Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-18
M0RR0S FLAG FALLS
Continual srdsn First Page.)
crest Of the pl1keauAke ciin, were six big
guns. one'sor5 twossof which were dis

crest Of the pllseaueAke clfr, were six big
guns. one. orr twos:sof which were dis
| mounted.
FamI u. save Smith.
The Estrella SatteH and a small neigh
Dor further. in 8howsd no guns, while the
famous Cayo HmitM filled the islet with
| blue. white ana yelh6w houses situated in
| groves Of Towering trees. some of the
buildings looking aszaf they had been the
| resorts Of -pIe9 sureS seekers in happier
| times. Others We're humble enough in ap-
pearance for fishetmen's houses All were
deserted, and, strange to say, not one,
apparently, had been touched by hostile
proJectile.
On the inside of the slope and hill to
the westward some hastily constructed but
very comforting easements were seen, into
which tho Spanish gunners were wont to
retire when our ships opened fire. When
the nrlng ceased the gunners only had a
few steps to climb to their six-inch rapid
fire guns, which almost always fired q
few spitefuf farewell shots. ~
AT Punta Gorda there were two-four-inch
guns, one above the other, neither pro-
tected by even sand or earth. These COM
manded the harbor entrance pretty well.
but they could have been silenced by enc
well-directed heavy she'll
Commodore Schley has over and over
again expressed the belief that our fleet
could probably have entered the harbor
without the loss of d single ship. The
mines might have stopped ingress by sink
ing the leading ship. But this Is the
chance or war, and not SO grave as many
taken during the civil strife, nor as serious
as would have been the situation had there
hat tnrfa
the harbor. 80 +"'
Wreck of the Mercedes.
Commodore Schley's party first steamed
around the wreck of the Reiua Mercedes
which lies with her bow pointed toward the
city. She had list to starboard and rest
ed ON reef near tho foot of MORO cliff
Inc cruiser was sunk to- the upper deck
on which one six-inch gun remained. One
torpedo tube was loaded, and the auxiliary
battery seemed in place. Evidently the
crew OF the Reina Mercedes left her in a
hurry. This is less to be wondered at
When 1t IS noted that there were great
gaps In her sides. showing where two
Twelve and two thirteen-inch shells had
struck her.
me sea washed gently through the after
CABIN OF the cruiser, which Was decorated
tered red silk curtain. which could be
plainly seen over an inner door, as the
launch steamed by.
About 600 yards ahead Of the Reina Mer-
cedes and almost In line with her was the
wreck of the Merrtmac, lying in fully six
tathoms of water, on the very edge of
the channel.
HAD not the current swung the doomed
snip alongside instead of athwact the chan
mel, the latter would have been we'll block
ca. W men Assistant Naval Constructor
Hopson took the collier into the harbor
ne was hunting for a foar-fa thom SPOT
and only missed by a few hundred yards
AT the hiring stations on the west side
which Commodore Schley inspected in per-
son. the American party met Spanish ar
tillery captain, who was courteous bur
gloomy. Commodore, Schfey was his own
interpreter, and advised the officer. with
the few men under his command, to 60
UP to the city and surrender as quickly as
possible
Schley's investigation.
when the Spanish. captain was asked to
point out the route to the six-inch battery
on the west hill. he said there was none
and explained that the way to get there
was over steep. rocky, and difficult ground
1t was learned later that this was not true
and 1t was surmised that the Spaniard was
anxious TO prevent the Americans from
seeing the damage done by the lombard
ment.
Commodore Schiey then said he was de-
termincd to have glimpse at Santiago
city, and the launch was headed along
the west side of the channel, going slow
iy and sticking to the shallow water, lest
modore remarked. Ito our quiet pleasure
party"
Skirting the broad lake-like spot in the
harbor, where the Spanish feet DESTROYED
two weeks ago today used TO lie during
the commandments. and noting the bril-
iiantly painted buoys which marked the
shadows, Punta Gorda was founded and
distant about two miles. the city Of San
tiago shone out. the cathedral being espe-
cially well defined and the masrs and fun
ne1s OF not few vessels showing at its
wharves. N'
At that distance Santiago did not show
any traces of the destruction wrought by
the 101 out of the 106 eight-inch shells fred
on the city last Monday
Returning to the Brooklyn Commodore
Schley. acco -npanied by his staff entered
the harbor this evening, soon after the
mines were exploded
They May BE Saved.
Capt. McCook of the Brooklyn is author
ity for the statement that the former
Spanish flag snip, the Infanta Maria Teresa.
has foated off the reef on which she
stranded, and that her heavy armament is
practically uninjured. The captain also
says this cruiser will almost surely be
saved and form an addition to the United
States navy, a trophy OF the glorious July :.
The Cristobal Colon may also be saved,
though good deal depends on the wealth
er, which is very uncertain at this time of
the year. A heavy storm might drive the
cruiser so high on the coral reef that 1t
would be impossible to float her .'--.- ~
Many of the naval men are outspoken in
their criticism of the trea tment of the
Colon Immediately after her surrender
They believe the ship could have been saw
ed when she slipped hack from the reef
into deep water mad divers, carpenters and
machinists, with competent prize crew.
been sent on board, Of her.
The crew Of. the Brooklyn regarded the
Vizcaya their particular enemy, since
the time wnen they were both present at
Green Xicforia'S- Jubilee 63Spla,, r,bo,,