The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-20
FIRE OF IHE FLEET.
Terrible Havoc Wrought by
the PrOjGCtiIGS.
Flag on MORO Castle Flying at
Half Mast.

Reason Unknown and Suspicion
Aroused That IL Was Meant to
Signify the Death of HObsOn and
His Men-BraVe Spanish officer
Defies the storm of Death and
Runs Along the Parapet Sword In
Hand Urging on His Gunners-Aim
of the American Gunners Proves
superb.
Copyright. 1898. by the Associated Press.
on Board the Associated Press Dispatch
Boat Dauntless, Off Santiago de Cuba,
Saturday, June is, Noon. via Kingston,
Jamaica, Sunday, June 10, Noon.--A care
ful inspection of the fortihcations along
the crest of the hills defending Santiago
harbor since the bombardment Thursday
morning shows that the American gunners
spread wreck and ruin everywhere.
Some of the batteries were demolished
beyond repair The vultures, which cir
cled on level wings over the hills as thick
as swallows around a chimney for hours
after the firing ceased, furnished gruesome
evidence of the fatality among the Span
ish soldiers.
Hundreds of troops could be seen from
the ships digging in mounds of earth piled
up by the explosion of the projectiles from
the heavy guns for bodies while their
heads were famed by the wings Of the
black scavengers of the battlefield. There
were two spots, one on the east and the
other on the west of the larbor entrance,
which were denuded Of foliage.
The hul-tops seem literally blown away.
These mark the places where the 2OO-poun1
charges OF gun cotton blown by the We
suvius landed.
But the most ominous token of death
flew from MORO Castle. The saffron flag
of Spain was half-masted on the keep for
eeveral hours. The significance of this is
not known. It Is not customary to half
mast flags, but possibly some Spanish
leader was killed by the heavy fire OF
our guns, though some officers of the
squadron believe that the flag was halr-
masted as notification to the Americans
that Lieut.. Hobson and his brave men
were dead.
If such is the case they must have been
wantonly murdered. The Spanish might
seek to lay their death to the lombard
ment, but not a shot from the American
ships struck the fortress.
Neither Admiral Sampson nor Commo-
dore schley believe that Lieut.. Hobsoh
and his party have been killed.
We have seventeen prisoners taken at
Guantanamo, including a lieutenant. be-
sides a number in the United States for
reprisals or exchange.
There was evident Generalization among
tho Spanish troops during the lombard.
ment.
officers could be seen, with drawn
swords, driving the men to the guns, but
even then they could not be forced to
stay so long as our guns were directed at
them.
The fifteen minutes night work of the
vesuvius had shattered their nerves.
IT is believed by some that the 13-inch
projectie fired from the Texas, which was
reported to have exploded the powder
magazine in one of the western batteries,
did not fall In the battery. but went be.
yond and blew up one of the ships In the
harbor
A dramatic incident of the bombardment
was the act Of Spanish officer, who
bravely ran along the porapet under
heavy fire, encouraging his men to stand
by their guns
Shot and she'll rained about him, ana
after one terrific explosion he was seen
no mere and the parapet had disappeared.
He could not have escaped death.
From the foretop of the Brooklyn, 900
yards distant. the men in the grounds
could be noticed, but minute later dust
and flying debris would take their places
and when the smoke cleared away only
spot Of red earth could be seen--guns and
gunners mad been swept away.
It was tue most deadly and destructive
bomDardment of the war thus far.
Scarcely a shot from the big guns of the
squadron went astray. The aim of our
gunners vas superb and not only were the
coast forts annlhilated, but the batteries
on Cayo Smith, up the harbor, were de-
stroyed.
Had all the ships used smokeless pow-
der, as did the New Orleans, there would
remain no signs Of guns or fortIhcations to
Indicate that there had ever been any de-
fenses there.
There were no casualties Ia the feet. al
though the ships held a fixed position. as
If inviting the Spaniards TO fire upon them.
The half stripped ships gunners never
worked with more enthusiasm.
The v orGs OF Rear Admiral Sampson
were: First silence the batteries on the
shore ana then continue firing untn the
fortifcations are reduced"
This order was strictly obeyed. IL was
the first time that such instructions had
been given and the men responded with a
will.
In thirty-eight minutes the order was
given to cease firing and the message went
TO each ship from the admiral, "Well
done" and the officers and men turned In
for breakfast.