The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-05
THE AMERICAN VICTORY IS COMPLETE
Cervera Is Prisoner Of War Together With
ardsIn Spite Sharp Spanish Ships Our
Vessels Were Not Injured Only One Killed.

could be seen for miles. Heavy explo-
sions of ammunition occurred every few
minutes, sending curls of dense white
smoke hundred feet in the air and
causing a shower of broken iron and
steel to fall in the water on every side
The bluffs on the coast line echoed with
the roar of every explosion. and the
Spanish vessels sank deeper and deeper
into the sand, or else the rocks ground
their hulls to pieces as they rolled or
pitched forward or sidewise with every
wave that washed upon them from. the
open sea.
Admiral Cervera escaped to the shore
in boat sent by the Gloucester to the
assistance of the Infanta Maria Teresa.
and as soon as he touched the beach he
surrendered himself and his command
to Lieutenant Morton and asked to be
taken aboard the Gloucester, which
was the only American vessel near him
at the time. with several of his officers.
including the captain of the flagship
The Spanish admiral, who was wound
ed in the arm, was taken to the Glou-
cester and was received at the gang
way by her commander, Lieutenant
Commander Richard Wainwright, who
grasped the hand of the gray bearded
admiral and said to him: Il congratu-
late you, sir, upon having made as
gallant a fight as was ever witnessed
on the sea-" Lieutenant Commander
Wainwright then placed his cabin at
the disposal of the Spanish officers. At
that time the Spanish flagship and four
other Spanish vessels had been aground
and burning for two hours, and the
only one of the escaping fleet which
could not be seen at this oint was the
Cristobal Colon. But half dozen curls
of smoke far down on the western hori-
zon showed the fate that was awaiting
her. The Cristobal Colon was the
fastest of the Spanish ships, and she
obtained a lead over the others after
leaving the harbor and escaped the ef-
fective shots which destroyed the 9TH
ers. She steamed away at great speed,
with the Oregon, Brooklyn and several
other ships in pursuit, all of them fir
ing at her constantly and receiving fire
from her themselves from her after
guns. There seemed no possibility
whatever for her escape. and, while her
fate is not definitely known at this
hour. it can be readily imagined from
the words of Capt. Robley ID. Evans of
the Iowa, who returned from the west
ward with $50 prisoners from the Viz
caya just as the associated lress dis
patch boat Wanda was leaving the
flagship. In answer to an inquiry ne
shouted through the megaphone: 81
left the Cristobal Colon far to the west
ward an hour ago and the Oregon was
giving her hell. She has undoubtedly
gone down with the others. and we will
have a Fourth of July celebration IN
Santiago tomorrow"
Captain Evans, who had been in the
thick of the engagement up to the time
he took the Vizcaya officers and crew
from the wreck, said that to the best of
his knowledge not one American ship
had been struck
The torpedo boat Ericsson, which also
returned from the westward at about
the same time, made a similar report,
saying it was believed not a man was
injured on board the American ships, al
though another report had 1t that one
man was killed on board the Brooklyn,
a report which could not be verified
when this dispatch was sent. There is
no means of telling now what the loss
hut io 80
heavy. as the prisoners now in custody
report their decks strewn with dead and
in great number. and besides
there is a statement that many bodies
could be seen fastened to the pieces of
wreckage floating in the sea after the
fight was over.
A large number of Spanish wounded
were removed to the American ships
There can be no doubt that Admiral
Cervera's plan to escape from Santiago
harbor was entirely unexpected by Ad-
miral Sampson, and the best evidence
Df this is the fact that when the Spanish
vessels were seen coming out of the
1arbor the flagship New York was seven
miles away. steaming 10 the eastward
toward Juragua. the military base 10
miles east Of Moro. The New York was
1ut of the fight altogether at every
stage but she Immediately put about |
and followed the others.
But she Immediately put about and |
the other vessels in the race |
10 the westward and overlook them in |
lime TO join in the chase Of the Cristo- !
bal Colon after the other Spanish ves- |
'els had been destroyed by the Brook |
yn, Oregon. Iowa. Massachusetts,, In |
Llama. Texas. Gloucester and other |
ships of the fleet
Commodore Schley's flagship, the |
Brooklyn, had her usual position at