The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-07-13

I
went. Then the Almirante Oquend,
got it. Her fire slackened. and the
men on our ships cheered us they saw
her headed for the beach. She kept W
her fire from her after guns for 4 few
minutes, but presently she was done
They ran her ashore about eight miles
west of Santiago The Maria Teres;
did not last much longer. Within 4
quarter Of mile of where the Oquendc
was run aground they beached the Ma
ria Teresa, and the two wrecks were
burned. The Nizcaya ran on, and the
feet concentrated It's fire on her. The
terrific hammering she got cut down her
splendid speed. and in L very few mia
uteS the men on the American squadron
realized that this ship was also out OF
the conflict. Two miles beyond where
the Maria Teresa lay smoking wreck
they ran the Eizcaya ashore. As she
grounded there was terrific explosion.
This left only the Colon. She showed
no sign Of injury, but rushed westward
with the whole American squadron. ex-
cept the Gloucester in pursuit. How
the sQuaGon finally destroyed her sixty
miles up the coast must be told later.
The Gloucester was lcftalone againsS
the torpedo boat destroyers. She ha&.
engaged them first and was drilling
them with her six-pounder They slap
ped back at her as pugilist in 4 prize
fight might slap at an annoying mosqES-
TO. but they had no time to fight pign,ies
while the giants We're in their path
Seeing that they at least could never
get away, the Pluton and Furor turned
as if to go back to Santiago Again
they had 20 face the Gloucester 5 SIX
FOUNDERS Commander WainwrT-ht,
though his armament was nothing near
equal to those of the Pluton and FurOr
made no attempt to get out OF the way
but pounded away with his six-pounders
as if they had been thirteen inch guns
Even 8 six-pounder can work havoc on.
an unarmored torpedo boat destroyer
The two Spaniards made desperate
attempt to sink the converted yacht
The first was too much for them ans
they both went down. Of the sixt y
men on the Pluton only twenty escape d
to the shore These were taken priso n
ers. Lieutenant Wood, in small be at
rescued six men from the sinking Fm or
and got the colors. Then the Glouc es-
ter proceeded ~ gather up the pris on
ers. Three hundred prisoners were
captured ON the beach, including Adm
raj Cervera and his staff. The Spar ish
admiral and his captains were takerl on
board the Gloucester. Captain VAIN
wright placed his private cabin at the
Spanish admiral's disposal.
Cervera was slightly wounded, and
entirely broken down. Many Of the
wounded prisoners were also taken on
the Gloucester, where their wounds
were dressed. The Spaniards all see M
ed half starved, and were grateful for
the Yankee food which was offered
them. The slaughter on the torpedo
boats was something frightful. While
he Gloucester was engaged in this, the
New York came steaming up from the
east admiral Sampson had gone to
Siboney to confer with General Shafter,
ous got buck in time to join in the I,ur
suit. of the Colon. Admiral Cer1era
haa surrendered on the shore to Lieut.
enant Horton, and at his own request
was taken on board the Gloucester.
Commander Wainwright received the
beaten naval chief at the gangway. He
took the gray-bearded AdmiaEs hand,
and said to him:
II congratulate you, sir, ,ipon making
as gallant fight as ever nan made on
the sea.
Poor old Cervera could barely express
his thanks for the compliment.
The first intimation THAT the Colon
had shared the fate of the others came
from Captain Evans, Of the Iowa He
,eturned from the we stward with $40
prisoners from the Ni:.caya. He shout
ID through the megaplone, trofane as
usual,
''The Oregon has got the Cristobal
Colon and is giving her hell. She has
gone down with the others before now-
Ne will celebrate the Fourth of July in
Santiago tomorrow
The Iowa took the Vizcaya's fhcers
md crew from the shore. The re main
Ter of the Spanish naval force is ST ill on
he beach. \ guard has been sent TO
protect them from the Cuban sol, liers,
Tho were swarming the on the hill
sides The beach was strewn for miles
With half-burned life,-boats, dead men
md debris Of all kinfls. The Sp; .nish
ships are still burning, and every few
minutes an explosion from one or the
other of them flls, the air with frag-
nents. There is scarcely man Of the
crews of the Pluta,n and Furor unwo nnd-
ed: The hospital boat Solace has been
from u uantanamo to care, for
9ur injured fo',men. Our ships al &c all
,eturnlng from the westward. The
Colon fated just as did the other ships
If Cerveea s. feet. When her OF icers
'ound sAat the American shells ha d so
injured her that she could no l. cmgcr
lope &c. ovtsteam them, they fred one
asst So OF from her after battery and
hen headed for the shore She lies
here now like others, rolling back ward
md onward with the swell of the sea,
rlnc ing her bottom to pieces the
ocI 5, while fire and smoke is bel ching
rou every port and her cxpl o'dise
nag azines are completing the wrcc X
FIRING on fce Wounded.