The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-10
CERVERA'S WARSnIPS
THE SUNKEN VESSELS TOMBS
FOR DEAD SAILORS
Scene of the Historic Chase and Battle
Described-Three Ships May
Be Saved

OFF SANTIAGO DE CUBA, July Z, by
the Associated Press Dispatch boat Daunt-
less, via Port Antonio, July s, by way OF
Kingston, Jamaica. July 8, II 30 p. m.-The
vessels which composed Admiral Cervera' s
squadron, converted into wrecked charnel
houses. are littering the Cuban coast and
the scenes of desolation, ruin, horror and
death battle description.
At the entrance of the harbor of Santiago
de Cuba lies the Reina Mercedes, sunk at
midnight on July 5. Westward, five miles
from the harbor, is torpedo boat destroy
er, stuck fast in the rocks, close in shore
and battered by the surf. Rocks jutting
out of the water in front where she lies hide
her hull from view. Her davits and the top
Of her coming tower alone mark her rest
ing place.
Visible from the sea few miles further,
in an inlet embraced by two mighty arms
of black rocks that extend half mile into
the sea, are the remains of the twin cruis-
ers Infanta Maria Teresa and Almirante
Oquendo, formerly the pride of the Spanish
navy.
On beyond lies the Vizcaya, a mass of
ruins, and forty-two miles away from San
tiago de Cuba, the Crlstobal Colon lies
helpless on her sides, with her smokes lacks
under water.
The Infanta Maria Teresa and the AL
mirante Oquendo stand upright stuck fast
on the rocky shoals. All that is left of them
Is their outer hulls, the heavy armor defy
ing total humiliation. Inside of them the
work of destruction is complete. The boil
ers, engines bunkers and magazines have
been blown into unrecognizable masses Of
twisted, melted iron. Exploded shells.
burned rifles and revolvers, pieces of yell
low, brass work and gold and silver coin,
melted by the intense heat are strewn all
over the remains of the once proud armor-
ed cruisers, whose protective decks only
stand in places.
But the most CHASTITY, horrible sights in
these steel collins are the mangled, Scared
and charred bodies of hundreds of brave
sailors, sacrificed for their country. Buzz
cards are feeding off them and others arc
lowering over the wrecks.
On the beach flocks of vultures sit In
silence waiting for the sea to give up its
dead. Every tide adds to the tale of horror,
washing up such objects as, for instance, a
sleeve enclosing wasted arm, other por-
tons of the human body gnawed by sharks,
and countless relics of the battle.
Attention has been given to the burial of
the dead of the enemy, and over 100 bodies
taken from the ships or washed ashore
have been inferred upon the beach by
SIMPSONS order.
Those which now remain are either al
most totally consumed by fire, charred be-
You'd belief, or lie in the depths of the sea.
These form the food of the buzzards who
keep constant vigil about.
The buried remains lie in a confused
mass, unnumbered and unnamed in a huge
pit on the sandy beach where the vessels
went ashore. A rude wooden cross from
the wreckage marks the grave-a grave
over which Spain may well mourn.
Admiral SIMPSONS Opinion
WASHINGTON, July 9.-Admiral Samp-
son has cabled the Navy Department that
In his opinion three of the Spanish vessels
may be saved. The Colon is certainly in
good condition, he reports, and there are
reasonable hopes OF saving the Maria Ter
esa and the Vizcaya. This Is the only news
received from Sampson in a day or more,
the cables apparently being interrupted or
In bad working order.
1t is expected at the Navy Department
that the onslaughts on the forts at the en-
trance to the harbor of Santiago will begin
today.