The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-02
And Results in Silencing of the
Spanish Guns
Which Were Evidently Manned
by CerVera's Men.
THE ARTILLERY LOSS
In the Fight Was Two Killed
Four Wounded.
Rough Riders Have Ten Wound
ed-Cuban Loss 20.

New York, July "A special dispatch
to the Evening World. dated Ell Paso,
Cuba. near Santiago. noon. by way of
Playa del Este, July 1, says:
The first artillery fight of the sam
paign has just been ended by the
silencing of a Spanish battery
The wounded are still being picked up
as this dispatch is hurried away.
General Lawton's division bivouackad
near Ell Caney last night without fires.
At o'clock this morning there was
a sullen boom. It was the first shot
from Capron's battery fired to avenge
the killing of his son. Promptly the
Spanish began to answer the challenge
from their forts and trenches. At 7:15
a. m. Crimes battery opened on the
Spanish troops to the right of the San
Juan block house.
The common powder used by troops
smoked and was fine target for the
Spanish field battery which probably
was served by Admiral Cervera's men,
judging by the accuracy of the aim.
While the smoke gave the enemy our
range. Grimes could not locate the
-enemy's guns, which used smokeIess
powder, except approximately. But
satisfied as to the Spanish position, our
men worked like mad
The Spanish fire gradually slackened
and in less than an hour it ceased alto
gether.
Battery A of the Second artillery
deserves great credit for the victory,
for it was case of blindness against
sight.
The battery loss, the officers state.
was as follows:
Killed.
UNDERWOOD, private.
HELM private.
wounded.
Heary, George c., First regiment.
Veite, sergeant.
Cornford, sergeant.
Keene, corporal.
The battery was supported by the
rough riders, about 100 Cubans with a
Hotchkiss gun, a detachment OF the
Tenth cavalry and squad from COM
pany G, of the Second cavalry.
Most of the Spanish shells flew low
over the crest Of the battery's position
and exploded.
Through them the rough riders had
about ten wounded, among them r.
Chaplain, whose left elbow was
smashed.
The Cuban leader, Gonzales, reports
that the Cubans lost 20 killed and
wounded.
The details of Gen. Lawton's losses
have not arrived. Heavy voIley firing
has been heard for three hours. It
seems to indicate strong American
advance.
There is no artillery firing from Ell
Caney and only scattering shots came
from San Juan, which has slope of Is
feet in the hundred.
Both divisions are really in battle.
The day is clear and a moderate
breeze is blowing, but there is a strong
heat. The troops are in good ccndi-
Captain Grimes and Corporal Nc
Lean were overcome by the heat but are
recovering.
The battery shot 100 rounds, two
thirds shell and the balance shrapnel.
The War Balloons.
nal corps for the purpose of obtaining
accurate information of the location Of
the enemy and the character of their
defenceS proved of ineStimable service
in the enga cement. The balloon fioated
just over the tree tops and was easily
guided along three miles of the road
toward the lines of the enemy. When
ever it halted for the purpose OF tax
ing a photograph of the Notifications
below, the Spaniards seized the Oc-
casiOn for taking pot shots at the mid
air monster At one time the big
balloon hung over San Juan, not over
500 yards from the enemy and for five
minutes the Spaniards below tried in
vain to puncture it.
In the fighting at San Juan, a span
ish shell two and half inches in di-
ameter burst in the midst of Captain
Purifiers battery in the First artillery,
wounding several.
RoOSeVelt'S rough riders were also in
this fight and bore themselves with as
much credit as in last Fridays battle
in the bush.
Rough Riders Wounded.
Several of the rough riders were
wounded; among them the following:
Devore, S. sergeant, troop K.
Armstrong, w. A, corporal, troop j.
McSparron, corporal, troop G.
Ash, Alvin c., private, troop G.
Freeman, w, private, troop F.
Long, Benjamin A, private, troop K
Mitchell, Mason, private, troop K.
Horton. V. D, corporal, troop Third
u. S. cavalry, was also wounded.
Topeka Boys at Santiago.