The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-05
$50 Spaniards Killed or Drowned, 100 Wound
ed and 1000 Taken Prisoners.
Cervera Among the Captured-Compmented for His
g. Gallant Fight-Only One American Killed
and One or Two Wounded.

nails to surrender even when their ships
commenced to sink and the great clouds Of
smoke pouring from their sides showed they
were on fire. But they turned their heads
toward the shore less than mile away
and ran them on the beach and rocks,
where their destruction was soon completed.
The officers and men on board then escaped
to the shore as we'll as they could with the
assistance of boats sent from the American
men-of-war and threw themselves on the
mercy of their captors. who not only ex-
tended to them the gracious hand Of Ameri-
can chivalry. but sent them a guard to pro-
tect them from the murderous bands of Gu
hillside eager to rush down and attack the
unarmed, defeated but valorous foe.
One after another of the Spanish ships be-
came the victims of the awful rain of shot
and shell which the American battle ships.
cruisers and gunboats poured upon them.
and two hours after the first of the feet
and two torpedo boat destroyers were lying
on the shore ten to fifteen miles west OF
MORO Castle pounding to pieces, smoke and
flame pouring from every part of them and
covering the entire coast line with a mist
which could be seen for miles.
Heavy explosions of ammunition occurred
every few minutes, sending dense white
smoke hundred feet in the air and caus-
ing a shower of broken iron and steel out
of the water on every side. The bluffs on
the coast line echoed every shot and ex-
plosion, and the Spanish vessels sank deeper
and deeper into the sand or else the rocks
ground their hulls 20 pieces as they rolled
or pitched forward or sideways with every
wave that washed upon them from the sea.
CERvERA'S SURRENDER.
Admiral Cervera escaped to the shore in a
boat sent by the Gloucester to the assist
ance of the Infanta Maria Teresa, and as
soon as he touched the beach he surren-
dered himself and his con mand TO Lieuten-
ant Morton and asked to be taken on board
the Gloucester, which was the only Amer
lean vessel near him at the time, with sew
eral Of his officers, including the captain of
the flagship. The Spanish admiral, who
was wounded in the arm, was taken to the
Gloucester and was received at her gangwly
by her commander, Lieut. Commander
Richard Wainwright, who grasped the hand
of the gray-bearded admiral and said to
him:
Il congratulate you, sir. upon having
made as gallant fight as was ever wit
messed on the sea-"
Lieut.. Commander Wainwright then placed
officer.
At that time the Spanish flagship and four
old Spanish vessels had been aground and
burning for two hours and the only one
escaping the feet. which could not be seen
at this point, was the Cristobal Colon. But
half dozen cu-ls of smoke far down on the
western horizon showed the fate that was
awaiting her. The Cristobal Colon was the
fastest of the Spanish ships and she soon
obtained lead over her pursuers and es-
capped the effect of the shots which de-
stroyed the other vessels. She steamed away
at great speed with the Oregon, New York.
Brooklyn and several other ships in pursuit,
all of them firing at her constantly and re-
ceiving fire themselves from her after guns.
There seemed no possibility whatever for
her escape and while her fate is not def
nitely known at this hour, it can be readily
imagined from the words of Captain Robley
D. Evans, of the Iowa, who returned from
the westward with $40 prisoners from the
Vizcaya just as the Associated Press dis
patch boat Wanda was leaving the Spanish
flagship.
WHAT BOB" EVANS SAID.
In answer to an inquiry Captain Bob
shouted through the megaphone:
'I left the Cristcbal Colon far to the
westward an hour ago and the Oregon was
giving her hell She has undoubtedly gone
down with the others. and we viii have a
Fourth of July celebration in Santiago to-
morrow"
Captain Evans. who has been in the thick
OF the engagement up to the time he took
the vizcaya's officers and crew from the
shore. said that to the best Of his knowl-
edge not one American ship had been
struck