Richmond planet., 1898-09-10
The Troubles of the Spaniards.
AD1IRAL CERvERA's TRoUBLEs--THE DEATH.
TRAP
THE PREPARATIONS TO LEAVE THE HARBoR.

and report for position of enemy's
ships and announce their movements
May 2sth -Enemy's squadron to the
eastward. steaming in column, headed
toward the harbor. Recognised the
brooklyn, Indiana, Iowa, Texas and q
merchant vessel. Prepared the bat
terry, loading with steel shell.
May 30th--About food semaphors
announced enemy's squadron in sight,
and also, the arrival of a man-of-war
with two masts with three tops on each
ano two smoke stacks. May 3lst-the
Colon was struck by fragments of q
juring her head. June Est-Colon
shipre her berth up the harbor.
SHIP SUNK.
June 3rd-at 3 30 a. m, firing began
at the entrance flag ship made signal.
Merchant ship intending to sink in
the entrance was, in passing the Es-
trella battery. sunk by q torpedo from
the Pluton and by = mine without ac-
complishing her intention" Seven
pr soners, one officer and six men.
June 6th-Enemy opened fire ct z :45
a m. At IL :85 n. M, semaphore sig
nailed, 'enemy withdrawing" Pre-
pairing Mercedes rapid fire guns in
A44OOO4 VI tlAO u0LUOIs llaJCI I6CGlN6Q
notice of loss sustained. Dead. Com
mander Emilio Costa. executive officer
of the Mercedes and five men wound
ed, Ensign Alifando MolinO and twelve
men, June leth--at 5.39 a. m, eEemy
opened q brisk fire on the shore bat
teries, some of the projectiles falling
into the harbor.
THE FIRE LEssRNZD.
At 6:05, the fire grew less, our bat
teries continuing the fire until e. 80.
at which hour we ceased. During the
forenoon equipped company for land
ing. Declared fireman deserted after
| four days absence. June f7th-at 5 q.
m, enemy opened fire to westward up
on Point Cablera, lasting until 5:e5.
According to signals, attack opened by
the Texas, q yacht and steam launches.
June 16th-Divers examined wreck Of
the Merrimac. June 20th-Twenty
ships appeared. only four which are
men-o war. One OF them very large.
June 21st-the landing company
equipped, and at z O'Clock placed in
the first launch the artillery and am u
milton that we're to be taken. June
22nd-at sos a. m, heard shots from
the enemy's squadron, which were re-
piled TO DY our batteries. The firing,
which the enemies did slowly. lasted
until III 30 o'clock.
LANDING PARTY.
During the afternoon sent landing
party ashore and sent rifles and ammu-
milton to the flag ship. June 24th--
sent to the detachment at the iron
pier fifty shells for the artillery and
three days rations TO the party st Dos
Crucet. June 25th-sent provisions to
the party at Dos Cameros, Des Uobre.
June 26th-sent provisions to party at
cartridges and five boxes of Mauser
rife ammunition to the detachment
under command of third officers.
June 2Tth-sent ammunition to the
party at Dos Cruces to the iron pier
and one days provision to the other
party. July 1st-provision and ammu-
milton sent to the detachment.
CANNON SHOTS ON sHoRE.
Heard cannon shots on shore. Dur
| ing the afternoon projectiles passed
near bow Of Colon, probably from the
New York or Oregon, firing in that di-
rection from Altares; heard sharp
firing between the tower and Siboney,
the squadron firing upon the harbor.
A number OF wounded arrived on mill
itary hospital. Men slept on their
guns. July 2nd-Flsg- ship signailed
Light fires under all boilers so as to
have steam up st 3. m. At q. m.
heard rife firing towards tower and q
little later enemy's squadron opened
fire on the batteries and the bay.
Respectfully yours.
JOHN ROBINSON,
o. =. 8. Iris, Navy Department,
Washington, d. O.