The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-05-19
the Hudson still kept up their fire, but
they could not turn a.ide the terrible storm
of fire and death pouring in upon the tor
nedn hoat
Disabled.


they could not turn a.ide the terrible storm
of fire and death pouring in upon the tor
pedo boat.
The crew of the Winslow, however, never
faltered for second. At 235 p. m. solid
shot crashed into the hull of the Winslow
and knocked out her boiler. In an instant
she began to roll and drift helplessly.
Then there was a moment OF awful sus-
pense. A fierce cheer of Triumph went up
from the spanards on the gunboats and
in the batteries and again storm OF fire
was opened UP on the helpless boat.
The gunboat Hudson, which was lying
near by, started to the assistance of the
Winslow. She ran alongside the torpedo
boat and tried to throw a line to the I'm
periled crew.
Up to this time, with the exception of
the one shot which disabled the boiler of
the Winslow, the firing of the Spanish gun
boats had been wild, but as the Winslow
lay rolling in the water the range grew
closer and shells began to explode all about
her.
Hudson to the Rescue.
It was difficult for the Hudson to get near
enough to throw a line to the Winslows
crew. so terrible was the fire all about her.
Finally, after about 20 minutes. the Hud-
son approached near enough to throw
line.
Ensign Bagley and six men, were standing
In a group on the deck Of the Winslow.
"Heave her! Heave her!" shouted Bag
ley. as he looked towards the commander
of the Hudson and called for line.
Don't miss It," shouted an officer from
the Hudson, and, with q smile, Bagley
called back: Let her come. It's getting
too hot here for comfort
The line was thrown and about the same
instant shell burst in the very midst of
nf m
BaEley Instantly Killed.
Bagley was instantly killed and a few
others dropped about him. Half dozen
more fell grooming on the blood-stained
deck. One Of the dead men pitched head
hong over the side of the boat. but his
feet caught In the iron rail and he was
hauled back.
Bagley lay stretched on the deck with his
face completely torn away and the upper
part of his body shattered.
A Terrible Moment.
The torpedo boat, disabled and helpless.
rolled and swayed under the fury of the fire
from the Spanish gunboats.
When the shell burst in the group on
board the Winslow another wild shout Of
triumph went up from the Spanish boats
and batteries and again a heavy fire was
opened on the torpedo boat.
Finally the Hudson succeeded In getting
q line on board the Winslow. and was tow
ing her out of the deadly range when the
line parted and again both boats were at
the mercy of the Spanish fire.
At $3.50 p. m. the Hudson managed to get
another line on the deck of the Winslow,
but there were only three men left at that
time to make it fast.
The line was finally secured and the
Winslow was towed up to Pedras island
where she was anchored. with the dead and
wounded on her decks. There some men
from the Hudson went on board the Wins
low and took the most seriously wounded
men off. Three who were taken on board
the gunboat Machias died shortly after
ward.
Much Damage mt Cardenas.
It Is known that the American boats
made furious havoc with Cardenas harbor
and town. The captain Of the Hudson said:
II know we destroyed large part Of
their town near the wharves, burned one
of their gunboats, and I think destroyed
two Of her torpedo destroyers. We were In
vortex Of shot, shell and smoke, and
could not tell accurately; but we saw one
of their boats in fire and sinking. soon
after the action began. Then large
building near the wharf, think the bar
racks, took fire, and many other buildings
were soon burning. The Spanish had
masked batteries on all sides Of US, hidden
in bushes and behind houses. They set a
trap for us. AS soon as we got within range
of their batteries they would move them.
I think their guns were field pieces. Our
large boats could not get into the harbor to
help us on account OF the shallow water. .