The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, June 9, 1898, Page 1

5 VOLUME LXXXIV.—NO. 9. SAN FRANCISCO, THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 1898. ‘U UE lWdKEen rrom the Library. tee e Call PRICE FIVE CENTS. CAIMANERA'S FORTIFICATIONS SHELLED BY THE AMERICANS DESTRUCTION OF THE SPANISH TORPEDO-BOAT DESTROYER TERROR BY THE OREGON. -ONE DEA SHOT DLY FROM THE OREGON New Glory Gained in the Sinking of the Terror. federate Merrimac $0060000000000000 Not a sign of the Spanish boat or the sixty men comprising her crew has been seen since the 13-inch shell fired by the battleship Oregon struck her amidships. This shot made an Ameri- can victory of an exciting hour’s work and thwarted the first attempt of the Spanish to send reinforcements to Ad- miral Cervera. The Terror succeeded In getting with- in a mile of the entrance to Santiago harbor, but the vigilance of the officers on bold dash to join Cervera’s fleet. Up to the hour when I left the American fleet Rear Admiral Sampson had been unable to determine definitely the iden- tity of the vessel sunk by the Oregon's 1000-pound she There is little ques- tion, however, that she was the de- stroyer Terror. The vessel which the Oregon sunk was aproaching Santiago harbor from the eastward and her course was one she would follow In coming from San Juan to join the Spanish fleet. An of- ficer of the New Orleans, which was on guard on Monday night at the eastern end of the American fleet, detected the vessel attempting to enter the harbor of Bantiago undor cover of the shadows from the cliffs, It was 10:30 o’clock and “%« moon. which had been obscured by ON BOARD HERALD-CALL DISPATCH BOAT, off Port Antonio, via Kingston, Jamaica, June 8.—Even more picturesque and bold than the defiance of the big Con-" monitor was the exploit which resulted in the sinking of the Spanish torpedo-boat destroyer, brief particularsof which I sent to the Her ald and the Call yesterday. the New Orleans frustrated her | by Ericsson’s little PO 90OOOOOOOPS | clouds for two hours, again lighted the | entire coast. | The searchlights of the New Qrleans | were directed inland and a small boat as revealed hugging the shore. She out of view in a few moments, ing rapidly in the direction of Mor- | ro Castle. Repeatedly the searchlights | were trained up and down the shore, but the shadow of the cliffs protected ;‘the strange craft from view. Signals | were given the flagship New York, which, with the Marblehead, lay near the New Orleans. In a short time the powerful searchlights of all three ves- sels were sweeping the coast in an ef- | fort to locate the mysterious vessel. The officers and men were convinced | that the Spanish had made another attempt to send a torpedo into the | American vessels. In and out of the light range the lit- tle vessel passed, and the guns on the war vessels, trained as best they could be on a fleeting enemy, began pouring | great quantities of shot toward the shore. In a few minutes the Brooklyn and Oregon joined in the chase. It became apparent that the enemy’s boat In- tended to make a bold dash for the en- m: . Continued on Becond Pase. ! SANTIAGO WILL SOON BE TAKEN Decisive Blow to Be Dealt When Tampa Troops Arrive. Americans, PPPOPIVPOPIQPPOOPOOOOPDO flagship. Rear Admiral Sampson has ac- complished all the destruction possible until the invading army is ready to attack the city. A combined attack by land and sea will then be made. Meanwhile at the entrance of the harbor. Even as sentinels it is not likely the ships of Rear Admiral Samp- son’s fleet will have much to do. By the slanting rays of the after- noon sun the smokestack and masts of the Merrimac are plainly visible from the sea. Hobson and his men did their work so well that the Merrimac was sunk at a point wherethechannel is but 300 feet wide. If there were no war and no blockade, naval men assert, it is doubtful if Cervera’s cruisers could be steered past the Merrimac. The wreck of the col- ON BOARD HERALD - CALL DISPATCH BOAT OFF SANTIAGO DE CUBA (via Kings- ton, Jamaica), June 8.—Within. twenty-four hours-after the arrival of American troops the city of Santiago and the fleet of Admiral Cervera will fall info' the hands of the This is the view of the Ameri- can fleet now guarding the harbor as I get it from a prominent- official on board the the fleet can act only as a sentinel | ERROR R RCR R RR R CR-R RORCRCRCY lier might be blown up with dy- namite, but that would be no easy task, even-in time of peace, owing to the great weight of coal in the wreck. The dispatch boat Three Friends found about the entrance of Santiago harbor a fleet of United States men-of-war strong enough to take Barcelona. With this powerful force at his com- mand Admiral Sampson has been studying for two weeks the plan for his final attack. He has test- ed the strength of all the fortifi- cations and can speedily silence those harbor defenses he did not destroy in Monday’s heavy bom- bardment. When I told the cap- tain of one of the American ves- sels that several thousand troops from Tampa were about to be SPANIARDS DRIVEN FROM THEIR WORKS Splendid Marksmanship Again Displayed by the Gunners of Our Vessels. CAPE HAYTIEN, Hayti, June 8.