The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-06-24
BA|QU|RI DETAILS.
How the Landing Was Made
and Covered = Instan-
taneous Advance.

(By Gable. Copyright. 1898, by The Asso-
ciated Press.)
OFF SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Wednes-
day June %, 1885, 2:S0 P. M, via Playa del
Este, Guantanamo Bay June 2s.-General
Skaters forces, as this despatch is writ
ten. are being landed without opposition
to speak of at Baiquiri, twelve miles east
of Ell Morro The landing thus far has
been successful in every respect It has
been covered by a naval bombardment.
Four thousand troop are ashore at this
hour and probably twelve thousand VIII
be ashore by nightfall. One man killed
on the Texas is the only casualty SO far.
At two o'clock this morning the work
of lowering the boats from the New YORK.
Texas Massachusetts, Iowa, Oregon and
Brooklyn began Forty-eight men went
from the flagship in the steam launch and
the cutters.
The vesuvius, two hours before, stole up
under the eastern hills of Santiago har-
Dor and landed three gun-cotton shells IN
the neighborhood of the eastern battery.
Three loud reports. three sharp flashes
and clouds of earth and smoke marked
their fall. 1t is believed that one shell
did damage to the emplacements. The
western battery fired two futile sssAots
after the Vesuvius.
Those who watched the operation from
near the flagship had scarcely ceased
commenting upon the work of the Vesu-
vius before the winches creaked and
groaned. as the boats were lowered. En-
sign Palmer. who was in charge, and
Naval Cadet Kautz, son of the late Cen
eral Kautz of the United States Army
took the fagship's aotilla over to the
auxiliary cruiser St. Louis and reported
to Captain Goodrich. who had the gen
eral charge of the landing. The New
York still lay at her regular blockading
station, watching for Admiral Cervera,
should he make a dash out. When the
dawn broke, the long line of transports
was seen stretched out over the eastern
horizon and fading toward Baiqulri.
The Indiana was slowly coming into
blockading position at Baiquiri, and the
New Orleans, Detroit, Castine and Wasp
could be seen family.
Shortly after six o'clock the New Or
leans opened fire. An explosion occurred
ashore, and soon columns of smoke were
seen ascending from Baiquiri, standing
out white against the green background
of the rugged mountains that rise from
the waters edge. The shell had evident
ly- set the buildings on fire; but the thick
haze of smoke and mist made It hard to
see exactly what was occurring at Bal
quiri.
Before eight o'clock, the Texas, keeping
close in shore proceeded to Cabanas, two
and a half miles west of Ell Morro, to
make feint at landing troops there.
The transports which were to have ac-
companied the Texas were still far out of
position. Suddenly a puff of smoke shot
out of the western battery. showing that
the enemy were devoting attention to the
Texas The battleship replied promptly,
firing at the western batteries with her
twelve and six inch guns, and with her
smaller guns at a block touse in small
inlet at Cabanas. For. m hour the duel
between the Texas and the forts con-
tinued
war it was. The craftsmanship of the
Texas was marvellous. Though over two
miles away and In an awkward position,
she dropped shell after shell right on the
ridge of the hill where the enemy's guns
lay. Clouds of yellow earth rose high
The crew on the flagship greeted each
of these with loud cheers. Puffs of white
smoke shot through the yellow canyon.
These were shots from the enemy. They
stuck to their guns WE'LL but their aim
was wild. the shots falling some mile
ahead and some a mile astern of the Tex
as. Finally the enemy's shots became
few and far between. They had prob
ably been driven from their guns. All
the other battleships in the United States
Navy lay in semi-circle. watching the
wonderful work of the Texas, and not
wishing to distract the enemys atten-
ton from the successful feint.
On land still further to the westward
General Rabi, with 500 Cubans, was max
ing a military demonstration, to assist in
making the Spaniards concentrate their
troops to the west of Santiago.
Meanwhile a lively naval attack was in
progress east of the harbor at Aguadores
a village two or three miles east of FL
Morro The Eagle and Gloucester COM
menced to fire at the blockhouses ther:
was peppered with the smoke clouds cf
their exploding shells. A few miles fur
ther to the east the Hornet, Helena and
Of Tusenada de los Altares, banging away
at the two block houses on the side OF a
hill which rose above the dserted village.
considerably; and the surf broke vicious
| ly against the rocks: The sun shcne
bright, a light breeze blew. and the gun IN.
boats. half enyeloped IN white fI smoke
picturesque sight. They were feintina
more than fighting
| From CabandS to Ba1Quirl, fourteen
miles of coast, the ride was dotted with
| the smoke Of American shells. The bat
terry west of Ell Morro was the only point
where the enemy appeared to make any
| serious attempt to reply. The sharp re-
ports of the batteries of the smaller
boats filled the air, the echoes dying away
| into the great hills behind A faint odor
| Of saltpetre drifted out to sea.
The officers and crews of the ships not
engaged watched the shore eagerly. At
| 1920 the New York ran down from El
| MORO to Baiquiri, the real seat of oper-
ations.
| troops was landing at the Iron Company $
| wharf. The transports had been slow In
coming up. When Admiral Sampson ar
| rived, the Suwanee, Detroit and Wasp
| were banging away at a bluff to the
west of Baiquiri, where the Spanish troops
we're believed to be in ambuscade.
Around the wharf launches and boats
were thickly clustered, some black with
| troops. others half empty and theil
| former occupants climbing up like ants
| The firing of the gunboats was soon dis.
| shells had been directed and :3ng, low
| white house was soon burned up. No shots
| were seen to come from any points oI
The waters around Baiquri were btacl
| with small craft of all sorts. plying quick
1 " between the transports and the shore
! Smoke curled up from various spots
| around the village, marking the fire'
/ caued by the shells.
The landing continued quietly, until by
noon 1900 troops were ashore. me AZ
miral and his staff watched the debarka
li915 "a ne soldiers were seaslcl while