The Princeton union., 1898-07-07

crew ran her ashore to save the lives Of
those who had escaped our Shells She
blew up soon after they abandoned her.
was standing behind DR.. Simons, of
the Iowa, when the Gloucester was in the
greatest peril, and he could not help turn
ing from the main battle to watch her
heroic work, and expressing his hope that
she would not run short of ammunition
Her commanders skill and courage were
simply magnificent. The Spanish admiral
was lost in smoke to the westward, when,
at quarter before IL o'clock. the
Vizcnya Hoisted a White Flag.
This was followed by the Oquendos
going ashore, with flames bursting from
her decks. The Iowa, Indiana, Texas
and Massachusetts ceased firing, the
Massachusetts going at once to join the
oregon and the Brooklyn in pounding
up and smashing Cervera's ship. Once
headed off, the Oquendo turned into
small bay four or five miles west of
Santiago, where she lay close to the land.
With an ever weakening broadside. the
Vizcaya followed, first heading out as If
to break through the line of battle The
Indiana and Iowa, closed in their forma-
ton, made her escape in that direction
impossible. Capt. Eulate then attempted
to reach the east side of the bay, occu-
pied by the Oquendo., but in vain.
= With a glass I could see that the Vizca-
ya's hulwarks near the stern had been,
torn away. Smoke poured out where shells
had exploded inside, and she was on fire.
Her guns, with the exception of those for
ward, were out of action. Her bow guns
were still fired at intervals. Those who
were not working the bow guns crowded
forward to escape the smoke and fire aft.
The Fuuendo was ashore, her guns silent
and smoke rising in thick, black clouds.
There was laundering of guns to the
westward now, and flashes in the smother
nj hot 81 S>,,4 &o n
eastward of his ships lay the burning
wrecks of his two destroyers. The tor
peuo boat Ericsson was seen coming
along with the New York. The Oquendo
was helpless. The Indiana and the Iowa
were closing in, and shell after shell
Eulate hoisted a white flag as his ship
went ashore to save the remnant of his
men, and simultaneously up went flag
Of white on the Oquendo and
Down Came the Flag of Spain.
An hour and a half had elapsed since
Cervera left the harbor and Of the five
vessels which came out, only this flag
ship was still in action.
The Morro battery still storrned lmpo-
tently at the New York The American
army, with 1900 dead and wounded. Was
not yet in Santiago. but Cerveras fleet
was destroyed and Cervera himself was
only struggling on because he wished to
make his defeat glorious in the eyes of
the attentive world.
He had proved. at least. that he was
not bottled up so tightly as was supposed
He had lost four vessels and perhaps
more than half Of his men, but his pen
nant vas still flying and some of his
guns were still in action.
Cervera passed the bay in which the
OGueHda had sought refuge and held on
due west course close to the land. but
Yl| c Sr0 1,~
that he might break through the line
and reach free water. He had passed in
succession the Iowa. the Indiana and the
Texas. not to speak of the little Glouces-
ter. which spouted 6-pound shells at him
Since his flag appeared outside thNharbor
tIs ship had been struck again and
again. By this time the Vizcaya and the
Ooue1 do were practically beaten but in
spite of the II and 13-incn shells that
were rained upon him at range which
vas very short for such gurs, in spite
o. the fact that his boilers and machinery
were damaged he held his course From
a point a mile west of the Moro the
Cr1stobal Colon was invisible frequently
in the low-hangfng smoke from his own
guns and also that which drifted in shore
from the batt1esh1ps. @.s. ... :. g.
Clearly. now, it might have been better
II tney mad moved in circles and given
battle under the Santiago batteries.
whose aid would have lessened the odds
against him. but the Spaniards through
splendid strategy, had not been headed
off until the batteries could no longer
train their guns on our fleet.
Cervera's Last Desperate Move.
AT 1880 Cervera saw the Oregon cutting
IN shore ahead of him to round him to,
Ihe smoke was very thick. The firing
was mcessant- Cervera's available guns
were no longer we'll served Shells had
set fire to his ship near the stem. and the
names were controlled with difficulty, but
the Spanish admiral altered his course
and headed off from the coast, as if to
attempt to pass between two ships
and run for it. It was impossible. The
Iowa and the Texas were already moving
down to close the gap, and the Spanish
flagship, raked by the Oregon and the
Brooklyn. from LOCO to 5000 yards, and
by the Iowa and Texas at longer range,
turned inshore again and ran for the
rocks, where the surf was breaking. He
still replied occasionally, and Iswondered
when the smoke hid his ship if he would
be afloat when it lifted.
The Golden Rod, leaving the burning
cruisers on the beach, bore at full speed
on the Iowa as she closed in on the
doomed admiral. I could still discern the
Spanish flag from time to time as the
smoke drifted away and the flash of a
gun at intervals proved that the Span
lard was consistently following the idea
which led him to quit the harbor, which
was to make a glorious end
But his ship moved slowly now, as if
dfsa bled, and in a few minutes more his
guns were silent. Black smoke replaced
the swirling white. The flagship was
af1ame. Her men had been unable either
to work the guns or smother the flames
caused by bursting shells, and she was
headed for the rocks.
She Struck Bow On
End rested there. Red flames burst
through the black smoke and soon a pill
lar of cloud rose straight up thousand
feet and then bent against the green
ountain. s5. ls. H..
Cervera's ship was hopelessly lost. The
American battleships ceased firing before
she struck and ran in, apparently with
the intention of saving the survivors as
prisoners. This was evidently expected
by the spaniards,I Inotably by the Vizca-
ya's men, hundreds Of whom t1ronged the
forward deck, watching the flames eating
their way towards them. ~
DR.. Simonds, of the Iowa, who accom-
panied me and assisted me during the
engagement, said thai fourth Spanish
cruiser was unable to leave the harbor
with the others, because she was dis
abled.
The casualties will not be accurately
determined until tomorrow Evidently
+1,a