The evening times., 1899-05-11
FIRST ANNIVERSARY
OF BAGIIHY'S IL DEATH
One Year Sinca the Winslow's
Memorable Engagement.
Fight of the Brave Crew Oft Car
denas, Cuba.
Young Ensign . Hero of the
Spanish War.

1t was year ago today that the torpe-
do boat Winslow was disabled by the fire
| OF Spanish batteries at Cardenas, Cuba,
and the following Americans were killed:
Ensign Worth Bagley, Oiler John Var
| veres, Fireman J. Deneefe. Fireman J. v.
Meek. and Cabin Cook Josiah Tunell. The
following were wounded: Lieut.. J. B. Ber-
nadou, commanding; Quartermaster Dam
iel McKeown, and Gunner William Patter-
son.
Commander Merry, of the Machias. had
| conceived plan to attack and cut out
three small Spanish gunboats that had
| found shelter inside the Bay of Cardenas.
At that time there was no ship suitable
for this service at that point along the
blockade. On the morning of May IL, 1898.
the Wilmington, under command of Com
| mander Todd, came up OF Cardenas and
| relieved the Machias. In company with
the Wilmington was the torpedo boat
Winslow, Lieutenant Bernadou command
ing. Commanders Merry and Todd con-
ferred on the subject Of capturing or de-
stroying the Spanish craft. The Machias,
Wilmington, Hudson, and Winslow pro-
ceeded toward the coast as near as OBJ
structions would allow. The first-named
ship took up position 1900 yards northeast
of Diana Cay. The Wilmington, Hudson.
and Winslow entered the inner harbor, be-
tween Romero and Blanco Cay. where 1t
was believed there were no mines. They
were seen steaming into Cardenas Bay.
The Machias opened fire on the Diana Cay
signal station and a launch under Ensign
Willard was sent to take possession OF II.
to look for wires and explode the mines
that were thought to be in the bay. The
station was destroyed and the American
flag raised but nothing to indicate the
presence of mines was discovered.
II was not possible for the Wilmington
to approach nearer than two thousand
yards from the wharves of the city OF
Cardenas, owing to the shallowness OF the
water. The gunboats could not be made
out from the Wilmington and the Winslow
was directed to go closer in to see If she
could determine where they were lying.
She had proceeded probably seven or eight
hundred yards inside the Wilmington.
when a gun was fired from on shore, ap-
parently, it is said. from the bow of
moored gunboat. The fire was Immediately
returned from the Wilmington and the
Winslow. the Hudson not being within
range. There was other gun fire from On
shore, but the location OF the pieces could
not be determined accurately. II was be-
lieved. however, that there was a battery
concealed behind some of the shipping ly-
ing along the water front. After rapid
exchange of shots. the Winslow was dis
abled, her steering-gea being deranged.
In the meantime the Hudson had come up
and had opened fire and responded to the
Winslow's signal that she wanted to be
towed out. The torpedo boat seems to
have been the main target at which the
enemy fired. for she was struck several
times. One engine was disabled, her
steering gear was shot away and one
boiler wrecked. Ensign Worth Bagley
was mortally wounded and died before he
could be taken on board the Wilmington.
Fireman Meek died while being transfer
red to the Wilmington and Josiah Tunell
died on board that ship.
Lieutenant Bernadou. in his official re-
port Of the engagement, says that when
the Winslow was l,500 yards from the en-
emy the first gun was fired from the bow
of Spanish gunboat, marked by clear.
white puff of smoke. This shot. which
passed over the torpedo boat, was at once
replied to by that boat and was the sig
nal for the commencement from the beach
Of a rapidly sustained fire, characterized
by an absence OF smoke. A haze collected
on shore and it was impossible to locate
the position Of the battery. At this time
the wind was blowing from the ships to-
ward the shore. The first shot that
pierced the Winslow rendered her steam
and hand steering gear imperative and
damaged them beyond repair. Efforts to
work the hand-steering gear from aft were
frustrated by the wrecking OF that mech
anism and the rupture of both wheel ropes;
while relieving tackles failed to operate the
rudder. For short time the vessel was
held in position by the use OF her pro-
pellers. She then swung broadside to the
enemy. shot pierced her engine room,
rendering one engine imperative. Her one
FOUNDER guns continued firing. and the
craft was kept In motion to reduce her
chances of being hit. Under the heavy
fire of the Wilmington, the fire of the en-
emy slackened. The Spanish gunboat was
silenced and put out Of action early in
the engagement. The Winslow being dis
abled, called for tow from the Hudson.
That ship calamity approached and line
was passed to her.
Mechanical communication between the
deck and the engine room being impossible.
Ensign Bagley was compelled to
concentrate his attention on the
movement of the ship. watching
the vessel SO as to keep her cut
Of the line of fire of the Wilmington. and
to direct the movements Of the man at the
reversing gear. This made it necessary
for the ensign to take repeated short trips
IEOm tue ueCh u lHe IOOt VI tHc eHSlue
room ladder. At the moment of being on
deck he stood abreast of the starboard
gun, close to a group of men who had been
stationed below, but who had been sent
on deck because Of the arrangement of
the machinery. shell from the enemy
struck a hose-reel on deck, exploded. and
killed Bagley and four of the crew. This
occurred at the end of the action. The
dead and injured were taken to Key West
by the Hudson.
In this engagement the Hudson. which
had been a revenue cutter and which at
the outbreak of the war was transferred
to the Navy Department by the Treasury,
was under command of Lieut. Frank H.
Newcomb, of the Revenue Cutter Service.
The crew of this craft covered itself with
glory. Lieutenant Newcomb, in his report.
said:
Each and every member of the crew.
from the boatswain down to Moses Jones.
the colored boy, who attached himself to
the after gun and never failed to have a
shell ready when 1t was needed, did his
whole duty cheerfully and without the
least hesitation. This appears the more re-
markable In view Of the fact that none of
them had ever been under fire before. and
that the guns were without protection or
shelter Of any kind
Ensign Bagley was buried at Raleigh. N.
c., and in that city a handsome monu-
ment has been erected to his memory.
Child ManEled by a Torpedo.