Rensselaer Democrat, Volume 1, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 June 1898 — SANTIAGO IS STORMED BY SCHLEY. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

SANTIAGO IS STORMED BY SCHLEY.

Fortifications of El Morro and Socapa Battered Down by the Yankee Fleet. Americans Accomplish Their Task Without Loss of a Man or Damage to a Ship.

Washington special: THE distinction falls upon Commodore Schiey for striking the first hard blow in the Atlantic. The outer fortifications of Santiago de Cuba are in ruins, the formidable Morro fort being practically wrecked, and Admiral Cervera's flagship battered and her plates broken and her machinery injured is no longer the dangerous battle craft that crossed the Atlantic to lead the Spanish fleet against the American warships. The imported French and German gunners •ent the projectiles from' the Krupps close to our ships, but they did not land. Not •ne shell struck Schley's vessels. According to advices received by way •f Kingston, Jamaica, the Marblehead first made certain of the presence of the Spanish fleet at Santiago. The fight was • sequel to its discovery. The Marblehead, cruising close to the harbor entrance, found four Spanish cruisers, two

torpedo-boat destroyers and the old Reina Mercedes skulking behind the batteries at the mouth of the barltor, Schley at ence determined to draw the fire of the batteries. His object was to make the enemy reveal the location of the new masked batteries and.to compel the Spanish fleet to come out nnd fight. When the American fleet advanced the Cristobal Colon lay across the entrance to the harbor, her port broadside, facing the assailants. The Massachusetts opened fire, taking the Spanish flagship for its first target. An eight-inch shell was thrown. It was not a good shot, quite as bad ns the shot ♦hat answered it. Then the Massachusetts tried its thirteen-ineh guns. The

roar ot these was a new voice. Even the ships near trembled with their shock and the water seemed to hum like an immense sounding board. The Cristobal Colon and four batteries, two on the east side, one •n the west and one on an island in the middle of the channel, made fitting replies. Their ten and twelve-inch Krupps sent shot for shot for the American sixes, eights, twelves and thirteens. It was a eoisy and spectacular scene, but not effective on either side at the outset. Both sides apjH*ared to be unable to get the range. The Americans steamed across in front of the batteries at full speed, circled and passed again. Both sides found the range on the second passage and began to shoot close. Several shots burst •ver the lowa, three fell very near the New Orleans aml one sprayed the bow of the Massachusetts. But the American Are ate into the forts steadily. When they got the range there were few shots wasted. The walls of Morro crumbled in many places and its fire slackened first. After half an hour’s firing the two forts •n the east and the one on th? island were silenced. Five minutes later Schley’s •hips ceased firing. The western battery •nd the Spanish flagship continued the •hooting for twenty minutes, but their fire was not effective. At.one time the American sailors were cheering and shouting when they saw the Colon afire. This •ceurred after a shot from the lowa had exploded on her, but the Spaniards soon Bad tlse blaae extinguished, for the ship Jtept on shooting and fired the last gun. Schley changed back to the Brooklyn and •teamed out to sea. Every vessel reported “No casualties.” .

Key West special: Commander. Miller, who commanded the collier Merrimac before she was turned over to Lieut. Hobson to be sunk, and several officers of the vessel came aboard the Mayflower and told in detail the story of the sinking of the ship. When the Merrimac started toward the harbor the flash of a single gun on the Morro was seen from the deck of the New York, though the report could not be heard. It was followed in a few moments by sheets of fire all along the shore. The Spaniards had evidently turned every gun on the ship. The Merrimac went straight on to a point where the channel was only 400 feet wide. Shot and shell were falling all about her, but none seemed to hit her. When this narrow point in the harbor was reached Lieut. Hobson headed her in shore, and dropped an anchor only a few feet from the shore. The moment the anchor was dropped Lieut. Hobson and her crew dropped these torpedoes over the side and then opened every seacock there was in the ship and al) the port holes. Meantime the guns kept booming and the flash of the burning powder lit up the harbor, so rapid was the firing. The fleet was so far off shore that they did not hear the guns, but could tell by the flashes of the hotness of the fire. The current was running out of the harbor and as the Merrimac lay at anchor she swung lazily around with it. Everything was open and she had begun to fill before she was broadside in the passage. Hobson and his men waited patiently until they could drop another anchor, this one from the stern, so that it would hold her directly across the passage. She was so long that there was only thirty-one feet of channel on each side that she did not occupy. Hobson and his men launched the life raft and dropped down on board it, taking with them the wires with which the torpedoes were to be exploded. The thunder of the shore batteries and the rattle and clash of musketry continued. The water was foaming with the commotion made by Hie shells and bullets. Hobson and his men floated down stream 130 yards, dragging the wires out after them. This was the distance for the contact to be made aud it was then done. The water about the Merrimac was lifted up by the explosion and when it had settled again the ship was at the bottom of the passage. M’HINLEt’S TERMS OF PEACE. Will Demand Possession of Puerto iflco, Manila and Cavite. The terms upon which the President is now reported to be willing to negotiate peace with Spain, and which are said to be generally acceptable to the Senators

