Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-17
SANTIAGO FoRTIFICATIONs POUND
ED FOR THE THIRD TINE.
BATTERIES BADLY WRECKEI
Spanish Firing Passionate Hut Inn
potent-The Nesuvius Given An
Spanish Torpedo-Bonts.

rics at Santiago de Cuba for the third
time at daylight this morning. For hours
the ships pounded the batteries at the
right and left Of the entrance, only
sparing Ell Moro, where Lieutenant Hob
son and his companions Of the Merrimac
are imprisoned.
The western batteries, against which
the main assault was directed. were bad
ly wrecked. one was utterly destroyed
In others many guns were dismounted
At first the Spaniards replied passionate
ly and wildly, but impotently, then most
of the guns were deserted. Not a ship
was struck nor man injured on the
American side. 1t is believed that the
enemy's loss of life was heavy.
THE VEsUYIUS AGAIN.
As a preliminary to the hammering
given the batteries, the dynamite cruiser
Vesuvius last night was given another
chance. Three 25O-pound charges of gun
cotton were sent over the fortihcations at
the entrance. The design was to drop
them in the bay around the angle back
of the eminence on which Ell MORO is
situated, where it was known that the
Spanish torpedo o-boat-destroyers were
lying. Two charges went through, as no
reports were heard-a popularity Of the
explosion os gun-cotton in water. Whe-
ther the destroyers were demolished is not
known, but the destructive area of gun
cotton is large, and it would not be
surprising IL ii Is subsequently ascer-
tained that one or both were destroyed.
The third charge exploited with terrific
violence on Cayo Smith From where the
fleet lay, the entrance of the harbOr look
ed in the black night like a door opening
into the livid fire of Titanic furnace. A
crater big enough to hold a church was
blown out of the side of Cayo Smith, and
was clearly seen from the ships this
morning.
COFFEE AT $50 A. NJ.
Admiral Sampson issued the orders for
the bombardment last night. Coffee was
served to the men at half-past this
morning. and with the first blush of dawn
they were called quietly TO quarters The
ships steamed in fve-knot speed to a 5000
yard range, when they closed up broad
side on. until a distance of three cable
lengths separated them They were
strung out in the form of a crescent, the
heavy fighting ships i'm the centre, the
flagship on the right flank. and the Mas
sachusetts on the left hank. The line re-
mained stationary throughout the bonn
bardment The Vixen and Scorpion took
up positions on opposite hanks, close in
shore. for the purpose Of enilading any
infantry that might fire upon the ships.
THE BALL OPENED.
When the ships got in position it was
still 20 dark fDr any firing. The admiral
signalled the ships not to fire until the
mUzzles Of the enemy's guns In the en-
brasures could be seen by the gun-cap-
tains Fifteen minutes later at SIS A
NJ, the New York opened with broad
side from her main battery at the works
on the east of the entrance 70 the harbor
All the ships followed I'm red streaks Of
fame. The fleet, enveloped in smoke,
pelted the hills and kicked up dirt and
masonry. 1t was a magnificent sight
from where the Dauntless lay.
Though the gun-captains had been
cautioned not to waste ammunition, but
10 IRE with deiDeration, the fire was 50
rapid that there was an almost contin-
uous report. a strong land-breeze off the
shore carried the smoke OF the ships
seaward, while ii let down a thick cur
tain in front of the Spanish gunners.
SPANISH FIRE CRAZY.
The Dons responded splritedly at first
but their tTenzied, half-crazed fire could
not match the cool nerve, trained eyes
and skilled gunnery of the American sail
ors Our fire was much more effective
than I'm preceding bOmbardments. The
AdmiraPs ordnance expert had gwen eX-
plicit directions to reduce the powder
charges. and TO elevate the guns so as
10 shorten the trajectory and thus TO 81
cure a plunging fire. AS the shells in the
preceding bombardments dropped with
the almost straight trajectory of projec-
tiles with full charges, il was almost I'M
possible TO plant them. They would shoot
into the air, encircling the batteries
owing to the high elevation and fall far
over the fortifications.
The effect OF the reduced charges was
marvellous.
TERRIBLE HAVOC.
In fifteen minutes one western battery
was completely wrecked. The M2ssa-
chusetts tore a gaping hole in the en-
placement with a 1,O00-pound projectile,
and the Texas dropped a shell into the
powder magazine. The explosion wrought
terrible havoc. The frame was lifted,
the sides were blown out, and shower
of debris flew in every direction. One
timber. carried out OF the side of the
battery went tumbling down the hill.
The loss of life must have been great.
The batteries on the east Of Morro
were harder TO get at, but the New Or
leans crossed the bows of the New York
70 within 800 yards Of the shore and
plaved a tattoo with her long, S-inch
rifles. hitting them repeatedly; striking
gun sauarely muzzle-on, Hitting II on
its trunnions, and sending 1t in somer-
saiIlts high in the air.
SPANISH GUNS sILENCED.
Several times Admiral Sampson sig
nailed the ships temporarily TO cease
firing. IN order 10 allow the smoke TO
clear from the batteries. When the or
der came at $50 to cease firing every
e,,n of the enemy had been silenced for
Ten minutes But at the ships drew OFF
son- of the Spanish courage returned,
and a half-dozen shots were hred spite
e,,Iy at the Massachusetts and Oregon,
falling in their wakes.
Tbyouahout the bombardment the dyna-
nite cruiser Vesuvius and the Porter, by
direction of the Admiral, lay outside OF
the right flank. The steam launch or the
1agship scurried among the ships carry
ing messages -, ..,o..., -.
roulti-eolored flags foated from the New
York. generally complimentihg the shlps,
and especially commencing the work OF
the Texas and the New Orleans. The
men of the New Orleans raised cheer
which was passed quickly on from ship
TO ship. until every jackie In the feet was
bowling himself hoarse.
DEATH AND DESTRUCTION.
The destruction and death in the west
arm batteries must have been appalling.
Many of the guns had been mounted
during the last two days From this 1t Is
inferred that Admiral cervera has given
49,, al hona OF, eXtricating himself from