The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-09-22

spectators, as did also the oregon, Brook
Ign, iowa aud the Giousester All ,nese
sh.ps were bedecked In flags galore IRON
stem to stern and comIiAadod ny the ioi-
lowing impersonalors OF the real commando
ers, all CT Whom were under Commodore
Schiey who was ably and well personated
by Mir. Ed. Edwards;
Brooklyn, flagship. with Captain Cook,
pereonated by 1hemaa Slmmcns.
Bat,lcvhp Iowa, Captain Fighting Bob
Evans. personased by Captain clark cutler.
Battieship Texas, Capsata Philips, per-
sonated by Captain IN johnson,
Battleship Oregon. Captain Clark. per-
sonated by Captain Cooper Walker.
Auxiliary cruiser Gloucester, Lieutenant
Commander Wainwright. ably personatcd
by Samuel Il. Waters.
on few yards to the eastward OF tho
American fleet nestled the little Houston
Post dispatch boat Alert. planned and con-
strueted by The Post representative here.
This little boat was the most conspicuous
OF all the fleet and excited much praise
from the throng that constantly gazed at
her. The boat was hedecked from stem TO
stern with small American flags. while at
the bow floated a large Texas flag. On the
large cabin was the inscription:
Houston Post
Dispatch Boat ALERT.
From the location OF the American fleet
the people wandered over TO where the
spaniLh fleet was swinging 10 anchor a, the
Intersection OF NGcces and Corpus Christi
bays The first 10 emerge into view around
the reef was the large cruiser Cr!stobal
Colon. while Few yards away from her
was the rest OF the unfortunate fleet which
met its doom of Santiago Commodore
Garcia, impersonatlng Commodore Cervera
was in charge OF this fleet. ably assisted BY
the following suhordnates:
Antn ,.NIa o..
flagship, Ramon Garcia commander.
Almiran,e oquendo, Jose Juarez COM
mandor
viscaya, Emilio Guerra captain.
Torpedo boat Furor, Captain Manuel
Aguilar.
Torpedo boat Pluton, Captain Lupe
Ochca.
These bcNts. like the American vessels
were bedeckei In their national coors.
crimson and yellow. The commanders.
however. were Mexicans. although au ef-
fort was made by the committee having the
matter IN charge TO have Spaniards
in charge OF each of the vessels but all ap-
preached on this subject refused 10 serve,
hence the MeNioans volunteered their SER
vices
report reached the commanders OF the
Spanish ships that the Americans on board
the other fleet were going to riddle them
with real shot and shell tonight and intend
ed to send all The ships to the bottom in
earnest. This created some confusion
among the men. and It appeared for awhile
that there would be mutiny and desertion
aboard the Spanish ships. A number OF the
naval committee learning OF this outrag-
eous report. quickly sought the men ana
informed them that there were no such
intentions and quickly dlspellcd tho belief
by informing them that they were victims
of practical Joke. This settled all fear,
and the men expressed themselves as ready
| for the tshnm) battle.
Several hours before the designated t,me
for the big battle 20 take place large crowds
! cpmmenced -congregating on the scene.
some coming from town on the train and
others by private conveyance horseback.
etc, and in very short while the large
grand stand wac filled to its utmost capao-
| ity, while many were stand~g for n dis
lance along the beach awaiting the firing
! Of tho first shot and watching for the Span
sh fleet to emerge from its hiding and INTO
| the bay,
The night was very calm and the enact
atcd waters OF Nueces bay presented beau
,ifnl appearance with It's surface as smooth
es glass
As The Spaniards got fairly started down
the coast the Colon shot ahead, On tho
| American side the Brooklyn was In the
| lead, followed by the oregon, Iowa and
Texas.
The Yankee fire was hot and heavy ana
struck home, but the dons fired aimloSBly
! Wainwrisht's Gloucester brought up The
| rear aud in less time than It takes to tell II
destroyed tho two Spanish torpedo boats,
, Pluton and Furor. either OF which was
more than match for him The Texas
and Iowa turned their attention and guns
to the Vizcaya and she was soon eeen hur~
ryng for the beach. lowering her crimson
and yellow flag and hosting The white flag.
/ The Brooklyn and oregon chased ahead
after the Colon and Oquondo, The latter
was soon disposed Of. One shot from the
Texas set fire TO her magazine She, too
pulled for tho shore and tho Gloucester
came to her burning decks and received
Cervera.
The Cristoba Colon held ont tho longest
and made a run OF fifty miles.
Finally baffled and beaten. she made
for the shore and hauled down her flag
When the Colon gave up he fight she was
well hemmed In by the Brooklyn. Oregon
Texas and The Post dispatch boat, all bov-
ing made the ffty-mile run.
The sight was one of the greatest ever
seen here, and several times some Of the
ships were undiscernible on account OF the
| dense smoke.
Tomorrow night the celebrated and much
advertised "Hobson kiss Will take place
on Artesian street from an elevated plat
form. Who will perform the role OF Hob
ron s "a yet profound secret. although II
Ii said that Miss Arnold will be personated
by "a young lady from San Antonio Pre-
cedlng the kiss an elaborate war tableaux
will be produced while the genuine hles
viii terminate the evenings entertainment.
ANTITRUST STATUTE.