Young Peoples' History of the War with Spain

ce at Cardenas, a port about twenty miles east of Matanzas, the place where the first shots were fired. Some of our smaller vessels blockading Cardenas were bold enough to go into t

south shore of Cuba, our men succeeded in cutting the ca

equently spoken of as the American city. Like Matanzas, it was the shipping point for a great sugar-growing district, and one of the finest sugar plantations in Cuba was in the vicinity of

he attack were being made, the Winslow came in from off Matanzas, for coal, and was given a place in the attacking force. The Winslow, Wilmington and Hudson entered the inner harbor through a small channel to the ea

ery thick sides or carry heavy guns. They are very fast and the powerfu

a line on board. After awhile she succeeded, but when she attempted to tow her away the line parted. She made a second attempt, but just at the instant the little group on the Winslow caught the line, a shell burst in their very faces. Several of the crew, including the commander of the Winslow, were wounded, and Ensign Bagley and four seame

into the harbor again, and with her big guns tore the forts and batteries

Worth

ficers. While at the Academy at Annapolis he became known as an all-round athlete, but his greatest triumphs were on the foot-ball field. H

island of Cuba during the war; and I will tell it in the words of Ensign Willard, of the Machias,

f Diana Cay. This channel was supposed to be mined and the mines operated from the blockhouse and signal station on Diana Cay. This place was shel

n search was made for mines and the channel dragged for two hours. Before leaving, everything at the station was burned or destroyed, including nine large row-boats. For the raising

The coal steamers could not supply the whole fleet, so our vessels had been going for coal all the way back to Key West, south of Florida. It was a great help to have a coaling place at Guantanamo, but our sailors had much hard work to take the place. No

er B.H.

alla had her stripped of everything but her guns and her steering gear, and everywhere she went she became a terror to the Spaniards. She dared to go anywhere and do anything. Every man on the ship was de

Calla and Brownson were sent down there to do the work; but first I will tell you a story abo

hips of all nations were there, waiting to enter the harbor, but the insurgents would not let them. Admiral Benham was sent there to look after American interests, with his flag

eaded towards the city. The flags of the English, German and Italian ships were dipped in salute as she moved ahead. Two American ships, the Amy and the Good News, were anchored under the guns of two of the

llard H.

oot into the Trajano at the water line and about six feet from the stern.

on. "If you fire again I will

gent ships all about, the Amy passed into the harbor unmolested, with the ships of other nations c

de and smooth as a mill pond. At the entrance the harbor is broad and open, but afterwards it

ari

ill, but they quickly knocked that to pieces. Then they silenced the fire of the fort and chased the gunboats as far as they could go. Next

ry. Watches, hammocks, two field guns, and a lot of ammunition, were lying around. There were a few buildings left, but the marines soon set fire to them. They then drove off a few Spaniards who were about, and then pitched their tents. Pret

in battle, but they fought like veterans. The Spaniards were very cunning and constantly planned surprises for them, but the

snakes, and at night it is very hard to see or hear them. Then, again, they dig holes in the ground and cover them over with brush and conce

ish Gu

ictorious by a big score. We killed sixty and left about fifteen or twenty badly wounded. We had a lucky escape, only two men being wounded. We stayed out all night, and were relieved by another company this morn

y were fitted out with uniforms and rifles by the Marblehead,

hat weapon, it is broader at the part farthest from the hilt. A strong man can strike a terrible blow with it.

nches at G

een by our ships on account of the narrow entrance and high cliffs. It was very important to know how many Spanish ships there were. So Lieutenant Blue went ashore at some safe point, and climbed round the hilltops of Santiago at night, l

nt of these attacks that Lieutenant Hobson and his crew were removed from their cells in Morro Castle and taken to another prison, as I have told you. The English Consul at Santiago, a wise

ant Vic

t went over the forts into the harbor. There were several other warships in the harbor besides those that came with Admiral Cervera. The Reina Mercedes was nearly destroyed b

hat fired more accurately than the others, and so the Texas got the range and dropped a shell into the powder magazine one day. Everything abou

filled with gun-cotton, or dynamite, both of which are deadly explosives. When one of these shells strikes anything the effect is terrible. The Vesuvius, for that is the name of this ship, fired several of these shells over the fortifications at Santiago, in the direction where the Spanish fleet was lying. She did not hit any of them, but she

and Guns of

men and boat to the bottom at once, because she has so much

them, "for fear I'll discharge the gun-cotton; and as for

Ja

're afraid to walk at first. I went

ugh," said a third. "A fellow has to learn to walk on an

and then runs away. That is, she fires three shells and

more of the odd ships that belong to Uncle Sam's na

n her sharp prow to disable an adversary. Her a

in battle, supply fuel and water to fighting ships, and to care for the wounded. All of the

rk in metal. It carries duplicates of nearly every article belonging to a modern warship; and when you understand that some o

r mission is to assist in feeding the navy. They are most valuable additions to a fle

lt water into fresh. The Iris, as one of these is named, belongs to the "sweet water squadron." The water consumption of a vessel is enorm

including X-ray outfits to aid in locating bullets, a microscopic department, and a carbonator for supplying mineral waters. The hull of the Solace is painted white, with

ess our soldiers were on shore to help in different ways. Our ships could not go safely into the harbor till the "mines" under the water had bee