The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-07-22
Cruisers.

witnessed by a few Spanish and Amer
lean troops on shore, by the Brooklyn,
New York, Vixen and Vesuvius lying
within a few hundred yards Of the
harbor entrance. Almost Immediately
after the flag was hauled down steam
launches commanded by Liuetenants
Hobson and Palmer entered the har-
Dor, penetrating as far the firing sta
tons of the submarine mines. These
mines were judged to be not so for
midable as expected and later in the
afternoon they were all exploded I'M
der the supervision of the Vixen.
1t was seen that two mines had been
exploded at the time Of he entrance
of the Merrimac into the ann of
Santiago harbOr, but it is not thought
probable that either of them had any
thing to do with the sinking of the
craft.
Six or seven fine steamers in the
harbor fall as prizes to the navy and
army. The Spanish .gunboat Alvarez
had already been taken possession of
by a prize crew from the New York.
The other vessels lie at the other end
of the harbor, at Santiago proper.
MORRO CASTLE.
Soon after noon Commodore Schley,
with Captain Cook, of the Brooklyn,
Lieutenant J. H. Sears, the flag lieu
tenant, Lieutenant b. w. Wells, the
flag secretary, and three invited cor
respondents of the Associated Press,
went into the harbOr on a steam
launch which moved slowly in order
to make close observation of the Span
ish forts and batteries. Every one
expressed satisfaction at the fact that
MORO castle was not demolished by
the bombardment, Captain Cook say
ing: 1--WE need Ell Moro as an object
lesson and America ic rather ShU on
ruins, anyhow"
The old fort stand on the bluff, ter
race fashion. From the waters edge
to the brow of the beetling cliff there
are huge caves formed by the action
of the waves. 1t would appear, how
ever. that only one bastion was knock
ed to pieces while the queer little ser
try boxes, dating back to the Sixteenth
century. escaped almost intact.
MORO castle is the only imposing for
LITIGATION in the harbOr and it is only
so in appearance, since not a gun is
mounted within or on the crumbled
walls. In fact, all the batteries, mask
ed and open, dWindled in their terror
inspiring qualities as the inspection
grew closer. Growing the hill on the
west side of the entrance were the
famous 6-inch rapid-firing guns from
the Spanish cruiser Reina Mercedes.
These were ugly looking and danger
Gus, while below on brick foundations
on the western shore of the entrance,
were some revolving guns. These were
the ones which poured such a-~bitter
fire into the Merrimac. Directly east
of MORO castle, on the crest Of the
plateau-like cliff, were six big guns,
one or two of which were ~dismOunted
OTHER FORTIFICATIONS.
The Estrella battery and a small
neighbor further in bowed no guns,
while the famous Cayo Smith filled the
islet with blue, white and yellow
houses situated in grov of Towering
trees, some of the buildings looking as
if they had been the resorts of pleas
ure-seekers in happier times. Others
were humble enough in appearance for
hshermen'S houses. All were deserted
and, strange to say, not one, apparent
ly, had been touched by a hostile pro
~jectile.
On the inside of the slope and hill
to the westward some hastily con
structed, but very comforting case
mates were seen, into which the Span.
iSh gunners were wont to retire wher
our ships opened fire. When the frine
ceased the gunners only had a few
steps to climb to their 6-inch rapid.
firing guns which almost always fired
a few spiteful farewell shots.
At Punta Gorda, there were two 4
inch guns, n above the other, Meth
er protected by even sand or earth
These commanded the harbor entranc,
pretty we'll, but they could have beer
silenced by n we'll directed heavy
shell.
Commodore Schley has over and owe
expressed the belief that our flee
could probably have entered the har
Dor without the loss of a single ship
The mines might hav stopped ingres'
by sinking the leading ship. But thi
is the chance of war and not so grav'
as many taken during the civil war
nor as serious as would have bee,
: the situation had there been good bat
: terieS, properly manned in the har
1 Dor. a-~{RA6
Commodore Schley's party frs
steamed around the wreck of tn,
, Reina Mercedes which lies with he
l bow pointed toward the city. Her lis
+ is to and she rested on
reef near the fOOt of the MORO cliff
The cruiser was sunk to the uppe
j. deck on which one 6-inch gun remain
( ed. One torpedo tube was loaded an,
> the auxiliary battery seemed in place
I Evidently the crew of the Reina Mer
cedeS left her in a hurry. This is no
to be wondered at when it is note.
that there were great gaps in he
Sides. showing where two IL and tw
, 13-inch shells had struck her. The Sc
washed gently through the after cabi
of the cruiser. which was decorate
in old fashioned style, and the win,
n f1uttered a red silk curtain, whic'
$ could be plainly seen over an inne
door, as the Launch steamed by.
e THE MERRIMAC.
t About six hundred yards ahead O
the Reina Mercedes n almost in lin
with her was the wreck of the Mer
rimac lying in fully six fathoms @
water ON the very edge of the char
mel. Had not the current swung tn
doomed ship alongside instead G
athwart the channel the latter woul
o have been blockaded. When Assist
ant Naval Constructor Hobson too
s the collier into the harbor he wa
d hunting for a four fathom spot an
s only missed it by a few yards.
e At the firing stations on the Yves
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