Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-07-11
THE WRECKED FLEET.

Admiral Cervera's squadron, converted
into wrecked charnel houses, are litter
ing the Cuban coast, and the scenes OF
desolation, ruin, horror and death bstlle
description.
At the entrance of the harbor Of San
tiago de Cuba lies the Reina Mercedes,
sunk at midnight on July g. West
ward, five miles from the harbor, is d
torpedo boat destroyer, stuck fast in
the rocks, close in shore and battered ny
the surf Rocks jutting out of the Wa
Ter just in front Of where she lies hide
her hull from view. Her davits and
ths top OF her coming tower alone
| mark her resting place.
Visible from the sea, few miles far
ther, in an inlet embraced by two
mighty arms of black rocks that extend
nalf a mile into the sea are the remains
Of the cruisers Infanta Maria Te-
,esa ID Almirante Oquendo, formerly
ae ride Of the Spanish Davy.
Ga beyond lies the Vizcaya, mass OF
rulns, and for y-two miles aw. Y from
5 .uliago de CUBA the Cristobal Colon
les helpless on her side with her
IN Se-tacKS unrer wafer.
The Inianta Maria Teresa and the Al
mi ante Oquenuo stand upright, stuck
fast on the rocky shoals. ALI that is
eft OF them is their outer hulls. the
neavy armor defying total humiliation.
Inside OF them the work of destruction
il complete. Their boilers, engines,
buukers ard magaZ nes have been blown
ia.o unrecogniz4ble masses of twisted,
melted iron. Exploded shells, burned
has and revolvers, pieces OF yellow
bross work and gold and silver coin,
melted by the intense heat, are strewn
al over the remains of the once power fIl
armored cruisers, whose protective
decks only stand in places.
But the most gbasty, horrible sights
in those silent steel coffins are the
mangied, SCARED and charred bodies of
hundreds of brave sailors, sacrificed for
their country. Buzzards are feeding oil
the dead or lowering over the wreck. :.
o. the beach other focks of vultures
sit IN silence, waiting for the sea to give
up its dead. Every tide adds to the
tale of horror, washing up such objects
as, for Instance, sleeve enclosing a
wasted arm, other portions of human
bodies gnswed by hungry sharks and
countless relics of the battle.
Attention has been given to tho
burial of the dead of the enemy, al d
ever one hundred bodies taken frt N
the ships or washed ashore have been
inferred upon the beach by Rsar Ad-
miral Sampson's orders. Those which
now remain are either almost totally
consumed by fire, charred beyond rec
ognition or lie in the depths of the sea.
These form the food of the buzzards,
who keep constant vigil about the
wrecks.
The buried remains lie in confused
mass, unpumbered and unnamed, in a
huge pit dug in the sandy beach, where
the vessels went ashore. A rude
wooden cross from the wreckage alone
marks the grave-a grave over which
Spain may well mourn.
Boats crews from the Texas landed
Yesterday morning on the wrecks of
the Almirante Oquendo and Infanta
Maria Theresa. Commodore Schley
saw some Spaniards On board of them
aud thought our men mad better take
their arms, but they would not wait
When they neared che ships they saw
the Spauiards leaping oil and swim
ming ashore. Not shot was fired,
however. Probably the Spaniards had
been looting.
The wrecks are described as looking
like big steel buildings after destruc.
ton bv fire. The deck beams of tn e
warshlps are twisted as if the flames
had the power of tremendous explo-
sion. Side armor plates weighing tors
had been wrencbed of, and there were
many evidences in the huge holds ct
where the shots of the Brooklyn and
Oregon had landed. The decks were
strewed with officers uniforms, provis-
ions and some small arms.
All the guns are ruined, except an
eleven and one.half inch gun in the
forward turret OF the Infanta Maria
Teresa, which seems to be in perfect
order.
AS stated on Saturday Admiral
Saml son has cabled the War Depart
ment that, in his opinion, three of the
Spanish vessels may be saved. The
Colon is certainly in good condition, be
reports, and there are reasonable hopes
of saving the Maria Teresa and the
Viscaya.