The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-06-01
OR SUBJECT FOR THE BEST OF
PAINTERS
BRAVE WORK IN FACE0F DEATH
Shows the Stuff of Which Uncle Sans
Navy Is Made, Though Not
Veterans
associated Press Special Wire

passed, somebody will tell the true story
Of the cutting Of the cable at Cienfuegos.
And when that story is told, people will
understand more clearly than they under
stand today what sort of stuff Uncle Sans
navy is made of. 1t was a theme for Victor
Hugo, or a picture for MISSIONER, that
three hours of heroism, determination and
death in the bay of Cienfuegos that bright
May morning. The men knew that death
awaited them. They knew when the small
boats were lowered from the ships and they
pulled toward the shore that while they
worked a thousand Spaniards were con-
cealed in the tall grass and underbrush on
the shore awaiting to shower bullets upon
them. The lookouts from the masts knew
this. The officers knew 1t, the men knew
1t, but the order to cut the cable had been
given and the commander was obeyed.
Small sections Of the cable which these
brave seamen cut that morning are much
sought for souvenirs at the Key West hotel
since the warships brought back the dead
and wounded after the work was done.
Lieut.. winslow. of the Nashville. who was
In command Of the expedition, came into
the hotel last evening and was soon sur
rounded by a group of friends eager to
ucdI lie Stoky VI tli0 oildA III WuiSh A0 W as
the principal figure. He had been wounded
In the left hand and his arm was yet in
the sling. He was not eager to talk of the
matter. but little by little the details were
drawn out, and this is the story about as
he told 1t.
The Marbehead, Nashville and Window
were detailed to do the perilous work. The
town of Cienfuegos is situated some dis
lance back from the sea in a harbor which
winds and twists about between high hills
completely obscuring 1t from ships stand
Ing out at sea. Near the mouth of the har-
Dor, the land Is low for some distance back
from the coast and then there Is sud-
den rise. sharp bluff towering up and COW
cred with trees. The low land is covered
with tall grass and underbrush. The ca
BILE house is located within a few feet of
the water. Not far from this on one side
was a light house and on the other an old
block house. or lookout, such as the Span
ish in former years established along the
coast They were built for the purpose Of
intercepting flibustering expeditions.
When daylight came the three warships
were in position a short distance out from
fhe shore. 1t was soon discovered that the
epaniards were expecting and evidently
knew the mission Of the ships. Rifle pits
were plainly distinguished, at the very
waters edge and commanding the point
where the cable was supposed to be and
where the Americans would have to go
in their small boats. Rapid-fire guns and
small cannon could be seen. The polished
steel and brassa Of the guns glistened In
the sunlight Squares of infantry swarmet
like insects upon the shore. Groups Of cav
airy were galloping here and there and con-
stantly racing up and down dusty white
patch that led from the shore to the side
Of the bluff and the hill top.
The little flotilla that did the hazardous
work consisted of two small launches, two
steam launches and half dozen ordinary
rowboats. The launches were armed with
machine guns and were designed to do
what they could in protecting the men in
the small boats as they worked and tow
them back to the ships in case the men
should be so badly disabled as to be unable
to use the oars. With steady nerves and
strong arms the sailors pulled close to the
shore cable house. They went until they
could see the faces of the Spanish soldiers
peering out from behind the buildings and
out of the rifle pits. They knew 1t was
OILY u uldLlcT u ullHul6S WuSu lEc WOulu
be opened upon them, but the regular
swing of the oars did not falter. At last
q point within 100 feet of the cable house
was reached. They were within two hum
bred feet of the rifle pits. where the Span
Aards were lying ready to open fire. upon
the boats. Lieutenant Winslow stood up
In the boat and gave the command to throw
out the anchor and begin graphing for
the cable. The water was clear as glass.
The morning sunlight penetrated 1t, and
every object upon the bottom was clearly
seen. Calmly as If trolling for fish, the men
bent over the boats and began to work
with the graphing hooks. All this time
the men on the Nashville, Marblehead and
Window stood at their guns ready to rain
shot and shell upon the shore the moment
. puff of smoke was seen to come from
the rife pits The men in the boats worked
on steadily and in silence. At last one of
the graphing hooks caught something and
the arms of two strong sailors soon brought
the cable into view. Then came the first
shot. 1t was just flash, sharp snap, a
singing over the heads of the sailors and a
splash in the water beyond. There was
no white puff from the depot The Span
iards were using smokeless powder. 1t was
the signal of the. opening of deadly fire
upon the men in the boats. 1t was prompt
ly answered by the guns on the ships out
In the bay. A hurricane of shells shrieked
and Kissed above the heads of the sailors
in the boats and tore to fragments the
earth where the Spaniards were crouch
ing and hiding. Again and again the guns
roared from the ships. Again and again
the great clouds of dust and debris flew
skyward on the shore. Another mighty
crash from the Nashville and the cable
house flew into the air, torn into number
less fragments. Another crash from the
Marblehead and the blockhouse was In
ruins. Then this iron storm from the sea
swung around and swept the hillside, 1t
shattered the rocks and trees. 1t ploughed
great burrows In the soft sand. 1t drove
. throng Of panic-stricken men scurryine
TO shelter.
Then it lowered again, like the rays of the
mighty searchlIght, and raked and rid
died the rife pits What workmanship.
The terrible fire pouring in upon the riffs
rsts passed only few feet above the sail.