The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-07

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.Journal)
Off Santiago de Cuba, July 4.-vin
Port Antonio, July 5-Ldst nights story
of the mighty sea fight, of our glorious
victory. and of the complete destruction
Of the Spanish fleet has been told.
Early this morning we headed our dis
patcll-boat Silvia down the coast to III
spect more closely than we could yes
terday, when the fire was sweeping them,
the wrecked and ruined leviathans of
Spain'S navy They lie with their heads
buried in the sand, as if to hide them
selves from the sight of their own dcs-
truction and humiliation.
The first wreck we approached was
the Oquendo. She lies ut small bay
well up on the beach. her steel sides
Scared by many shots, and with one
tremendous hole on her port bow, show
ing where a 13-inch shell from one of
our battleships must have exploded. She
has also Il large rent aft on the port
quarter. near the water line. Her milf
tary masts have been swept overheard
and her decks are clear of top hamper
down to the turrets and the guns. We
lowered boat to visit her, and as we
came alongside a shocking sight met our
eyes. Dead Spaniards were floating
about in the water stripped to the waist.
as they had stood to man their guns.
We steered nervously among the bodies.
feeling much pity. and some satisfaction,
too. that the Maine had been again so
well remembered.
About this time the Suwanee came mp
and sent the famous Lieutenant Blue
L. I. IL
vivorS of the crews of the Spanish yes
sells, and take them prisoners. We deter
mined to follow. though we had neither
lifeboat nor life-preseryerS. as the SUI
wanee's boat crew had. and though the
surf was running high and strong on n
rocky beach. But deciding to swim for
it if we were upset. we dragged off our
clothing and headed our jolly boat for
the shore.
LIEUT.. BLUE GOES ASHORE
Lieut. Blues boat was some twenty
yards ahead of us when we saw a huge
breaker lift it forward and throw the
Lieutenant overheard into the white
froth of the sea. | guess we would have
turned back then if we could, but it was
too late We were in the breakers. One
after another of the huge breakers broke
under and over us. and lifted us high
on their curling backs, and shot us 1T
the shore. When the first scrdpe Of
gravel sounded under our keel we
jumped out and dragged the boat on the
beach.
Lieut. Blue had been safely hauled
ashore by his crew, and was interview
ing band of Cubans, who were also
looking for Spaniards. But as to
G,1 mi ap1c tbarn pva tho I,iantpn-
ant pushed out through the breakers,
boarded the Suwanee. and put to sea
again. We joined some dispatch boats
and headed for the Infanta Maria Te-
resa. further along the coast TO the east
ward. This vessel il not in quite as
bad condition as the Oquendo. Blacken-
ed by fire and battered by shell she GER
tainly is. but her after military mast
still stands, her bridge. though much
bent and twisted. is recognizable, and
she has not such terrible shot wounds
in her hull rs the Oquendo has. Never
theless. she was the first of the Spanish
ships yesterday TO give mp the fight and
head for the shore. In the fire the cart
ridges still popped as though still feebly
endeavoring to keep up the fight.
| scanned the shore for Spaniards, and
finally saw some score Of figures huddled
together in one corner Of the beach We
shouted to them. and made demonStra-
ton without firearms. and the poor
cowcd fellows waved n white handker-
chief or shirt in token Of surrender.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGHTING
Most of them were wounded, and had
been in the heat of the fight, and we
learned from them how the gunnery Of
the Americans had become fiercer and
more deadly. until the Spanish crews
had deserted their guns, and had bean
shot down by their own officers: how rs
the conditions of the battle became more
and more desperate the fine liquors of the
onIcers' mess had been handed out to the
crews. so that with drunken courage
they would fight IN the hopeless fight
and how at last the officers themselves
gave up, and scuttling their ships, drove
them on the shore. Sixteen were from
the NiZcayl, six from the Oqucndo and
seven from the Maria Teresa, making a
total of twenty-nine. We took them
aboard the Silvia, and headed for the
fleet
Admiral Sampson thanked us very
courteously and asked rs TO deliver our
passengers on board the St Louis. We
did so receiving a receipt in due form
from the officer of marines in charge.
While aboard the ST. Louis we met Capt
Eulate of the Vizcaya, whom / had seen
in New York some months ago under
very different conditions. The Captain
EXPRESSED his grief at the sad turn
affairs had taken. but said he had done
his best and could do no more
Admiral Cervera was also on board, |
and we spoke Il few words to him. The
old gentleman is Il fine, imposing figure
as he stands, still proudly. in his full
uniform. with all the gold braid and sew
eral decorations of his rank on his |
breast The full effect is somewhat |
married by the fact that his trousers are
very damn from wading ashore, escap- |