The silver lance., 1898-07-08
CERVERA'S FLEET NO MORE.
THEY SAILED OUT AND WERE DESTROYED.
The Spanish Admiral Took Desperate Chances to Escape But
Our Ships Under Schley Promptly Drove Then on
the Beach and They Are Now Battered Hul-s'


patch boat Golden Rod to Port An
tonic. Jamaica, thence to Kingston. Ja-
maica, Monday.-Scattered along the
shore for distance of two miles TO the
west of Moro castle now lie the ar
mored cruisers and torpedo boat de-
slroyers that composed Admiral Ger
vera's fleet.
In running fight of two hours these
vessels. the cream of the Spanish navy.
were almost annihilated this morning
by the powerful ships of Admiral
SIMPSONS fleet. under the immediate
command of Commodore Schley.
Sunday quiet rated over the en-
trance TO Santiago harbor. and no
signs of life We're visible about old
Moro. Beyond Snd toward the city
of Santiago all WAS still After two
days of fighting the armies of both
nations were resting in their trenches.
OFF this way for n distance of half
dozen miles from shore the vessels
of Admiral SIMPSONS fleet lay lazily
at anchor.
Admiral Sampson, desiring to ascer-
tain the exact condition of the Span
ish coast defenses about Aguadores,
ordered the flagship to 90 that way.
Weighing anchor. the New York leis-
urely steamed off to the eastward.
Idle thoughts occupied the minds of
the men in the fleet. They were spec
ulating, as they had been for weeks.
when would come their opportunity TO
get at the Spanish fleet in the inner
harbor.
Suddenly as n flash. at half past o
O'Clock, n vessel appeared near the en-
trance to the harbor. She was throw
ing out great black clouds of smoke
f.rLt ri . ta
American fleet.
The ease of the American officers
and sailors was rudely disturbed.
They had grabbed their glasses. scan
ned the harbor entrance. and We're
amazed to discover that an armored
cruiser was coming OFT.
In the absence of Admiral Sampson.
Commodore Schley, from the Brook
lyn. ordered the American warships to
rush in shore. In IA few moments it
was seen that the vessel emitting such
clouds of smoke was the Cristobal Co
lon, Admiral Cervera's flagship. She
had passed the wreck of the Merrimac
and was making for the sea at full
speed.
Before Commodore Schley and his
men could recover from their surprise
other clouds of smoke came into view
beyond the Cristobal Colon. With a
rush fully equal to that of the Span
ish flagship. the Almirante Oquendo
came toward the open sea.
Behind her came the Vizcaya. also at
full speed. while the rear was brought
up by the Infanta Maria Teresa and
the two torpedo boat destroyers. the
Furor and the Pluton. This stirring
scene, so dramatic and so unexpected.
quickly put the captain of every Amer
lean vessel on his mettle.
"Cervera's trying to escape" was the
cry that resounded through the fleet.
Every American vessel quickly
weighed anchor. The engines were
started. and one by one the great
American warships mace ready for
battle. Every man scampered to his
gun and the captains. knowing that
Admiral Sampson had gone along the
coast. eagerly watched the Brooklyn,
Commodore Schley's flagship.
In few moments the Resolute was
speeding to the eastward after the
New York. but the advance of the
Spanish fleet was so rapid that our
men could not wait for Admiral Samp-
son to get back. Just as the Cristobal
Colon was poking her nose out into the
open sea, Commodore Schley sent the
Brooklyn madly rushing to the west
ward to head Off Cervera's flagship. He
ordered the Massachusetts and Oregon
to follow after. at the same time order
| ing the Indiana. Iowa and Texas to in
| tercept the other ships of the escaping
fleet. Then began one of the greatest
sea fights in history.
| 1t is not known whether Admiral
Cervera had blown up the Merrimac OF
passed 1t in single column His ship
fl,o Crfc 80 al.
harbor and shot to the westward. her
| two tunnels and hight black bulwarks
showing plain against the green hills
her pennant and the Spanish red and
| yellow ensign lashing out. In n few
| seconds the American fleet was in mo.
tion. the Indiana. which was closest
heading straight in shore to get close
range.
The Spaniard opened fire with an II.
inch Honotoria and mighty fountains OF
water rose about the battleship's
weather decks. The shell fell near her
bow. The Indiana replied with her 13
inch guns. and a monment later let &c
everything that could he brought tc
bear. One of the first shells fell on the
| Spanish cruisers deck.
Cervera was going past and the In.
diana rounded TO give him n broadside
and then. as the Iowa and the Texas
| opened on him. the doomed admiral
turned to the harbor mouth where the
Aimirante Oquendo was just coming
into view.
AT first one could scarcely believe
his eyes. but when the Oquendo ap-
peared and steamed swiftly westward
into the smoke and lightning where
Cervera's flag still flew. it flashed upon
us that there was to be history max
ing indeed. 1t was sublime spectacle
of a desperate admiral who had de-
cided to give battle against overwhelm-
ing odds in the open water rather than
remain and blow up his own ships in
the harbor of the beleaguered city.
Ceryera's flag was hidden for time
as he fed westward. his port broad
side emitting flashes and tongues of
flames which marked his progress
| lL0I tho nQxt 6s.a