The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1898-07-07

Ten Miles West of the Entrance OF
| the Harbor of Santiago de Cuba, July
6. - Admiral Cervera's fleet, consist
ing of the armored cruisers CristObal
Colon, Almirante OQuendo, Infanta
Maria Teresa and ViZcaya, and two
torpedo boat destrOyers, the Furor
and the Pluton, which had been held
in the harbor of Santiago de Cuba for
six weeks past by the combined
suuadrons of Rear Admiral Sampson
and Commodore Schley, lies now Mt
the bottom of the Caribbean sea- off
the southern coast of Cuba. The
Spanish admiral Is a prisoner Of war
on the auxiliary gunboat Gloucester
formerly J. Pierpont Morgan's yacht
Corsair), and 1000 to 1,500 other Span
ish officers and sailors. all who es-
capped the frightful carnage caused by
the shells from the American war.
ships. are also held as prisoners of
war by the United States navy. The
American victory Is complete and, ac-
cordng to the best information obtain
able at this time. the American vessels
were practically untouched, and only
one man was killed and two wounded,
though the ships were subjected TO the
heavy fire Of the Spaniards all the time
the battle lasted. Admiral Cervera
made as gallant
Dash for Liberty
and for the preservation of his ships
as has ever occurred In the history of
warfare. In the face Of overwhelming
odds with nothing before him but in
evable destruction or surrender il he
remained any longer in the trap in
which the American fleet held him, he
made bold dash from the harbor at
the time the Americans least expected
him TO do so, and, fighting every inch
OF the way. even when his ship was
ablaze and sinking, he tried to escape
the doom which was written on the
muZzle OF every American gun trained
upon his vessels. The Americans saw
him the moment he left the harbor and
commenced their work of destruction
Immediately. For an hour or two they
followed the flying Spaniards TO TIE
westward along the shore line, sending
shot after shot into their blazing hulls.
tearing great holes in their steel sides
and covering their decks with the
blood of the killed and wounded At
no time did the Spaniards show any
indication that they intended to do
otherwise than fight to the last. They
showed no signals Of surrender, even
When their ships commenced to sink,
and the great clouds pouring from
their sides showed they were on fire.
But they turEed their heads toward
the shore, less than n mile away, and
ran them on the beach and rocks,
where their
Destruction Was Soon COMPLETED
The officers and men on board them
escaped to the shore rs well rs they
could. with the assistance of boats
sent from the American men-of- war,
and then threw themselves upon the
mercy Of their captors. who not only
extended TO them the gracious hand Of
American chivalry. but sent them
quart to protect them from the muir
uerOus bands Of Cuban soldiers hiding
IN the bush on the hillsides, eager to
rush down and attack the unarmed.
defeated. but valorous foe. One or
another Of the Spanish ships became
the victims Of the awful rain Of shells
winch the American battleships.
cruisers and gunboats poured upon
Them. and two hours after the first Of
the Meet had started ont Of Santiago
narDor three cruisers and two torpedo
ooat destroyers were lying on the
snofe ten to fifteen miles west Of
MORO castle, pounding TO pieces,
smoke and fame pouring from everv
paft or them, and covering the entire
coast line with mist which could be
seen Tor miles. Admiral Cervera es-
caped to the shore I'm beat sent by
aie Gloucester to the assistance of the
tntanta Maria Teresa. and as soop as
he touched the beach. he surrendered
n,niself and command to Lieut.
Morton and asked to be taken on
uoaro the Gloucester, which was the
oiiy American vessel near him mt the
uine, with several Of his officers, in
nIa,uuihg the captain of the flagship
ue spanish admiral. who was wound
GU IN the arm, was taken to the GIou-
ester ana was received at her gang
way by her commander. Lieutenant
Dohiinander Richard Wainwright,
%no srasped the hand of the gray
oearded admiral, and said to him: Il
made
As Gallant a Fight
- was ever made on the sea-" Lieu
.1nant Commander wainwright then
p.aced his cabin at the disposal OF the
spanish officers. There is no means
"ow OF telling what the Spanish loss