The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-05
The Whole Fleet Was Quickly Destroyed and
Survivors Made Prisoners.
The Little Gloucester Does Great Work
Against Spain's Greatest Ships.

Copyright, 1898, by Associated Press.)
Ten Miles West Of the Entrance of
the Harbor of Santiago de Cuba, by
the Associated Press Dispatch Boat
Wanda. via Kingston, Jamaica, July s.
For hours after Admiral Cervera sur
rendered and went aboard the GIouces-
ter, the Infanta Maria Teresa, Amir
ante Oquendo and vizcaya continued to
burn and every now and then a deep
roar accompanied by a burst of flame
and smoke from the sides of the ships,
would announce the explosion of more
ammunition, or another magazine as
the flames shot higher and higher
above the decks of the magnificent YES
sells that had composed Admiral Ger
vera's fleet. Many of those who wit
messed the scene felt it had a strong
connection with the destruction Of the
American battIeship Maine in Havana
harbor five months ago. Lieutenant
Commander Wainwright, the COM
mander of the Gloucester was executive
officer of the Maine at the time of the
disaster, and although he remained in
Havana harbOr two months after the
explosion, he lived on board the dis
patch boat Fern and steadfastly refus-
ed TO set his foot in the city, until to
use his own words, the time should
come when he could go ashore at the
head of a. landing party of American
Blue Jackets. Today it was his ship
that sank two Spanish torpedo boat
destroyers and afterwards received the
Spanish admiral aboard as a prisoner
of war.
From his position on the bridge of the
Gloucester, Lieutenant Commander
Wainwright watched the flames and
smoke as they enveloped the decks of
the three greatest warships of the
Spanish navy which were soon to be
reduced to nothing but shattered masts
and twisted smoke stacks protruding
above. the water, similar to that other
picture in Havana harbor. It was not
strange therefore that he remarked to
his brother officers beside him, The
Maine is avenged"
Just then the Pluton and the Furor
sank. The Gloucester's boat picked up
as many of the survivors as she could
find on the shore.
The prisoners of war included the
captains of both boats. None offered
any resistance and were glad to go to
the Gloucester as they feared an attack
from the Cubans
>
ton escaped from the shore in one of
their own boats and pulled to the As
sociated Press dispatch boat Wanda,
where they remained until their cap
tain, who was held a prisoner on the
Gloucester, ordered them to join him
on the latter vessel
The most remarkable feature of the
combat was the fact that notwithstand-
ing the utter destruction of the Suan-
ssh fleet and the hard fight those ships
made even after they were on fire. the
American vessels should escape without
injury. The only possible explanation
of this is the poor craftsmanship of the
Spanish gunners, which has been SO
well demonstrated in every other con
fiict Of the war.
The Newark. Commodore Watson's <
flagship did not participate in the great
capture as he was coaling at Guam
tanamo.
Cervera Heartbr0ken.
Soon after Admiral Cervera reached
the shore and surrendered he was taken
to the Gloucester at his own request
There was no mistaking the heart
broken expression on the sea-
mans face as he took the proffered
hand Of Captain Wainwright and was