The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1898-09-15

duce the Notifications One American
was killed In the attack, while the Span
ish loss was heavy.
On the following day the flying squad
ron put to sea 10 aid in finding Cervera,
who wis reported then 10 be at Curacao,
off Venezuela. The two fleets cut off Ger
vera from Havana and on May Is ii WIS
reported that the Spanish admiral had
taken refuge In Santiago bay.
schIey Traps Cervera.
Commodore Schley, with the flying
squadron, reached Santiago before Ad-
miral Sampson, and il is known now the
arrival was just tn time TO prevent Il dash
by Cervera for Cienfuegos or Havana.
The presence Of Cervern in the bottle was
known TO a certainty In few days
through the daring trip Of Lieut. Victor
Blue, who made circuit of the bay, even
entering Santiago. Admiral Sampson ar
rived. and the'combined fleets began their
long wOit for their prey.
The invasion of the army to co-opea.e
with the fleet at Santiago wus planned as
soon as Cervcra's whereabouts was
known. President Mckinley issued a
second call for 1900 volunteers on Nav
Is. The demand was instantly met by
the men who had failed to secure place
on the first call. The first expedition to
reinforce Dewey at Manila sailed also
on May %. 1t numbered 5000 men.
Daily bombardments of the forts at the
entrance Of Santiago bay continued.
Though Cervera was bottled, it was
feared that storm might scatter the
blockading feet and give him chance TO
escape from his harbor prison Accord
ingly II was concluded to sink a vessel In
the narrow channel between MORO Cas-
tie and the Estrella battery. An iron col
lier, the Merrimac, was selected, and the
perilous work of destruction was assigned
to Naval Constructor Richmond =. Hob
son and volunteer crew of seven men.
In the early morning of June 3 the YES
sci was guided into the channel under a
terrific fire from the Spanish guns. One
shot disabled its rudder and rendered il
nearly uncomfortable. 1t was driven by
its engines, however, into the narrowest
part of the channel, and the attempt was
made to swing It broadside to the en-
trance. The force of the current prevent
ed success, as was shown by the passage
of the Spanish feet around its hulk at a
later day, but failure did not detract from
the bravery of the exploit. Hobson fred
the torpedoS which blew out the bottom
OF the ship, and, with his crew, took to a
boat, surrendering in an hour to the Span
ish admiral, who complimented him for
| his bravery. and sent a message to Samp-
SOD telling of his safety AND that of his
| men.
The order was given June 8 to prepare
| a landing place for the army of invasion.
and on June 10 Col. Huntington, with a
force Of marines landed at Guantanamo
established Camp McCaIla, and for FIVE
days fought body of Spaniards superior
in numbers and protected by impenetra-
bic brush. The Spaniards were repulsed
in every attack, but the marines lost sew
eral men.
The feet, with the aid Of the marines,
demolished Fort Caimanera and captured
Baquiri, which was to be the landing
place for Gen. Skaters army, which left
| Tampa in transports on June IA
Shafter appeared of. Baquiri on June %
| and two days were occupied in landing
| Juragua was captured on June "a, and
the advance toward Santiago began. The
| Spanish resisted, and Roosevelt's rough
riders and the Tenth United States cav
airy, in the van of the American army,