Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-05-19

y
remains of Ensign w. Bagley and four
members of the crew of the torpedo
boat Winslow, who were killed in an
engagement in Cardenas harbor We'd
nesday afternoon. The bodies were
| covered by the stars and stripes.
In the cabin of the Hudson was
Capt. Bernadou, of the Winslow. who
| is slightly injured in the left leg, and
several others of the Winalow crew,
who are slightly wounded. The dead
| are:
| Ensign Worth Bagley.
| John Narveres, oiler
| Josiah B Tunnel, cabin cook.
| j. V. Meek, fireman.
| J. Deel fireman.
The engagement took place inside
| the harbor of Cardenas The gunboat
Wilmington, the torpedo boat NlnsloW
and the gunboat Hudson were the only
vessels engaged. They entered the
harbor for the purpose of attacking
| some Spanish gunboats which were
| there. These latter, however, were not
discovered by the American force until
| the Spaniards opened fire. The land
batteries of Cardenas supported the
| fire of the Spanish gunboats. The en-
| gagement last for about an hour
The battle was terrific. The Will
mington and the Hudson were ahead
and opened fire on the Spanish boats
| living at the docks. The firing began
at range of 3, 800 yards. A few min
rtes later the Winslow came up and
| also opened fire. In an instant the en-
| tire attention of the Spanish gunboats
| and land batteries was directed upon
| her. From all sides shot and shell
| poured in upon the little torpedo boat.
| The Wilmington and Hudson still kept
up their fire, but they could not turn
| aside the terrible storm of fire and
death pouring in upon the torpedo
| boat.
The crew of the Winslow never fall
ter-d for a second. At 2:35 p. IN. a
solid shot crashed into the hull of the
| Winslow and knocked out her boiler
| In an instant she began to roll and
| drift helplessly. Then a cheer of tri-
| umph went up from the Spaniards on
| the gunboats and in the batteries, and
| again a storm of fire was opened upon
| the helpless boat.
| The Hudson, which was lying near
| by, started to the assistance of the
| Winslow. She ran alongside the tor
! pedo boat and tried to throw line to
| the imperiled crew. Up to this time,
| with the exception of the one shot
| which disabled the boiler of the Wins
low, the firing of the Spanish gunboats
| had been wild, but as the Winslow lay
| rolling in the water, the range grew
| closer and shells began to explode all
| about her.
1t was difficult for the Hudson to
| get near enough to throw line to the
| Winslo.v's crew, so terrible was the fire.
| 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." shouted Bagley, 40 he
! looked toward the Hudson and called
for a line The line was thrown, and
| at the same instant shell burst in
the midst of the group of men on board
| the Winslow.
Bagley was instantly killed and a
few others dropped about him. Hall
dozen more fell groaning on the
blood stained deck. One of the dead
| men pitched headlong over the side OF
the boat. but his feet caught in the
iron rail and he was hauled back.
The torpedo boat, disabled and help.
| less. rolled and swayed under the fury
| of the fire from the Spanish gunboats.
When the shell burst in the group on
| board the Winslow another shout OF
triumph went up from the Spanish
boats and batteries, and again heavy
fire was opened on the torpedo boat.
Finally, the Hudson got line on
board the Winslow, and was towing
her out of the deadly range, when the
line parted and again both boats were
at the mercy of the Spanish fire.
At $3.50 p. nj. the Hudson managed to
get another line on the deck of the
Winslow, but there were only threa
men left at that time to make it fast.
The line was finally secured and the
Winslow was towed up to Hedras
! island, where she was anchored, with
| her dead and wounded on her decks.
| There some men from the hudson went
| on board the Winslow and took the
most seriously wounded men Off Three
| who were taken on board the guuboat
Machias died shortly after.
| Lieut.. BernadOu, with the surgeon
| bending over him, told'the story of the
| battle. He said 1--WE went under
full speed to attack the Spanish boats
in the harbor and you know the result.
| We went under orders from the com
mander of the Wilmington. Our boat
is badly damaged, but she will be
brought here for repairs and think
she will be ready for service again in
two weeks"
The American boats made furious
havoc with Cardenas harbor and town.
The captain of the Hudson said: Il
know we destroyed large part of
their town near the wharves, burned
one of their gunboats and | think de-
stroyed two torpedo boat destroyers."
| Has Sobered the Hotheads.