—Five American warships at half-past 5 o’clock yesterday morning began to shell the forti- fications at Caimanera, on the bay of Guantanamo, which cutsinto the southern coast of Santiago de Cuba east of the city of San- tiago. Many Spaniards are reported to have been Killed. The Americans’ fire was most effective, driving the Spanish gunners in consternation from the defense of their works and then from the town of Caimanera, in which they took refuge. The inhabi- tants of this place joined in the rout. The vessels which took part in the bombardment were the cruiser Marblehead, the auxiliary cruisers St. Louis and Yankee and the two gunboats. The latter, however, paid little attention to the Spanish forts, directing their efforts to cutting the cables which run out of Caimanera. Three cables were cut under the protection of the larger vessels of the fleet. One of the cables severed was that connecting Caimanera with the city of Santiago de Cuba. " The Amefican fleet appeared off the entrance to the Bay of Guantanamo just as the rising sun began to redden the horizon. With the Marblehead in the lead, the little squadron sailed into the bay:and proceeded toward the cable house under the guns of the Spanish fortifications. While the Marblehead, St. Louis and Yankee formed in battle order before the forts ‘and opened fire, the little gunboats darted out from the line and began to grapple for the cable. The fire from the cruisers was rapid and well directed, and was replied to with vigor by the Spanish. All the men on board the warships worked with enthusiasm, the New York naval re- serves on board the Yankee earning their share of the laurels at the guns. . The bombardment was continued until the gunboats cutting the cables had concluded their labors. This was at 2 o’clock in the afternoon. The fleet then sailed out of the bay and took up a position about three miles from shore. 2 A cablegram from Caimanera received here to-day stated that the fleet was still cruising before the entrance to the bay. The shells from the warships early began to tell on the fortifications, the fire of which be- came weaker and weaker. One battery after another was silenced, until finally not a shaft of fire or a balloon of smoke issued from the face ofthe forts to tell of resistance. As the walls of the fortifications began to tumble upon them, the Spanish gunners deserted their positions of duty and ran to the town, which was in a state of high excitement. With the silencing of the forts a still greater panic fell upon the residents of Caimanera, who feared the Americans would complete their work by destroying the town, and there was a general movement to places of safety. Many shells from the American guns exploded in close proximity to the houses on the outskirts of Caimanera. A report reached here that several houses were struck by the projectiles, but I could not confirm it. So far as I have been able to learn no damage was done the fleet. It is believed in Caimanera that the forts were bombarded with a view to opening the way to the landing of American troops near that point. With the withdrawal from the bay of the American ships, those who had fled from the town ventured to return and the excitement was succeeded by calmness. The Spaniards there are apparently determined to offer a desperate resistance to the Amer- icans in any attempt to land troops and will make the best fight possible under these circum- stances. They are resolved at any cost to prevent the town and forts of Caimanera from falling into the hands of the enemy. The military commander has issued an order to burn the town, if necessary, to prevent the Americans from profiting by its occupation. Similar measures, it is un- derstood, are being taken at Santiago. After the cessation of the firing from the forts, the fleet concentrated its fire upon the block- house at which the cables of the French Cable and Telegraph Company land, and speedily demol- ished them. The cables which connect the blockhouse with Caimanera were cut. On account of the cutting of the cable to Santiago telegraphic communication with that place is suspended. The American naval dispatch boat Dolphin entered the harbor of Mole St. Nicholas, Hayti, to-day, and fired a salute of fifteen guns. ; SPANISH LOSS AT SANTIAGO PROBABLY UNDERESTIMATED Many Soldiers and Marines Slain and Tremendous Damage Inflicted by Projectiles From Samp- son’s Ships. ON BOARD HERALD-CALL DIS- PATCH BOAT, OFF SANTIAGO DE CUBA, June 7, via Kingston Jamaica, June 8.—There is scarcely any doubt that much greater damage than was at BE-E5-B-E-0-E-E-E8a 0000000000000 0O0D0 | junction with the Qo , G of o CAMARA’S SHIPS esr;evr:rla?asrp;tish military and naval STILL AT CADIZ. officers were killed and wounded. The Spanish loss of soldiers and marines GIBRALTAR,June 8.—Admir- Q| oy oo al Camara's fleet is still at Ca- diz, maneuvering. Reports vary The city is now at the mercy of Ad- —scme saying the fleet will sail miral Sampson. The batteries at the in a week, and others that it will entrance to the harbor are on a crest not start until the end of the 180 feet above the water. This high ele- month. All agree that its des- vation made them difficult to hit, but tination is Cuba. The trans-At- the entire hill was ploughed up by the lantic steamer Ciudad de Cadiz heavy shells. In many cases shells are 3:; salled west without a con- known to have passed over tl.e hill and insurgents under first supposed was inflicted upon the Spaniards in Santiago harbor during the bombardment on Monday morning. Many shells are believed to have fallen into the city itself, and when the facts are known after the port has fallen into Admiral Sampson’s hands, it will prob- ably be found the loss of life was very landed in Cuba he shoufed back: “If that is so, Santiago de Cuba conunueém Second Page. great. Bven with the meager facts now at hand, it can be stated that this is the result of the bombardment: & 0000000000000 0 ©0000000000000000D The formidable Estrella and Cayo Smith batteries were completely wrecked. The Spanish crulser Reina Mercedes was sunk. United States forces were landed at Daiquirf, a short distance east of Aguadores, where they are now en- trenched. These forces have formed a CCC0000000002000 undoubtedly they struck the city it- self, as well as the shipping in the har- bor. Thirty-four shots were fired from the Towa's 12-inch guns, and thirty-eight shots from her 8-inch gun. There were few shots from her secondary battery. The other vessels engaged in the bom- bardment fired a proportionate number of shots, and, as every one was well almed, the damage done must have been tremendous ’