Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-05
WASWITH THEGUSSIE
MIR. OWENS, OF FULTON, WRITES
HOME HIS EXPERIENCES.
TWO BATTLES WITH SPANIARDS.
Several of the Dons known to Have
Been KiIIed-Fort at Port Cabanas
Knocked Out of Shape--Mr. O'Dwyer
on the war-Fulton Notes.

Mr.. George Owens who Is engaged on
the ships in Cuban waters. writes friend
In Fulton an entertaining account Of his
experiences while his ship was engaged
in active naval warfare. He begins by
saying that he is having good time kill
ing Spaniards for "pastime." he says he
left Key West on May 10th and has been
knocking around Bahia Honda, Cuba, ever
since. They left Key West in company
board $50 United States regulars. and
tried to land them, but that 500 Spanish
soldiers were In ambush on shore. They.
however, landed about twenty men in a
small boat, who were fired on by the
Spaniards, wounding a newspaper CORE
spondent in the wrist. The regulars re-
turned the fire. and succeeded in killing
three soldiers and one officer. The Span
iards kept quiet then for awhile until the
Americans landed ten more men, when
the Spaniards again fired on them, but
without effect. The captain then shelled
among them, creating terrible havoc, and
the loss, though not known, must have
been great. mo one on the ship was
hurt," continued Mr. Owens. but the
bullets were whistling around our heads
like hailstones. We afterwards took he
troops aboard the transport and went TO
Port Cabanas. We were passing that point
when fired on by battery located in the
marsh. We hauled-to and let them have
1t from our thirteen guns or more Bat
teries then opened from distant points on
the hill above us, and we knocked the
fort out OF shape in minutes. Shells were
dropping all around US in the water and
tearing through our riggings One shot
passed over the bridge within 3 feet Of
the captains head All that remained Of
the forts was a pile of smoking ruins. On
the 18th another land battery was de-
molished." Mr.. Owens says that a gum
boat and torpedo-bOat are in Matanzas
harbor, but the Americans cannot bait
them out, and on account of the mines
VIII not venture in after them. Mr.. Owens
concludes by saying that the men aboard
the newspaper-boats are very obliging.
Mr.. oDWYER's EXPERIENCE.
a letter received this week from Mr..
william ODwyer. whose position is that
OF Water-tender aboard the flagship New
YORK, in Cuban waters, gives a graphic
and other war events that are so interest
ing TO the men who make up the compile
ment Of the feet. He says he enjoys the
excitement attending naval battles; is
ready to give up his life in defence Of his
country, and is spelling for an engage
ment with the Spanish fleet Such a
meeting, he says, Will convince the world
That the Spanish have nothing but sub
marine-boats left, and the work Of bring
ing them 10 the surface can only be ac-
complished by divers. In his feet are quite
a number of young F'ultonites-namely,
Messrs. Stephen Mcmahon and Dan Ro-
Ian, on the monitor Amphitrite; A. Nor
gan and W. Martin, on the New York;
Andrew Slidders, on the torpedo-boat Por-
ter; c. Cogbill. on the Castine, and also
Joseph Fernandez. Fulton IS well repre-
sented, says Mr.. O'Dwyer, and all are
anxious for an engagement, and pre-
pared for the worst. He concludes by
saying that II is a hot time during an
engagement and no one knows it's in
tensity unless they are engaged them
selves, but as it is for a good cause 1
enjoy its severity"
STRUCK BY A ROCK.
Soma pprcOD committed a., oot yXro1n,-