The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-19

apparently, had been touched py Il ioS
tile prOjectilo. ...,..e,
CONVENIENT Classmates.
on the inside OF the slope and NIL, 20
the westward. some hastiiy-cohs'ruo'eu,
but very comforting classmates were
seer. into which the Spanish gunners
were wont 10 retire when our ships opened
fire. When the firing ceased the gunners
only had a few steps To climb 80 taeir
six-inch rapld-hrng guns, which almost
always fred a few spiteful iate"eh
shots At Punta Gorda there were wv"
four-nch guns. one above the o'her'
neither protected by even sand or carth.
Those commanded the harbor entrance
pretty welr but they could have been
silenced by one well-directed heavy
she'll
Commodore Schley has over and over
expressed the belief that our feet could
probably have entered the harhor with
out the loss OF a single ship. The mines
might have stopped ingress by sinking
the leading ship. But this is tho chance
Of war. and not so grave as many taken
during the civil strife. nor as serious as
would have been the situation had there
been good batteries. properly manned, In
the harbor
EXAMINING THE MERCEDES.
Commodore Schlcy's party first steam
ed around the wreck of the Reina M@r-
cedes. which lies with her bow pointed
toward the city She had a list to star
board and rested on a reef near the foot
OF MORO Gin The cruiser was sunk 10
the upper deck ON which a 6-inch gun
remains One torpedo tube was loaded.
and the auxiliary battery seemed In
place. Evidently the crew OF the Rcina
Mercedes left her I'm a hurry. This IS
less 10 be wondered at when It Is noted
that thore were great gaps in her sides
showing where two l2-inch and two IL
inch shells had sunk her.
The sea washed gently through the ar
ter cabin of the cruiser which was deco
rated I'm old-fashioned style. and the
wind futtered a red silk curtain. which
could be plainly seen over an inner door,
as the launch steamed by.
About six hundred yards ahead OF the
] Reina Mercedes and almost In line with
| her was The wreck OF the Merrimac lying
| I'm fully six fathoms of water on the
| very edge OF the channel.
| Had not the current swung the DOOM
| ed ship alongside instead Of athwart the
I channel the latter would have been well
| blocked.
When Assistant Naval Constructor
| Hobson took the collier into the harbor
he was hunting for a four fathom spot
| and only missed it by a few yards.
ADVISED TO SURRENDER.
At the firing stations on the west side,
which Commodore Schley inspected in
| person. the American party met Span
ish artillery captain. who was courteous,
| but gloomy Commodore Schley was his
own Interpreter and advised the officer,
with the few men under his command. 10
| go up TO the city and surrender as quick
/ Is as possible.
When the Spanish captain was asked 10
| point out the route to the 6-inch battery
on the west hill ne said there was none.
and explained that tho way 10 get there
was over steep rocky and diiiicult
| ground. Ii was learned later that this
was not true. and IL was surmisef that
| tho Spaniard was anxious 10 prevent me
| Americans from seeing the damage done
] by the bombardmeut. Commodore Schley
| then said he was determined TO have
/ GLIMPSE al Santiago city and the launch
was headed along the west side OF the
| channel going slowly and sticking TO the
shallow water. lest some contact mine
| put an end as the Commodore remarked
"to our quiet pleasure party.
VIEW or TIE CITY.
Skirting the broad lake like spot In the
harbor where the Spanish fleet, destroy
| cd two weeks ago. used 20 lie during tne
boubardments. and noting the brilliantly
nainteI buoys which marked the snail
lows. Punta Gorda was rounded ana ms
tant about two miles. the city OF san
tIago shone ont the cathedral being
ospcciallv we'll defined. and the masts
| and tunnels Of NOT few Vessels snow
, inc ot tho wharvcs. At that distance
captiaoo ala not show any traces of the
destruction wrought by the l0l out or tho
, tOG eight-inch sells fired on the city last
| Monday Returning 10 the BROOKLYN
| commodore Schley, accompanied by MS
| st,T entered the harbor this evening
soon after the mines were exploded.
| Captain Cook. Of the Brooklyn. Is au'
| thority for the statement that the former
| Spanish flagship. the lnfanta Maria Ie-
rosa. has noated off the reef on Which
she stranded. and that her heavy ariid-
ment is practically uniniured. The cap
ain also saws this cruiser will almost
surely be saved and form an addition TO
| tho United states navy-a trophy or the
glorious July 81.
MAY BE SAVED.
The Cristobal Colon may also be saved
though good deal depends on the
weather. which IS very uncertain az th'5
time of the year. heavy storm might
| drive the cruiser so high on the coral
reef that il would be Impossible 10 hoa'
her. .......,,,.o,,
MANY Of the naval men are outspoken
IN their criticism OF the treatment or the
| Colon Immediately after our surrnedr'
Thev believe the ship could have Deeh
| saved when she slipped back from the
reef into deep water had divers. carpen-
ters and machinists with a competent
| ,~iza crew been sent ON board or her'
Tbe crew of the Brooklyn regarded the
| Vizcava as their particular enemy since
| the time when they We're both present
al Oueen Victoria's Jubilee display wheh
there was comment abroad on what
GOOD fight might be expected between
tbe two ships n they ever met.
A COINCIDENCE
or the four big ships which were in Al
riral Cervera's feet. only two are surely
| doomed 10 destruction. They are the
| Vizcaya and the Almirante Oquendo and
| those as a coincidence, were the TWO
crufsers which went into Havana harbor
| after the blowing up Of the Maine, and
uoored near the wreck OF the United
! states battleship. I'm all the bravery or
painting gliding. seemed to sloat over
The ruined ship. while the people OF Ha-
vona shouted themselves hoarse' nred
mvriads OF bombs. and Dragged unceas-
lnglv Of what the two formidable armored
cruisers OF Spain would do with the
United states Navy should a fair fight
be possible.
surely" remarked Leutenant-Com-
mander Wainwright. Of tho Gloucester
formerly of the Maine this ayenges
the Maine ,...,..,,,, -,
ff1s srfr