The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-05
FROM THE BOTTLE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA
Admiral Cas Mad Dash for Freedom Mermac
the Jaws Of Death Not Spanish Vessel
Escaped Destruction

the extreme western end of the line,
10 miles from the New York and Texas.
1t is a peculiar fact that he should
have been in proper position to direct
the movements of his flying squadron
against the Spanish feet which he had
bottled up in Santiago harbor six weeks
before.
AS matter of fact. the American
fleet was much farther off shore than
usual when the Spaniards made their
appearance this morning. With the
exception of the bombardment yester-
day morning, which resulted in knock
ing down the flag on MORO Castle and
the supposed silencing or the batteries.
which opened fire again this morning as
usual. the navy had done little recently
to attract interest here, and the off,
GERS and crews themselves were watch
ing the developments OF the operations
being conducted by the army, which
had succeeded in reaching the very
gates of Santiago after an enormous
loss in killed and wounded in the fight
ing of the past two days. 1t was not
believed that Admiral Cervera would
attempt to escape from his perilous
position at this late date, but it WAS
! supposed that he would keep his ships
In the harbor to she'll the advancing
American army, and that IL Santiago
| Iell he WOulu DlOW UP OF Slflh lUtlIls
rather than permit them to be cap
tured by the American squadron lying
outside.
The Spanish admirars real plans,
however. We're plainly not anticipated.
He accepted the one chance open to him
that of running the gauntlet of the
powerful men-of-war lying in front or
the harbor and saving his ships for fu-
ture service by dashing out of the trap
in, xx-bf fnh ha inns nd pnipU n
some other field of operations. There
seemed to be but one chance in a hum
dred that he would be able to make the
move successfully, but he took that
chance and, while great piles of naval
architecture now ground to pieces on
the rocks a few miles from where he
started tell the mournful story of his
failure, there are none who applaud his
conduct more than the American officers
and seamen who sent his ships to de-
struction.
1t was about o'clock this morning
when the flagship Maria Teresa passed
under the wall of Moro castle and
steamed out to sea. She was followed
by the Cristobai Colon, ViZcaya and
Oquendo and last by the torpedo boat
destroyers Furor and Pluton. The look
out on the American vessels, which were
lying five or 10 miles off the entrance to
the harbor. sighted them. Most of the
American cruisers were at the usual
Sunday morning quarters, without
thought of anything as surprising as the
Spanish fleet getting past the sunken
collier Merrimac, which they had been
deluded into believing effectually
blockaded the exit. There was great
excitement at once and very rapid ac-
tion along the American line. The sig
nal for full speed ahead was running
from bridge to engine room of every
ship and the entire fleet commenced to
move in shore toward the Spanish, and
the great IL and 13-inch guns of the bat
tleships and the smaller batteries on
the other vessels fired shot after shot at
long range.
AS the ships ran in toward the shore
II soon became evident that the Span
ish had not come out to make an ag-
gressive fight, for they turned to the
westward as soon as they had cleared
the harbor and started on their race for
safety, at the same time sending shots
at the American ships as fast as the
men could load and fire the guns. The
Brooklyn, Massachusetts, Texas. Ore
gon and Iowa were nearer the Span
iards than any others of the American
vessels, but still most of them were too
far away to get an effective range.
They crowded on all steam. however.
in preparation for the chase, never
stopping their fire for one moment.
The Gloucester, a fast little yacht that
cannot boast of any heavier battery
than several six-pounders and three
Founders, was lying off Aguadores, three
miles east of Moro, when the Spaniards
came out. At first she Joined in the at
tack on a leading vessel and then held
off, Captain Wainwright concluding to
reserve his efforts for the two torpedo
boat destroyers in the rear. The Glou-
cester steamed after them when they ap-
peared and chased them to a point five
miles west of MORO castle, pouring shot
after shot into them all the time. Her
efforts bore abundant fruit. for to her
belongs the credit for the destruction of
both of the destroyers. She fired l,4OO
shots during the chase, and IL was not
long before both destroyers were on fire
and plainly disabled. Notwithstanding
they both returned the Gloucester's fire
and a rain of small shells fell around
the yacht.
The Furor evidently determined that
she should not stand the fire any longer
and she put about and headed back fer
Santiago. Then the Gloucester simply
smothered her with shots from her
rapid-fire guns. and running like the
wind, forced her to turn around and
again head westward.
Smoke commenced to rise from the
Furor's sides and she put in towards
the shore. Before she had gone far
what was left of the crew abandoned
her and took TO the boats, reaching the
shore later. BY that time she was a
mass of flames and was drifting along
helplessly. The Pluton was in the same
distressed condition and was also
headed for the shore. running up along
side of a low blum, where she soon