Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1898-07-09

Ten Miles West of the Entrance of the
Harbor of Santiago de Cuba. Sunday, July
3, by the Dispatch Boat Wanda to Port An
tonic, Jamaica, Via Kingston, Jamaica,
July 5.-Admiral Cervera's s fleet, consisting
of the arWored cruisers Crstobal Colon,
Almirante .Oquendo, Infanta Maria Teresa
and Vizcaya and two torpedo boat de-
stroyers, the Furor and the Pluton, which
, had been held in the harbor of Santiago
de Cuba for six weeks past by the combined
squadrons of Rear Admiral Sampson and
Commodore Schley, lies at the bottom of
the Caribbean sea off the southern coast
of Cuba. The Spanish admiral is a pris-
oner of war on the auxiliary gunboat
Gloucester (formerly Mr.. j. Pierpont Nor
gan's yacht Corsair) and 1000 to 1900 other
Spanish officers and sailors, all who es-
capped the frightful carnage caused by the
shells from the American warships, are
also held prisoners of war by the United
States navy.
Only One American Killed.
The American victory is complete and,
according to the best information at this
time the American vessels were prac-
tcally untouched, and only one man was
killed, though the ships were subjected to
the heavy fire of the Spaniards all the time
the battle lasted,
Cervern's Gallant Dash.
Admiral Cervera made as gallant a dash
for liberty and for the preservation of his
in the history of naval warfare. In the
face of overwhelming odds, with nothing
before him but inevitable destruction or
surrender IL he remained any longer in the
trap in which the American fleet held him,
he made a bold dash from the harbor a
the time the Americans least expected him
to do so. and, lighting every inch of his
way, even when his ship was ablaze and
sinking, ne tried to escape the doom which
was written on the muZzleaof every Amer
lean gun trained uDOn his vessels.
Americans Open Fire.
The Americans saw him the moment he
left the harbor and commenced their work
of destruction Immediately For an hour
or two they followed the flying Spaniards
to the westward along the shore line. send
ing shot after shot into their blazing hulls
tearing great holes in their steel sides and
covering their decks with the blood of the
killed and wounded.
Pluck of the SpnnInrds.
At no time did the Spaniards show any in
dication that they intended to do other
wise than fight to the last. They showed
no signals 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 towards the shore, less than
a mile away. and ran them on the beach
and rocks, where their destruction was
soon completed.
American ChIvnIry Displayed.
The officers and men on board then es-
capped to the shore as well as they could,
with the assistance of boats sent from the
American men-of-war, and then 1hrew
themselves upon the mercy of their cap
tors, who not only extended to them the
gracious hand of American chivalry, but
sent them a guard to protect them from
the murderous bands of Cuban soldiers hid
ing in the bush on the hillside, eager TO
rush down and attack the unarmed, de-
feated. but valorous foe.
Destruction of the Fleet.
One after another of the Spanish ships be-
came the victims of the awfu! rain of shells
which the American battleships poured up
on them, and two hours after the first OF
the fleet had started out OF Santiago harbor
three cruisers and two torpedo boat de-
stroyers were lying on the shore ten to
fifteen miles west of MORO castle, pounding
10 pieces, smoke and flame pouring from
every part of them and covering the entire
coast line with a mist which could be seer
for miles.
Heavy explosions of ammunition oc-
CURED every few minutes, sending curls OF
dense white smoke hundred feet in the
air and causing a shower OF broken iror
and steel to fall in the water on every
side. The bluffs on the coast line echoed
with the roar OF every explosion, and the
Spanish vessels sank deeper and deeper
into the sand, or else the rocks grounG
their hulls to pieces as they rolled oil
pitched forward or sideways with every
wave that washed upon them from the
open sea.
CerVern's Surrender.
Admiral Cervera escaped to the shore
in a boat sent by the Gloucester to tn,
assistance of the Infanta Maria Teresa
and as soon as he touched the beach h,
surrendered himself and his command t
Lieut.. Morton, and asked to be taken or
- board the Gloucester, which was the only
American vessel near him at the time, witt
several of his officers, including the cap
tain of the flagship. The Spanish ad
miral, who was wounded in the arm, wa
taken to the Gloucester, and was received
at her gangway by her commander, Lieu
tenant Commander Richard Wainwright
who grasped the hand of the gray-beardeC
admiral, and said to him: II congratulate
you, sir upon having made as gallant
fight as was ever witnessed on the sea.
Lieutenant Commander Wainwright theI
placed his cabin at the disposal of tn,
Spanish officers.
The Spaniards, when they found the!
would be permitted to live, adapted them
selves comfortably to the situation. rolle
their cigarettes and began playing card
among themselves.
Cristobnl Colon Chrsed.
At that time the Spanish flagship AM
four other Spanish vessels had beel
aeround and burning for two hours, dn'
the only one of the escaping fleet whtSl
could not be seen at this point was tn
Crstobal Colon. But half dozen curls o
smoke far down on the western hortzo
showed the fate that was awaiting her
The Crstobal Colon was the fastest of tn
Spanish ships. and she soon obtained
lead over the others after leaving tn
harbor, and escaped the effect of the shot
which destroyed the other vessels. Sh
steamed away at great speed with tn
Oregon, New York, Brooklyn and severa
other ships in pursuit. all of them firing a
her constantly and receiving fire them
selves from her after guns.
.'FIEhtinE BOb's" Prediction.
There seemed no possibility whatever 10
Der escape. and. while her fate is not del
initeiy known at this hour. 1t can be readil
imagined from the words of Capt. Roble
pEvahs. of the Iowa. who returned from tn
westward with $50 prisoners with the Via
caya Just as the dispatch boat Wanda wa
leaving the flagship, In answer to an In
quiry he shouted through the megaphone
81 left the Crlstobal Colon far to the wes
ward an hour ago and the Oregon wa
giving her hell. She has undoubtedly gon
down with the others, and we will hav
Fourth of July celebration in Santiago tc
morrow"