The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-05


doned her and took the boats, reaching
shore later.
FLOATING MASS OF FLAMES.
BY that time she was mass of flames
and was drifting about helpessly. The
Pluton was in the same distressed con
dition and was also headed for the shore.
running up alongside of low bluff.
where she soon pounded to pieces and
finally broke up completely. 1t was Il
most dangerous landing place for her
crew and but about half Of them
reached the shore. The Gloucester did
not 20 any further west but lay off
shore and sent in Il boat to the assistance
of the crews of the destroyers. 1t did not
take the flames long TO reach the Jurors
magazines, and there were two terrific
explosions. probably of the gun cotton Oh
board of her. which blew holes in her
bottom: her stern sung Immediately
and as it settled in the water her bow
rode straight into the air, and she went
to the bottom in perpetual oblivion, Civ
ing out a kissing, scalding sound as she
disappeared below the surf. Meantime
the larger American ships were gaining
on the Spanish cruisers, and storm OF
shots was passing between the pursuerS
and the pursued. The American fire was
so rapid that the ships were enveloped in
thick clouds of smoke, and it was inn
possible to tell ut Il distance which YES
sells were doing the greater execution.
The Brooklyn and the five battleships
were keeping up an incessant fire upon
the Infanta Maria Teresa, the Nizcaya
and the Almirante OquendO, and the
latter were returning it bravely, though
with no success. The Spanish gunners
seemed unable to get their range, and
many of their shots were very wild,
though Il number of them fell danger
ously near to the mark. The guns of the
battery just east of Moro also took
part in the game, and their shells fell
around the American ships. Many of
them struck the upper works of the
fleeing Spaniards and must have result
ed in killing and wounding many of
their men. The Spanish ships had now
reached a point about seven miles west
of Moro and Il mile or two beyond the
place where the Furor was burning and
the Plutin lay broken in two against the
cliff. The flagship and the Oquendo were
the first to show signals of distress.
Two 13-inch shells from one of the bat
tleshps had struck the Maria Teresa at
the water line. tearing great holes i'll
her side. and causing her TO fill rapidly.
The Oquendo suffered about the same
fate. and both ships headed for small
cove and went aground 200 yards from
the shore. flames shooting from them i'll
every direction. The officers and crew
must have been aware of the fate of
MAGAZINES EXPLODE.
must have been aware of the
fate which seemed to be before them,
but it was not until the ships were on
fire and enveloped in flames and smoke
that the men ceased firing.
The Gloucester after sending a boat
ashore to the Pluton steamed along the
coast to where the armored cruisers We're
stranded and went to their assistance.
There was danger from the magazines,
and many of those on board jumped into
the water and swan to the shore, though
n number were unable to reach the small
strip of sandy beach in the cove. and
were thrown against the rocks and killed
or drowned.
Many of the wounded were lowered in
to the ships own boats and taken ashore,
but this task was Il most difficult one.
The Gloucester had all her boats and
seaman swain through the surf with a
line from the Maria Teresa making it
fast to tree on the shore. The wound
ed were taken to the Gloucester as rapid
~ as possible, and the lower deck Of the
yacht was soon covered with Spanish
sailors, mangled in limb and body by the
bursting of shells,
The Gloucester's crew gave the wound
ed men every attention possible. The
shore was soon lined with those who had
escaped from the Infanta Maria Teresa
and the Almirante Oquendo. There
were still men on both vessels when the
fire commenced to reach the magazines
and the boxes of ammunition lying on
the decks. \ dozen or more explosions
followed.