The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-19

crew OF the Reina Mercedes left her in a
hurry ihls is less to be wondered 81
When IL is noted that there were grest
gaps IN her sides, showing where two 10
men ana two l5-inch shells had struck her
Inc sea washed gentlyethrougb the after
cabin of the cruiser, which was Decorated
IN old-fashioned style, and the wind fut-
tered red silk curtain, which could he
pialniy seen over an inner door as the
launch steamed by.
About GO yards ahead of the Reina Mer-
ceaes ana almost in line with her. was the
wreck OF the Merrimae, lying in fully six
lannon's or water, on the very edge of the
channel
Had not the current swung the doomed
ship alongside instead of athwart TN,
enamel che latter would have been wen
blocked
When Assistant Naval Constructor Hob
son took Inc collier into the harbor he was
hunting for a four-fathom spot, and only
missed it a few yards
Al the hring stations on the west side.
which Commodore Schley inspected in
person, the American party met a Span
lsh artillery captain. who was courteous
put gloomy. Commodore Schley was hts
own Interpreter and advised the officer
with the few men under his command to
go up TO the city and surrender as quickly
as possible.
When the Spanish captain was asked
10 point out the route to the 6-inch IN fiery
on The west hin, ne said there was none.
ana explained that the way 10 get there
was over steep. rocky and difficult ground
rs was learned later that this was no,
true and it was surmised that the Span
lards was anxious TO prevent the Ameri-
cans from seeing the damage done by the
bombardment
Commodore Schley then said he was de
termined to have a glimpse at Santiago
city, and the launch was headed along
the west side of the channel going slowly
and sticking to the shallow water. lest
some contact mine put an end as the com
modore remarked, to our quiex pleasure
party"
Skirting the broad lake-lil1e spot in the
harbor where the Spanish fleet, destroyed
two weeks ago to-day, used to lie during
the commandments, and noting the bril-
liantiy painted buoys which marked The
shadows, Punta Gordo was rounded and
distant about two miles the city of San
tiago shone out the cathedral being es-
pecially well defined and the masts and
tunnels OF not few vessels showed at its
wharVes.
At that distance Santiago did not show
any traces of the destruction wrought by
l01 S-inch shells fired on the city last
Monday.
Returning TO the Brooklyn, Commodore
Schley, accompanied by his staff, entered
the harbor this evening, soon after the
mines were exploded.
Capt Cook of the Brooklyn is authority
for the statement that the former Spanish
flagship, the Infanta Maria Teresa. has
foated off the reef on which she stranded
and that her heavy armament is prac-
tically uninjured. The captain also saws
this cruiser will almost surely be saved
and form an addition TO the United States
navy, trophy of the glorious July g.
no ri
though great deal depends on the
weather which is very uncertain at this
time of the year. A heavy storm might
drive the cruiser so high on the coral
reef that it would be impossible to float
her.
Many of the naval men are outspoken In
their criticism of the treatment of the
Colon Immediately after her surrender.
They believe the ship could have been saw
ed when she slipped back from the reef
into deep water had divers, carpenters and
machinists with a competent prize crew
been sent on board her.
The crew of the Brooklyn regarded the
Vizcaya as their particular enemy since
the time when they were both present al
Queen Victorias jubilee display, when
there was much comment aboard on what
good fight might be expected between
the two ships if they ever met.
OF the four big ships which were in Ad-
mlrad CerVera' S fleet, only two are surely
doomed to destruction. They are the Viz
Caya and Almirante Oquendo, and these
as a coincidence, were the two cruisers
which went into Havana harbor after
the blowing up of the Maine and were
moored near the wreck of the United
States battleship in all the bravery OF
paint, gliding and bunting, seeming to
gloat over the ruin caused, while the peo-
pie of Havana shouted themselves aoarse
fired myriads of bombs and Dragged I'M
ceasingly of what the two formidable
cruisers of Spain would do with the Uni
ted States navy should ever a fair fight
be possible.
Surely" remarked Lieutenant Com
mander Wainwright of the Gloucester,
formerly of the Maine, this avenges the
Maine"
Speaking of the military victories of
July / and and of the naval victory Of
July 8, Commodore Schley said seriously:
These victories may serve not only to
deprive Spain of her colonial possessions,
but TO bring about a change of frontiers
in Europe. Spain cannot get the terms
now which she might have had two
months ago. What can she hope for in
six months more of such warfare? Whom
the gods would destroy they first make
mad "