who must ratify the treaty before it can have effect, include, aside from the establishment of a stable and independent government in Culm, the possession of Porto Rico as n war indemnity and full payment for all claims for damages by American citizens against Spain, a naval base in the Ladrone islands and one in the Caroline islands. Two Englishmen Stoned. A mob of Spaniards, according to a dispatch from Gibraltar, assaulted and stoned Maj. Gen. J. B. Richardson, commander of the royal artillery at Gibraltar, and another Englishman while they were walking at San Rouque, seven miles northwest of Gibraltar. Fpain Watched by Britain. The British Government authorities are watching Spain’s obvious intention to grant to France the permanent free use of Ceuta, and the Russian Government is exercising vigilance in regard to Port Mahon, Minorca. Big Flag for Morrow. In New York a flag 120 feet in length, the largest ever made, is on exhibition. It is intended to raise it over the walls of Morro Castle when Havana is taken. • Rations for the Troops. The War Department Is massing rations for thirty days for the troops that are assembling at Jacksonville, Fla., under coosvngnd of Maj. Gen. Lee. In all the sea coast cities there is great demand /or insurance against loss by bombardment.

VAST ARMY MOVING. Twenty-six Thousand Men Under Gen. Shafter Hurried to Santiago. The last of the first expedition to Cuba left Tampa Monday night, forty-six transports carrying 2(5,000 men with horses,, wagons, artillery, siege guns and all necessary equipments and supplies for a campaign of six months. Gen. Shafter is in command. Twenty thousand troops went from Mobile. Assuming that forty-six transports can take 20,000 men to Cuba in seven days, and giving them three days to unload and four days to get back to Tampa, which is a lery short time, two weeks will be used up in the round trip. It will require another week for them to take on the second load and seven days more to land it in Cuba, or ten days if they are going to Porto Rico. The present fleet of transports will therefore require at least fifteen weeks, or until the middle of September, to transfer 100,000 men, or one-third of our army, across the gulf stream. MATANZAS BLOCKHOUSE RAZED. Tags Uncaa and Leyden Fire on the Fortifications. It was discovered a few days ago that the Spaniards had built a new blockhouse at the entrance of Matanzas haVbpr, ettgt of Pedro light. It was determined to destroy the fort, which was a small affair, mounting only one gun, and manned by a small company of Spaniards. The tugs Uncas and Leyden were ordered to do the work. At noon on Monday they steamed

within a half-mile of the fort and opened fire with their six-pounders. The Spaniards replied with one shot, which went wild. Both boats continued pouring shells right at the fortifications, nearly every one of them hitting the mark. The hot fire completely demoralized the garrison. The shot riddled the fort and completely destroyed it. Twenty-eight shots were fired. The tugs then withdrew. The Spanish loss is believed to be ten or twenty dead. Spain’s Predicament. In diplomatic circles it 4s openly stated that no European Government will attempt to do anything for Spain until she makes up her mind to allow Cuban independence as a basis of negotiations. In the same circles it is stated that the Madrid Government has told the powers that it is impossible at present to accept such a condition without the gravest perils to the monarchy. Scheme of Blanco. Two warships off Havana on Tuesday spied a steamer coming out of the harbor. They headed her off and fired three shots at her to bring her to. The steamer put back, It is believed to have been a scheme of Blanco to draw the warships under the fire of the shore batteries. Pope Wants Peace. It is stated in Rome that the Pope has appealed to the Queen Regent of Spain to be satisfied with alleged successes against the Americans and to prosecute the war no further.

COMMODORE W. S. SCHLEY.