the quarter deck Of the
flagship there Was signal by
a vigorously wigwagsed letter.
and a few minutes later, from 4
lump Of green at the waters edge. came
an answer from the army. This WAS
the first cooperation for offensive pur-
poses btween the army and the navy.
With the flag in his hand the soldier
ashore looked like Il butterfly.
Are you waiting for us to begin
was the signal made by Admiral
Sampson to the army.
General Dufficld is ahead with the
scouts" came the answer from the
shore to the flagship.
BY his time it was Z o'clock, and the
admiral ran the tlagship's bow within
three quarters of Il mile of the beach.
i She remained almost as near during the
forenoon, and the daring way she was
handled by Captain Chadwick, within
sound of the breakers made the Cuban
pilot on board stare with establishment
The Suwanee was in company with
;, the flagship. still closer in shore. and
the Gloucester was to the westward.
near MORO Cactle. From the south
ward the Newark came up and took 4
. position to the westward. Her decks
were black with 1900 or more troops.
! She went alongside of the flagship. and
was told to disembark the troops 1T
.AlcireS.
Then Admiral Sampson sisnalled TO
!, General Duffield:
"NNhen do you want us to commence
. firins?'
In a little while q white flag on shore
: sent back the answer:
.When the rest of the command ar
rives. Then | will signal you"
1t was 4 long and tedious wait for the
ShipS before the second fifty carloads Of
troops came putting along from Altares.
: BY $50 O'Clock. the last of the sol
! dicrs had left the open railroad tracks,
! disappearing in the thick brush that coy
I - ~,,nla.n. ,nlnt
' The water in the sponge tubs under the
! brceches Of the big guns was growing
. hot in the burning sun. Ashore there
was no sign of the enemy. They were
believed to be on the western bluff.
X Between the bluffs runs a rocky gully
leading into Santiago City. On the eX-
tremity of the western arm was dn OLE
castellated fort. from which the Spanish
[ flag was flying, and on the parapet on
the eastern hill. commanding the gully,
q two stretches of red earth could easily
V be seen against the brush. These We're
the rifle pits.
At 1:15 O'Clock Il signal flag ashore
~wigwagged to Admiral Sampson to com
mence firing, and d minute later the
New York's guns blazed away 1T the
; rifle pits and ut the old fort.
The Suvanee and Gloucester joined IL
the echoes which rumbled around and
filed the gully. All the stored VI
thunder of the clouds seemed TO nav,
broken loose. and smoke soon rose Oyer
4 the hills and the gully was shut out
from view.
$ Then the firing became more delib
crate.
II OF our troops ashore in the bruSi
nothing could be seen, but the Ping
ping of the small arms Of the army
t foated ont to sea during the occasional
1t lull in the firing Of the big guns whic'
g peppered the rifle pits until clouds o.
le red earth rose above them.
i. An eight-inch shell from the NeWarl
n dropped in the massive old fort, an'
r. clouds of white dust and huge stones
IT filled the air. \ shot from the Suwanc'
N hit the eastern parapet and it crumble'
If away like a mummy exposed to the al
after the entOmbment of centuries
in Amid the smoke and debris the flagstaff
was seen to fall forward.
IT. The flag has been shot down.
70 shouted the ships crew. but when tn
if smoke cleared away the emblem o
* Spain was seen to be still flying an'
10 blazing brilliantly in the sun. though
the flagstaff was bending toward tn
earth. Apparently the flagstaff ha'
- been caught firmly in the wreckaGe "
N the fort.
= few more shots leveled the battle
: ments until the old castle was d pitifu
sight.
When the firing ceased. Lieutenan
Delehanty of the Suwanee was anxiou
to finish his work. so he signalled to tn
ID New York asking permission to knoc
Ii down the Spanish flag.
Ell Yes replied Admiral Sampson. =
you can do it in three shots
of The Suwanee then lay about 1.60
v 1orJe from, tho old fort Shn tool ha
time. Blue carefully aimed the fou
II inch gun. and the crews of all the shiT
d. watched the incident amid intense e1
element.