The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-07-06

equation. Its elimination was execu-
ted by Admiral Sampson, thus leav-
ing the way open for the continued
advance of Skaters troops upon the
city.
Details of the destruction of Ger
vera fleet have not been received, at
this writing, by either the war or navy
departments. Whether Sampson
ships entered the harbor and there
attacked and annihilated the Spanish.
squadron, or whether Cervera made
desperate dash past the sunken Merri-
mac to the ocean beyond, in the hope
that he might be able to save at least
part Of his feet, has not been Off
cially ascertained.
Adjt. Gen. Corbin voiced the feel
ings of everyone of the officials when
he said: ~ don't care how the fleet
was destroyed. 1t was destroyed.
That is enough for me. 1t is great
news for the Fourth of July
The fleet of Admiral Cervera was
one or the nnCSG Opa1n possessed.
THE NEWS CONFIRMED.
WASHINGTON, d. c.. July 4, 3:15
p. m.-Secretary of the Navy Long
has received the following:
"Playa via Hayti, July 18th.
"To the Secretary Of the Navy, 3:15
a. m. Siboney July 4.-The feet
under my command offers to the
nation as Fourth of July present
the destruction of the whole of Ger
vera fleet.
sNo one escaped. 1t attempted to
escape IT $3.50 e. m. and at2 p. m:
the last vessel of it, the Cristobal
Colon, was run ashore sixty miles
west Of Santiago harbor and had let
down her colors.
"The Infauta Maria Teresa, Oquando
and Vizcaya were forced ashore,
burned and blown up within twenty
miles of Santiago. The Furor and
Pluton were destroyed within four
miles Of the port.
'sOur loss is one killed and two
wounded. The enemys loss is prob
ably several hundred from gun fire,
explosions and drowning. We have
about 1900 Spanish prisoners, includ
ing Admiral Cervera.
The man killed was George Ellis,
chief yoeman of the Brooklyn.
(Signed) SAMPSON. ,"
Of Santiago, July -Four Of the
Spanish cruisers that were bottled up
in Santiago harbor and the two torpedo
boat destroyers that were with them
were pounded into helpless hulls by
the guns Of Admiral SIMPSONS feet
on Sunday last in vain attempt to
escape from the harbor. The vessels
were beached in last efforts to save as
many Of the lives Of their crews as
possible.
Admiral Cervera, on board the
Cristobal Colon, headed his fleet in
the attempt to get away at about $3.50
o clock. So little were the Americans
expecting the dash that the flagship
New York was cruising up the coast
to the east and returned only in time
to see the finish Of the fight and to
fire. shot or two at torpedo boat
destroyer
The Iowa, Indiana, Oregon, Massa-
chusetts, Texas, Brooklyn and the
converted yacht Gloucester, formerly
the Corsair, formedin position tc give
battle as soon as the Colon was sighted
running past the wreck Of the Merri-
mac and the Spanish were soon in a
hurricane of shot and shell. But the
Colon kept on bravely until she was
about ten miles westward Of MORO
Castle when Admiral Cervera turned
his vessel to the shore and beached
her.
She was blazing.in score of places
but her guns were kept at work and
the white flag never showed until he
was completely disabled.
The Oquendo and Vizcaya were
opposed to the Iowa, Texas and Iudi-
ana and, went down to defeat with
fearful swiftness, only covering about
half the distance made by the Colon
before their captains ran them ashore.
Their crews fought with desperate
bravery, but their courage was no
match for the courage of our men
added to their superb gunnery.
The Spanish shells went wild for
the most part, but the American fire
was marked by merciless precision.
The American vessels did not open
fire at once. They waited until Ger
vera's ships were out Of the range of
Morros guns before giving battle
Ccrvera headed to the west, the Colon
in the lead followed by the Vizcaya.
Oquendo and the destroyers, all firing
rapidly.
All the American battleships opened
fire at once. The two cruisers, both
on fire, were beached not more than
one quarter of mile apart.
There was explosion after explosion
from the beached vessels. 1t was at
first reported that Admiral Cervera
was dead, but the Spanish admiral is
a prisoner of war on the auxiliary
gunboat Gloucester formerly Mr.. J
Pierpont Morgan's yacht Corsair) and
1000 to 1,50O other Spanish officers
and sailors, all who escaped the fright
full destruction caused by the shells
from the American warships, are also