The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-13
Water Batteries and EarthwOrlks
ment That Lasted Several Hours.
CRAFTSMANSHIP WAS GOOD
DESPITE BANKS OF THICK SMOKE
THAT HID THE FORTS FROM VIEW.
Some OF the Big Shells from the Bat
tie Ships Well Placed-NOt One Amer
lean Vessel or Man Injured.
Copyright. 1898, by the Associated Press)

Copyright. 1898, by the Associated Press)
OFF SANTIAGO DE CUBA, June 6, 2
p. M, via Kingston, Jamaica, June Ode
layed in misunderstanding fleet command
ed by Rear Admiral Sampson bombarded
and silenced the batteries at Santiago de
Cuba this morning, Not one of our ships
was hit and no casualties occurred on our
side. The enemy's fire was irregular and
badly directed. The bombardment lasted
from 7:45 a. m. until 2 p. M, and it's object
was finally accomplished. Admiral Ger
veras ships did not show themselves. FIRE.
quent pauses in the firing occurred on ac-
count of the smoke hanging over the island.
1t is believed that the enemys fortifica-
tons were seriously damaged. Admiral
Simpsons order of battle was as follows:
"U. S. Flagship New York, First Rate,
''Off Santiago de Cuba, June 5.
Preparations will be made to engage
the batteries on Monday morning, June s,
at o'clock. The men should be given their
breakfast at $50 and the division should be
ready to form al o'clock. When the prep
arations signal u.s. is made, the ships will
form south of the Moro as follows: The
western column, heading north, the Brook
Ign, Marblehead, Texas and Massachusetts.
The eastern column, heading north, , the
and Iowa. When the signal of execution,
''1S." is made, the columns will move ahead;
''The commander of each division will
bring his division into positions marked
on the accompanying drawing, forming on
the circles drawn at 5000 yards from the
western and eastern batteries one column
heading in a northweSterly and the other
in a northeasterly direction. This will be
best accomplished by changing the direction
northeastward and the westerly column to
the northwestward. running in these direc-
tons until south of the indicated positions;
then heading all vessels of the division
north and simultaneously turning again
into. the column when the distance of 5000
yards is reached. Vessels will be 400 yards
apart and will retain their positions, the
westerly column using the starboard bat
terry and the easterly column the port bat
teries.
ION the signal from the commander-in
chief, both co umns will open fire, or f1re
Bearings will be taken carefully and dis
tances obtained with all practicable accu-
racy. The Dolphin will take position to
the eastward and Suwanee and Vixen to
the westward, as shown on the plan, for
the purpose of looking after any musketry
fire from the shore, The fire will be DELHI
crate and continued until the batteries are
''iei'''o - . ~ wv. T. sAMPsoN,
Rear Admiral U. S. N.
"Commanderin-C U. S. NJ, Atlantic
Station"
OPENING OF THE BATTLE.
This order was carried out in most of it's
details. The crew on the New York went to
general quarters at GAS. There was some
delay in getting the ships into position A
light breeze was blowing and the sky was
murky The New York steamed at the head
of the easterly column. At 1920, while sig
mailing to the ships to close up was in
progress, Admiral Sampson, leaning over
the rail of the forward bridge, asked Lieu
tenant Marble, in charge of the forward
eight-inch turret what he could see from
the turret's sight. The lieutenant replied:
II see yellow earth, but 1 cannot see the
guns yet SIR" The New York went ahead
slowly, followed closely by the Yankee New
Orleans, Iowa and Oregon some ways be-
hind in a westerly direction. A small bat
terry two miles west of Moro Castle, which
the New York was rapidly approaching
seemed to be firing with smokeless powder.
The Dolphin was signaled to come closer
and attend to this.
BY 1888 number of guns could be seen
sticking out over the yellow emplacements
on the eastern battery, which is on the ridge
of hill quarter of mile from Moro.
The ships went right half-turn until the
New York's port battery was brought to
bear on these emplacements. At 7:45 the
signal to commence firing was hoisted and
few seconds later the New York's big
guns roared out. On her starboard quarter
the Yankee, with the naval reserve crew,
and the New Orleans followed suit. The
firing rapid and fairly good. Great dust
clouds flew up on the hillsides. The Oregon
and Iowa were still rather far out, while the
New York was close in shore. firing at a
four-thousand-yard range. The westerly
column was almost out of sight, and ap-
parently out of position but it was firing
rapidly at the western batteries. Smoke be-
gan to hang over the shore and several
times the firing was ordered to stop until
the smoke cleared away. The men waited
for the shock of the enemy's Shells but
they were seldom heard. Out where the
Iowa lay rising jets of water occasionally
rected.
On the starboard bow of the New York
was small railroad trestle close to a little
battery. freight train was seen going in
the direction of Santiago de Cuba. When it
came to the eastern end of the trestle it
stopped, as if afraid to cross. Then with
smoke pouring from the engine it flew
across the trestle and was lost to sight
behind cliff before shot could reach it.
At s o'clock rain commenced to fall. BY
this time MORO hill, which is $50 feet high.
was being peppered badly from the waters
edge to where the lighthouse stands at the
top. Great clouds of smoke and dust arose
continually, and when shots hit the rocks
sparks flew back several hundred feet into
the sea. The ran came down heavily at
S:1l. and the smoke was so thick that ii was
impossible to tell the effect of the Shells
and a general signal to cease firing was
hoisted. BY this time the enemy was al
most silenced. A few minutes later with
more elaboration, the attack was recon-
mehced- Commodore Schley's division at
this time and until the end of bombardment
could only be seen family, while clouds
rising on the western arm of the harbor
was the only sign that there was another
attacking force besides the easterly column
THREE GUNS DISCOUNTED.
The New York steamed closer until she
was 1000 yards east of the batteries and a
mile from the shore. In this position most
effective work was done, three guns on the
easterly battery being dismounted The
naval reserves on the Yankee cheered
vocifsrousy every few minutes as shots
were seen to land. The officers on deck
were at this stage of the engagement rugged
out In their southwesters and oilskins. The
admiral went below. reappeared in black OIL
skins and tramped the forward bridge.