New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-13
FIVE KILLED IN BATTLE.
THE FIRST AMERICAN DEAD.
ENSIGN BAGLEY AND FOUR MEN PERISH
on THE WINSLOW.

ON THE WlNSLOW.
FIRED ON By MASKED BATTERY WHILE
SEEKING SPANISH GUNBoATs IN CAR
DENAs HARBoR-sPANIARDs
SUFFERED. TOO.
[BY TELEGRAPH rRInryE.l
Key West. Fla. May 12-The first American
blood shed in the war between the United States
and Spain occurred yesterday afternoon in an
engagement in the harbor o. Cardenas. where
ensign and four men lost their lives and
Lieutenant; and several men were wounded. All
on board the torpedo-boat Winslow. which
bore the brunt Of a terrific fire from a defty
rlasked battery for over three-quarters Of an
hour. The dead and wounded
DEAD
WORTH BAGT.EY. ensign.
JOHN DENFEE. fireman.
GEORGE B. MEEK fireman.
! ELIJAH r. TUNNEL. cook.
JOHN vARvERES oiler.
WOUNDED.
Lieutenant JOIN p. BERNApou, conmantsr ot The
Waslow injured in the thigh ~ flying splinter
WILLIAM PATTERSON. fireman. flesh wound in the ies
from splinter
r. E cox gunner. mate: slightly hurt by fragment Of
DANIEL MKEowN. quartermaster. slightly injured By
shell
! F. GRAY
THREE sAUCY GUNBOATs
For some time the smaller vessels engaged In
the blockade Of the northern coast OF Cuba have
been harassed by three small Spanish gunboats.
which have menaced them continually without
hazardng an engagement. The Winslow. while
patrolling the coast from her station off Matan-
zas las; Friday. forced by heavy weather to
put into the still waters Piedras Key.
twenty miles from Cardenas. to ride out storm.
Next day she noticed some men on Chalupa
Key signalling. and Lieutenant Bernadou
promptly shelled the key. causing the signal
service men to evacuate Hardly had the firing
on the key begun when the three gunboats be-
gan discharging shells the torpedo boat. Tho
shells however, went wide Of the mark. and.
though the Wnslow replied with her 1-pound-
er. both sides withdrew.
The annoyance caused by these gunboats led
Captain J. F. Merry. OF the Machias. the senior
officer of that part Of the blockading squadron
to decide to destroy or capture them. Early
yesterday afternoon when the Wnslow. the
converted revenue cutter Hudson. Lieutenant
F II. Newcomb commanding and the gunboat
Wilmington. Captain c. {. Todd, arrived off
Cardenas, Captain Merry ordered them to take
soundings Of the harbor, SO that attack
could be made.
CARDENAS HARBOR.
The harbor Of Cardenas is somewhat like Q
horseshoe in shape. with the city at the middle OF
the curve. and line of keys stretches across
III, open part Diana Key. on which there Is
lighthouse, is in the centre. The channel runs
in almost direct line from Diana Key to the
town.
As this channel was known be mined, II
was decided that another route to the inner
harbor should ne found. Accordingly, the three
American vessels began sounding along chan
mel between Romer's Key and Blanc Key both
Of which are northeast Of Diana Key. Skirting
along close to the shore the three boats found
their way into the harbor. Although the tide
was high. the Wilmington could get no closer
than 5000 yards to the town.
Only one Of the Spanish gunboats could be
seen This boat was moored at the extreme end
OF the harbor and about 200 yards from
line Of red buoys Seeing that the water
not Of sufficient depth for the Wilmington to ad-
vance further, Captain Todd stopped 5000 yards
from shore and ordered the Winslow to go in
and cut out the Spanish gunboat, the idea
being to capture her by threatening to blow her
up with torpedo.
MASKED BATTERY OPENS Up
When the Winslow had advanced to within
800 yards Of shore. masked battery, which
was concealed either in a house or behind
pile Of sand on a wharf. opened fire on her. Tns
plucky torpedo boat replied surdily with her
small guns and continued to advance
AS she swung around to move out OF range.
1O-inch shell struck her. wrecking her steam
steering gear and rendering her for the tirne
helpless. Despite this unfortunate incident tne
uttle vessel replied vigorously with her three
guns until one OF them was disabled by rag
mont Of shell. The other guns continued 10
onerate while the men who were not other"is'
engaged gathered to connect the hand-steer'ns
apparatus
=, .,a moan time another 10-inch she'll struck
The Winslow on the port side. Sreckns ner lot
v,rd boiler. to which the port engine was al
,ached and which held in reserve IN case
- accident to the aft boiler. Dense CLOUDS or
s,aou filed the compartment driving the men
n,o were at work there to seek the deck for
air.
HELPLESS UNDER FIRE.