The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-05-18
THE WAR WITH SPAIN.
Synopsis of the Course of Events-Tbe
Wheat Separated from the Chaff.

Cuba go on, but the embarkation so often
advertised still awaits the clearing OF the
seas Of the Spanish warships by the squad
rons under Admiral Sampson and Commo-
dore Schley. When it was reported, on
apparently trustworthy information, on
Tuesday, that the Cape Verde feet had re-
turned to Cadiz,' it was thought that the
movement OF troops to Cuba would be be-
gun. Admiral SIMPSONS feet OF fighting
ships had sailed from Key West but their
destination was not publicly known.
A fierce engagement was fought at Carde-
mas on Wednesday, May II. On Cardenas
bay there have been three Spanish gun
boats. On Sunday, May 8, the torpedo boat,
Winslow, was ordered to steam into the
harbor and entice the gunboats within reach
of the Machias. The Winslow danced into
the harbor through water too shallow for
the Machas and aroused one OF the gun
boats, which. with her two companions, fol-
lowed the Winslow in her retreat. The
Machias hit one Of the Spaniards with six
pound shot and the Winslow peppered
them with her lighter guns. The Spanisrds
beat hasty retreat This encounter sharp
OhOu buO dppOIlJO VI 1uo AuOllOdub' LhOy
wanted to capture or destroy those gun
boats. Accordingly, on Wednesday, May
IL, the Machias, the Wilmington and the
Hudson steamed up the bay, and when they
came within about mile and half OF the
city one OF the gunboats was discovered
lying along side the wharf among other
shipping. The Winslow was ordered to
run in and cut out the gunboat while her
associates following would protect her with
their heavier guns. No shore batteries were
known to exist and there was no thought
OF danger. On jutting point a masked
battery opened on the Winslow and shot
tore through her hull wrecking her steer
ing gear. The gunboat had lured the Wins
low into trap and the fierce little fighter
was caught. A shot pierced one Of her
boilers and the gallant little craft was ut
terly disabled, right under the guns and in
close range Of the battery. A shell burst
near midships. Up to this time no one had
been killed, though the vessel had been
riddled through and through. Ensign
Worth Bsgley was in the act of giving an
order to the engineer to move the boat and
spoil the enemy's range. Near him were
number Of his men. The exploding she'll
killed instantly Ensign Bagley and four of
the crew. The commander, Lieut.. Berna-
dou, had been severely wounded, but bind
ing up his injury he remained at his post.
Meantime the Newport, commanded by
Lieut.. Newcomb, had been making heroic
efforts to get line to the Winslow to tow
her out Of danger. The Hudson entered
the thick Of the fire, picked up the Winslow
and bore her of with her colors flying
and her guns still putting defiance to her
assailants. The Hudson. during the work
of rescne, constantly fought the Spanisrds
with all her guns. She was repeatedly hit
but none OF her crew was killed. The casu-
alties were all on the Winslow. The Will
mington and the Machias played havoc
with Cardenas and surroundings 1t is be-
lieved that the Spanish loss in killed and
wounded was very heavy.
On Thursday, May II, Admiral SIMPSONS
immediate destination was disclosed by the
report of the bombsrdment, on that day, of
Ban Juan, capital Of Porto Rico. At five
o'clock in the morning the squadron. con-
sisting of the Iowa, Indiana, New York,
Terror, Amplitude, Detroit, Montgomery
and Porter, arrived at the enhance Of the
harbor. The ships did not enter the harbor
as the channel is narrow and winding, and
there was danger Of grounding. The forti-
fications extend along the sea front for about
q mile and a half upon the north coast of
the little coral island ON which the city Is
situated, and along the west coast Of the
entrance to the bay, thus facing an attack
from the sea and the harbor. The ships
moved in an ellipse along the sea front Of
the Notifications delivering their fire as
they passed. Admiral SIMPSONS report of
the action is as follows:
est. THOMAS, May 70.
"a portion OF the squadron under my COM
mand reached San Juan this morning at
day break No armed vessels were found in
the port. AS soon as it was sufficiently light
commenced attack upon the batteries de-
Tending the city. This attack lasted about
three hours and resulted in much damage
to the batteries and incidentally to por-
ton OF the city adjacent to the batteries.
The batteries replied to our fire, without
material effect. One man was killed on
board the New York, and seven slightly
wounded in the squadron. No serious dam
age to any resulted, SAMSON"
simultaneously with the news Of the bonn
bardment Of Porto Rico, came the intell-
gence that the Cape Verde feet had turned
up at the island of Martinique. in the Wind
ward chain, some 800 miles southeast of
San Juan. The news came first via Lon
don, on the thirteenth, in despatch to
Lloyd's from st. Pierre, Martinique. The
squadron was reported to be proceeding |
westward, presumably for the Cuban coast. |
Commodore Schley's squadron at Hampton
Roads was at midnight ordered to sea and |
before sunrise was steaming southwark, |
About the same time that the London des-
patch was received came one from Captain