The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-05
ADMIRAL CERVERA
RUSHES TO HIS DOOM
Eager to Escape From the Hbor of Santiago he Heads his Squad
ron Past the Snken Merrinac, Flying Straight
into the Jaws of Death.

altogether at every stage, but she lm-
medately put about and followed the
other vessels i'll the race to the
westward and overlook them Ill
time to join in the chase for the Crlsto-
bal, after the other Spanish vessels had
been destroyed by the Brooklyn, the
Oregon, Iowa, Massachusetts, Indiana,
Texas, Gloucester and other ships of the
fleet Commodore Schley's flagship, the
Brooklyn had her usual position ut the
extreme western end of the line, ten
mhes from the New York and Texas.
AS Il matter of fact the entire Ameri-
can fleet was much further off shore
than usual when the Spaniards made
their appearance this morning.
With the exception of the lombard
ment yesterday morning, which resulted
III knocking down the flag on Morro Cas-
tie and the supposed silencing of bat
teres, which opened fire again this morn
ing. as usual, the navy had done lit
tie recently to attract interest here. and
the officers and crews themselves were
watching the developments of the opera
tions being conducted by the army.
which had succeeded in reaching the
very gates of Santiago after an enorm-
Gus loss in killed and wounded in the
fighting of the past two days. 1t was
not believed that Admiral Cervera
would attempt to escape from his peril
Gus position mt this late day. but it.
was supposed that he would keep his
ships in the harbor to shell the advancing
American army. and if Santiago fell he
would blow up or sink them before per-
hitting them to be captured by the
feet lying outside.
The Spanish Admiral's real plans.
however. were plainly not anticipated
He accepted the one chance open to him
that of running the gauntlet of the
powerful men-of-war lying in front of
the harbor and saving his ships for fll-
ture service, by dashing out of the. trap
in which he found himself and going To-
some other field of operations.
There seemed to be but one chance M
hundred that he would be able to
make the move successfully. but he took
that chance, and while great piles of
naval architecture now ground to pieces
on the rocks n few miles from wherc
he started tell the mournful story of his
failure. there are none who applaud
his conduct more than the American Of
ficers ard seamen who sent his ships 20
destruction.
PASSING THE MERRIMAC.
1t was about 8 o'clock this morning
when the flag ship Infanta Maria Tere-
sa moored under the wall of MORO Cas-
tie and steamed out to sea. She was fol-
lowed by the Crstobal Colon Nizcaya
and Oquendo and last by the torpedo
boat dcstroyers Furor and Pluton.
The lookout on the vessels which were
lying five or ten miles off the entrance
to the harbor sighted them Immediately
Most of the American cruisers were at
the usual Sunday morning quarters
without thought OF anything as surpris-
ing as the Spanish fleet getting past the
sinking collier Merrimac. which they had
been deluded into believing effectually
blocked the exit. There was great ex-
citement at once, and verp rapid action
along the American lines The signal
for full speed ahead was run from
bridge to engine room of every ship. and
the entire fleet commenced to move in
shore toward the Spanish. and the great
twelve thirteen inch guns of the battle
ships and the smaller batteries on the
other vessels fired shot after shot at long
range. As the ships ran in towards the
shore it soon became evident that the
Spaniards had not come out to make an
aggressive fight. for they turned to the
| eastward as soon as they had cleared the
harbor and started on their race for safe
| ty, at the same time answering shots at
| the American ships as fast as the men
| could load and fire the guns. The
| Brooklyn, Massachusetts, Texas. Ore
| gon and Iowa were nearer the Spaniards
| than any others of the American vessels,
| but still most Of them were too far away
| to get an effective range. They crowded
| on All steam, however. in preparation for
| the chase, never stopping their fire for
| one moment. The Gloucester, q fast
| little yacht that cannot boast of any
heavier battery than several siX-pound-
ers and three-pounders, was lying off
| AguadOres. three miles east of MORO
when the Spaniards came out. At first
she joined in the attack upon Il large YES
sci and then held off some Captain
Wainwright concluding to reserve his eff
forts for the two torpedo boat destroy
ers in the rear The Gloucester steam
ed after them when they appeared and
chased them to Il point five miles west of
Morro pouring shot after shot into them
all the time. Her effort bore abundant
fruit for to her belongs the credit for the
destruction Of both of the destroyers.
She fired 400 shots during the chase
and it was not long before both destroy
ers were on fire and plainly disabled.
Notwithstanding this they both returned
the Gloucesters fire and Il rain Of small
shells fell all around the yacht The
Furor evidently determined that she
would not stand the fire any longer and
she put about and headed back for San
tiago. Then the Gloucester simply
smothered her with shots from her rapid
fire guns and running like the wind
| forced her to turn around and again head
westward. Smoke commenced to rise
| from the Furor's sides and she put in
CONTINUED on Second Page.)