The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-07-09
A COMPLETE ROUT.
Account of the Destruction of Ger
vera's Fleet.

He Makes n Heroic Dash for Liberty
from Santiago Hnrbor hat Fails
-Benches His Vessel and
surrenders.
Ten Miles West OF the Entrance OF the
Harbor OF Santiago de Cuba. Sunday, July
3. by tho Dispatch Boat Wanda to Port An
tonic, Jamaica. via Kingston. Jamaica.
July 5.-Admiral Cervera's fleet, consisting
OF the armored cruisers cristobal Colon.
Almirante Oquendo. Infanta Maria Teresa
and vizcaya and two torpedo boat de-
stroycrs. the Furor and the Pluton. which
had been held In the harbor OF Santiago
dc Cuba for six weeks past by the combined
squadrons or Rear Admiral Sampson and
Commodore Schley. lies at the bottom OF
the Caribbean sea Off the southern coast
OF Cuba. The spanish admiral Is pris-
oner OF war on the auxiliary gunboat
Gloucester formerly Mr.. j. Pierpont Nor
gan's yacht Corsair) and 1000 TO 1900 other
Spanish officers and sailors. all who es-
capped the frightful carnage caused by the
shells from the American warships, are
also held prisoners OF war by the United
States navy.
Only One American Killed.
The American victory is complete. and.
according to the best Information at this
time, the American vessels were prac-
tically untouched. and only one man was
killed. though the ships were subjected TO
the heavy fire OF the Spaniards all the time
the battle lasted.
Cerveras Gallant Dash.
Admiral Ceryera made as gallant dash
for liberty and for the preservation OF his
ship Sunday morning as has ever occurred
In the history OF naval warfare. In the
face or overwhelming odds. with nothing
before him but inevitable destruction or
surrender II he remained any longer IN the
trap I'm which the American feet held him,
he made a bold dash from the harbor at
the time the Americans least expected him
10 do 80, and. lighting every Inch or his
way, even when his ship was ablaze and
sinking. he tried TO escape the doom which
was written on the muzzle OF every Amer
lean gun trained upon his vessels.
Americans Open Fire.
The Americans saw him the moment he
left the harbor and commenced their work
OF destruction Immediately. For an hour
or two thsy followed the flying Spaniards
TO the westward along the shore line, send
ing shot after shot into their blazing hulls,
tearing great holes in their steel sides and
covering their decks with the blood OF ne
killed and wounded.
PIuck or the spnniards.
AT no time did the Spanlards show any In
dication that they intended TO do other
wise than fight 10 the last. They showed
no signals TO surrender even when their
ships commenced 20 sink. and the great
clouds OF smoke pouring from their sides
showed they were on fire. But they turned
their heads toward the shore, less than
a mile away. and ran them on the beach
and rocks. where their destruction was
| soon completed
Destruction of the Fleet.
one after another OF the Spanish ships be-
! came the victims OF the awful rain OF shells
/ which the American battleships poured
upon them. and two hours after the first OF
tho fleet had started out OF Santiago harbor
! three cruisers and two torpedo boat de-
| stroycrs were lying on the shore ten 10
/ fifteen miles west OF MORO castle. pounding
\ to pieces. smoke and flame pouring from
every part OF them and covering the entire
| coast line with mist which could be seen
| for miles.
Heavy explosions OF ammunition oc-
CURED every few minutes, sending curls OF
i dense white smoke hundred feet IN the
air, and causing shower OF broken iron
| and steel TO fall Ia the water on every
side. The bluffs on the coast line echoed
with the roar OF every explosion. and the
Spanish vessels sank deeper and deeper
into the sand. or else the rocks ground
! their hulls 10 pieces as they rolled or
pitched forward or sideways with every
wave that washed upon them from the
open sea.
Cervera's Surrender.
Admiral Cervcra escaped TO the shore
in n boat gent by the Gloucester 20 tho
assistance OF the Infanta Maria Teresa,
and as soon az he touched the beach he
surrendered himself and his command TO
| Lieut. Merton, and asked TO be taken on
board the Gloucester. which was the only
American vessel near him az the time, with
several OF his officers, including the cap
l IL. g. Hn GFaaF N n.
mlral who was wounded IN the arm. was
taken to the Gloucester and was received
al her gangway by her commander,
Lieut.. Commander Richard Wainwright.
who graspcd the hand OF the gray-bearded
admiral and said TO him: II congratulate
you, sir. upon having made as gallant a
fight as was ever witnessed on the sea-"
Lieut.. Commander Wainwright then
placed his cabin az the disposal OF the
Spanish officer
CristobnI Colon Chased.
AT that time the Spanish flagship and
four other Spanish vessels had been
aground and burning for two hours, and
the only one OF the escaping fleet which
could not be seen at this point was the
Cristobal Colon. But half dozen curls OF
smoke far down on the western horizon
showed the fate that was awaiting her.
The Crlstobal Colon was the fastest OF the
Spanish ships, and she soon obtained n
lead over he others after leaving the
harbor, and escaped the effect or the shots
which destroyed the other vessels. She
steamed away at great speed with the
Oregon, New York Brooklyn and several
other ships In pursuit. all OF them firing al
her constantly and receiving fire them
selves from her after guns. About ter
miles from the westward OF Moro castle
Admiral Cervera turned his vessel TO tho
shore and beached her. She was blazing
IN n score OF places. but her guns kept n,
work, and the white nag never showed
until she was completely disabled.
The only Man Killed.
Washington. July 5-~George H. ellis. thu
only man In the United States navy who
was killed In the glorious engagement of
Santiago Sunday. was chief yeoman o.
Commodore Schley's flagship Brooklyn, n
which Office he succeeded Downing, thu
Spanish spy captured by secret service OF
lcers I'm Canada and who ended his career
1 by Rufcide IN the Washington barracki