The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-05
TOTALDESTRUCTION
OF SPANISH FLEET.
lcontlnued lrom FIrst Page)

up In Santiago harbor six weeks before.
AS n matter of fact the entire American
feet was much further off shore than
usual when the SpanaTds made their ap-
pearance this morning.
CERVERA SURPRISED THEM.
with the exception of the bOmbardment
Yesterday morning, which resulted IN
knocking down the flag on MORO castle
and the supposed silencing of the bat
teries which opened fire again TINS morn
ing. as usual the navy had done little re-
Gently TO attract interest here and the Of
ncers and crews Themselves were watch
ir,g the developments Of the operations
being conducted by the army, which had
succeeded I'm reaching the very gates or
Santiago after an enormous loss in Kill
cd and wounded In the fighting Of the
past two days. n was not believed
that Admiral Cervera would attempt 10
escape from his peilous position at TINS
late day. but II was supposed that ne
would keep his ships in the harbor To
she'll the advancing American army and
that II Santiago fell he would blow up
or sink them before permitting them 20
be captured by the feet lying outside.
The Spanish Admiral's real plans. how
ever. were plainly not anticipated. he ac-
cepted the one chance open to hlm-that
OF running the gauntlet Of powerful mem
of-war living IN front Of the harbor and
saving his ships for future service by
dashng out OF the trap I'm which he
found himself and roing 20 some other
field Of operations
4 FORLORN HOPE.
There seemed TO be but one chance IN
a hundred that he would be able 20 make
the move successfully, but he took that
chance, and while great piles OF naval
architecture now ground 20 pieces on the
rocks a few miles from whore ne started
tell the mournful story OF his failure.
there are none who applaud his conduct
more than tho American officers and
seamen who sent his ships 10 destruction.
IL was about . o'clock this morning
when the flagship Infanta Maria Teresa
passed under the wall OF MORO Castle
and steamed out TO sea. She was follow
ed by the Christobal Colon. Nizcaya and
Oquendo. and last by the torpedo-boat
destroyers Furor and Pluton. The look
out on the American vessels. which were
lying five or ten miles off the entrance
90 the harbor. sighted them Immediately.
Most OF the American cruisers were 40
the usual Sunday morning quarters. with
out thought of anything as surprising
as the Spanish feet getting past the
sunken collier Merrimac. which they had
been deluded into believing efIectuaIly
blocked the exit. There was great OK
element at once and very rapid action
along the American lines.
RAPID ACTION.
The signal for full speed ahead was run
from bridge 20 englne-room OF every
shin. and the entire feet commenced 10
move I'm shore toward the Spanish. ano
the great y and 13-inch guns Of the nat
teshipg and the smaller batteries on th'
other vessels fred shot after shot a
long range. As the ships ran in toWai our
the shore A. soon became evident ihal ln'
Standards had not come out to- max
an aggressive fight for they turned u
| the eastward as soon as they had cleaIe'
| INC barbor and started on their race 10
| safetv. nj the same time sending answer
| inc shots at the American ships as tas
! ar +l,o men could load and fire the guns
A STERN CHASE.
Tho Brooklyn. Massachusetts. Texas
| Oregon and Iowa were nearer the span
iards than any others Of the America
vessels but still most OF them were 20
| far away 10 get an effective range. me
crovaed on all steam. however, IN pref
| aration for the chase never stoppih
their fire for one moment The Glouce'
! ter q fast little yacht that cannot boas
Of any heavier battery than several
nounders and 3-pounders, was lying o
| keuadores three miles east OF Morr'
! when the Spaniards came out. AT mrs
I she Joined I'm the attack upon large YES
eel and then held of some. Captain WAR
wright concluding 20 reserve his ehorl
for the two torpedo boat destroyers
the rear.