The Lamar register., 1898-07-06
lCERVERA'S FLEET NO MORE.
THEY SAILED OUT AND WERE DESTROYED.
The Spanish Admiral Took Desperate Chances Escape But
Our Ships Under Schley Promptly Drove Them
the Beach and They Arc Now Battered Hulks

/ with Admiral sampson's fleet on
Santiago. sunday, by the Uernlds dis
patch boat Golden Rod To Port An
tonic. jamaica. thence TO Kingston. ia
maiea, Monday. Scattered slonE the
shore for distance OF two miles 10 the
west Of Moro castle now lie the ar
morcd cruisers and torpedo boat de-
s,royers that composed Admiral Ger
vcra's feet
Ina running fight OF two hours these
vessels, the cream Of the Spanish navy.
were almost annihilated this morning
by the powerful ships OF Admiral
Sampson's feet. under the Immediate
command of Commodore Sclley.
sunday quiet rested over the en-
trance TO Santiago harbor. and no
signs OF life were visible al,out old
Morre. Beyond and toward the city
OF Santiago all WAS stiii After two
days OF lighting the armies of both
I nations were resting In ilseir trenches
on this way for a distance Of half
dozen miles from shore the vessels
% Admiral SIMPSONS fleet lay laziiy
at anchor.
Admiral Sampson. desiring TO aSeer-
tain the exact condition Of the span.
ish coast defenses about Aguasiorcs.
ordered the dagsbip to go thar way.
Weighing anchor. the New Nork ieis-
trely steamed on To the eastward.
Idle thoughts occupied the minds Of
the men Ia the fleet They were sper-
rlatlns. as they had BEEN for WEEKS.
when would come their opportunity to
get att the spanish fieet In the Inner
hartor
Suddenly aS a fash, at half past .
O'Clock. vessel appeared near the en-
trance TO the hart,or She was throw
ing ont great black clouds Of smoke
and was pointing straight toward The
American iert.
The ease Of the American officers
and sailors was rttdely disturbed.
They had grabbed their glasses. scan-
ned the hnrfor entrance. and were
amazed to discover that an arInorcd
cruiser WAS coming out.
In the absence OF Admiral Sampson
Commodor. schley. from the Brook
lyn. orderrd the American warshlps TO
rush in SHORE In n few moments IL
was seen that the vessel emitting such
clouds Of smoke was the Cris,ol,ai Co
Ion, Admiral Ccryera's flagship. She
had passed the wreck OF the Merrimac
and was making for the sea nj fun
speed
Before Commodore Sctley and his
men could recover from their surprise
other clouds OF srnoke came into view
beyond the Cristobal Colon. With n
rush fully equnl TO that OF the Span
ish fiasship- the .AlmiraIte oqueudo
came toward the open sea.
Behind her came the yixeaya. also at
full speed. while the rear was brought
up by the Infanta Maria Teresa and
the two torpedo boat desiroyers, the
Furor and the Piuton. This stirring
scene. 50 dramatic and 30 unexpected
quickly put the captain of every Amer
lean vessel on his meiiIe
-cervcra's trying 10 escape" WIS the
cry that resonnded through the feet.
Every American vessel quickly
started. and one hy one the great
American warshipS made ready for
battle. Every man seampered TO his
gun and the cnptainS. knowing that
Admiral Sampson had gone along the
coast eagerly watched the Brooklyn.
Commodore Schicy's flagship
In few moments the Resolufe was
( speeding TO the eastward after the
/ New York, but the advance Of the
! Spanish feet was so rapid that our
men could not walt for Admiral Sanp-
son 10 get hack Just rs the Cristol.aI
Colon was poking her nose out Into the
open sea, Commodore Scnlcy sent the
/ Brooklyn madly rushing to the west
ward to head OF Cervera's nagship. He
/ ordered the Massachusetts aud Oregon
10 follow after. al the same time order
ing the Indiana. Iowa and Texas TO In
I ercept the other ships Of the escaping
/ ieet Then began one Of the greatest
/ sea fights in history.
7 II Is not known whether Admiral
/ Cervera had blown up the Merrimac or
passed II in single column. His shin.
I the Cristobal Colon. glided ont Of the
harbor and shot to the westward. her
two tunnels and hight black buIwarks
showing plain against the green hills.
/ her pennant and the Spanish red and
J yellow ensign Iashing out In q few
seconds the American fleet was in mo-
\ ton. the Indiana. which was elosert.
! heading straight in shore 10 get close
range.
The Spaniard opened fire with an IL
inch Honotorinand mighty fountains OF
water rose about tile battleship's
! weather decks. The shell tell near her
bow. The Indiana replied with her ~
/ inch guns and monment later let go
everything that could be brought to
| bear. One OF the first shells fell ON the
| Spanish cruisers deck
Cervera was going past and the In
| diana rounded to give him broadside.
and then, as the Iowa aud the Texas
opened on him. the doomed admiral
! m tho barhor t,anuth xrt.a,.,, ,l..,