Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-06-09
an American Story-A Different Face On
the Affair.

Journal special from Cape Haytien says:
The torpedo boat Porter arrived at
Mole St. Nicolas at 1 a. m. with dis
patches for Washington. She left i'm
snediately, but before going to sea the
following story of the bombardment of
Santiago de Cuba was obtained by your
correspondent at the Mole:
The American squadron, augmented
by the torpedo boat Porter, the auxil-
tSary cruiser, and the protected cruiser
New Orleans, approached the entrance
ITO the harbor of Santiago at about 1890
p. m, the Iowa leading.
Inside the entrance to the harbor
was seen one of the warships of Ger
rVera's feet, stripped for action.
AS the American feet drew near the
New Orleans was detached, and
steamed forward ahead of the Iowa,
Texas and Massachusetts,. One of the
Notifications opened fire on her, and
abe replied, the other two ships
directing the fire at the battery
On the Punts Gorda within the harbor
aud to westward of the position occu-
pied by the Spanish ship. The latter
replied to the fire and Immediately be-
came a target for the American ships
engaged in the battle. She retired be-
hind protecting headland, and was
not seen again during the engagement.
The Iowa, directed by Capt. Flight
ing Bob" Evans; the Massachusetts,,
Capt. F. J. Higginson; the Texas, Capt.
j. w. Philip, and the New Orleans,
Capt. VIM. M. Folger. kept up their
terrific fire against the Moro, Socapa
and Punta Gordo Notifications for two
hours, their projectiles, of enormous
size, doing tremendous damage to the
sdcfenses of the harbor.
The masonry of Socapa and MORO
was battered almost into dust, and the
forms of Spanish artillerymen and in
fantry could plainly be seen flying to
safety behind the neighboring hills.
The auxiliary cruiser which joined
:Schleys fleet just before the battle
took place was hit by shells from
the forts, and it is thought she was
seriously damaged.
After seeking the protection of jut-
ting headland, the Spanish warships
continued to fire projectiles over the
hills toward the fleet, but they had no
range, not even direction to their shots,
and the shells fell harmlessly into the
sea.
That the number of killed and
wounded on the Spanish side is enor-
eTuous, no one doubts, for time and
again the American shells hit the bat
,teries squarely, and amid the flying
masonry and dismantled guns the
forms of men were seen.
The damage done to the American
fleet can not be learned, but it is not
thought any person was killed, if in
iced anyone was wounded.
The American Squadron Suffered .
Check 60
MADRID, June 1.-The minister OF
= marine, Capt. Aunon, has received a
dispatch saying the American squadron
i. has suffered a check before Santiago
lie Cuba. The fire from the Spanish
forts and the fleet of Admiral Cervera
Is alleged to have repulsed the Amer
lean ships, which are said to have re-
treated, and to have been damaged.
The Spanish fleet, it is claimed, did not
suffer.
Another Report by Way of Port-au-Prinoe.
PORr-AU-PRINCE, Hayti, June L.
The following additional details have
been received here from Spanish
source, at Havana, of the engagement
reported off Santiago de Cuba Tuesday:
The Spanish batteries at first an
.swered the fire of the American squad
ron in a lively manner. After 20 min
utes of firing, directed in a superior
manner upon the part of the American
feet, the Spanish battery began to
weaken, and the American ships con-
centrated a violent fusilade upon FL
Moro, destroying it completely.
The forts at Socapa ant Punta Gorda
fired the last shots.
The Spanish loss must have been con-
siderable.
Details are lacking as to the American
loss.
The Spaniards pretend to have struck
the American vessels several times, but
this information is accepted here under
reserve.
At four o'clock Tuesday afternoon
the American squadron ceased firing.
At that time there was no Spanish YES
sci in sight.
No news has been received there from
the dispatch boats.
Spanish Account of the Bombardment of
Santiago.
HAVANA, June 1.-The following
spanish account of the reported en-
Ragement off Santiago de Cuba has
been isssCed here:
The American fleet, consisting of the
Iowa, Massachusetts,, Brooklyn, Texas,
New Orleans, Marblehead, Minneapolis
and another cruiser, in addition to six
small vessels, took up a position, on
May 81, on the western side of the