The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-07-05
EXTRA
q a. M.
achusotts. Indiana, Texas Gloucester
and other ships Of the feet.
A ColneIdsnee.
q q. =.

6chuBetta, Indiana, Ie6aS HlouCeHteF
and other ships Of the feet.
A Coincidence.
Commodore schleB's flagship, the
Brooklyn, had her usual position at the
extreme western end OF the line, ten
miles from the New York, and Texas. It
Is q peculiar fact that he should have
been in proper position to direct the
movement OF his flying squadron
AGAINST the Spanish feet, which he had
bottled up In Santiago harbor six weeks
As d matter Of fact, the entire Amer
lean fleet was much further on shore
than usual when the Spanlards made
their appearance this morning.
With the exception OF the bomDard.
ment yesterday morning which resulted
in knocking down the flag on Morro
Castle and the supposed silencing OF the
batteries which opened fire again this
morning as usual, the navy had done
little recently to attract interest here,
and the officers and crews themselves
were watching the developments OF the
| operations being conducted by the
army. II was not believed that Admir-
al Cervera would attempt to escape
from his perilous position at this late
day, but Il was supposed that ne would
keep his ships in the harbor to shell the
advancing American army and that u
Santiago fell he would blow up or SINK
them before permitting them to be cap
tured by the fleet lying outside.
The Spanish admiral's real plans
however, were plainly not anticipated.
He accepted the one chance open to him
that OF running the gauntlet OF the
powerful men-of-war lying In front OF
the harbor.
Took the only Chance.
There seemed to be but one chance in
hundred that he would be able to
make the move successfully, but he took
that chance and while great piles of
naval architecture now ground to pieces
on the rocks few miles from where he
started, tell the mournful story OF his
failure, there are none who applaud his
conduct more than the American ofti-
GERS and seamen who sent his ships to
destruction.
II was about 9 o'clock this morning
when the flagship Infanta Maria Teresa
passed under the wall Of MORO Castle
and steamed out to sea. She was fol-
lowed by the CriStobnl Colon, ViEcaya
and OQuendo and last by the torpedo
boat destroyers Furor and Pluton. The
lookout on the American vessels which
were lying five or ten miles of the en-
trance TO the harbor sighted them Inn
medlately. Most OF the American crui-
sers were at the usual Sunday morning
quarters without thought OF anything
as surprising as the Spanish feet get
ting past the aunken collier Merrlmacs
which they had been deluded into be-
lIevlng effectuaIly blocked the exit.
There was great excitement at once
and very rapid action along the Amerl-
can lines. The signal for full speed was
running from bridge to engine room OF
every ship and the entire fleet COM
menced to move In shore toward the
Spanish and the great twelve and tifir-
teen-inch guns of the battleships and
the smaller batteries on the other yes
sells fired shot after shot at long range.
AS the ships ran In towards the shore
It soon became evident that the Span
iards had not come out to make an ag-
Hressive- fight. for they turned tn the
eastward as soon as they had cleared
the tarbOr and started on their race for
safety, at the same time sending an
swering shots at the American ships as
fast as the men could load and fire the
guns. The Brooklyn, Massachusetts,
Texas. Oregon and Iowa were nearer
the Spaniard9 than any other Of the
American vessels. but stlll most OF them
wer too far away to get an effective
range. They crowded on all steam,
however, in preparation for the chase,
never stopping their fire one moment.
rhe PIueEy GIourrStsr.
The Gloucester, a fast little yacht that
cannot boast OF any heavier battry than
several six Founders and three pound
era, was lying OF Aguadores, three miles
| east Of MORO when the Spaniards came
ont. At first she Joined in the attack
upon a large vessel and then held of
some, Captain wainwright concluding to
reserve his efforts for the two torpedo
boat dsstroyers in the rear. The
Gloucester steamed after them
when they appeared and
chased them to point Ave miles west
OF MORO, pouring shot after shot into
them all the time. Her enorts pore
abundant fruit, for to her belongs the
credit for the destruction OF both OF
the deStroyers. She fred 1,400 shots dur
ing the chase and It was not long be.
fort both destroyers were on fire and
| plainly disabled.
Notwithstanding this they both re-
turned the GlOucesters fire and rain
OF small shells fell Ground the yacht.
The Furor evidently determined that
she would not stand the FIRE any !on-
ger and she put about and headed back
for Santiago. Then the Gloucester Sim
ply smothered her with shots from her
rapid FIRE guns and running like the
wind. forced her to turn around aud
again head westward.
Smoke commenced to rise from the
Furor's sides and she put In towards
the shore. Before she had gone far
what was left OF her crew abandoned
| her and took the boate. reaching the
shore later. BF that time she was n
mass of flame and was drifting help
lessiy.
The Pluton was in the same distress
ed condition and was also headed for
the shore, running up alongside OF low
biuff where she soon pounded 10 pieces
and finally broke In two completely.
It was a most dangerous landing
place for her crew and but about half OF
them reached the shore alive.
The officers and crews must have
been aware OF the fate which seemed to
be before them, but II was not until the
ships were on FIRE and enveloped IN
flames and smoke that the men ceased
firing.
Beaten to Death on Rocks.
The Gloucester after sending a boat
ashore to the Pluton steamed along the
coast 10 where the armored cruisers
we're stranded and went to their as
slstRnce. There was danger from the
magazines and many OF those on board
Jumped into the water and swan to the
shore, though a number were unable to
reach the small strip OF sandy beach
IN the cove, md were thrown against
the rocks and killed or drowned.
Many OF the wounded were lowered
into the ships own boats and taken
nshoro but this task was a most diiil-
cult one