The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-07-07

the north and east, but with very
thin line. Upon approaching 1t we
find it of such character and the de- |
fence is so strong, that it will be i'm |
possible to carry it by storm with my |
present lorce. Our losses up to date
will aggregate thousand men, but |
the list has not yet>been made. There
is but little sickness outside of exhaust |
ton from the intense heat, and the ex-
ertion of the battle Of the day before
yesterday, and the almost constant fire
which is kept up on the trenches.
The wagon road to the rear is kept up
with some difficulty on account OF the
rain, but | will be able to use 1t Tor
the presnet. General Wheeler is serl-
ously i'll, and will probably have to 60
to the rear to-day. General Young IS
very i'll and confined to his bed. Gen
eral Hawkins was slightly wounded in
the foot during sortie the enemy
made, which was handsomely repulsed.
"The behavior of the troops was
magnificent. General Garcia reported
that he holds the railroad from Santi-
ago to San Luis, and has burned
bridge and removed some rails; also
that General Pando has arrived at Pal
ma and that The French consul, with
about 400 citizens, came into his line
Yesterday from Santiago. | have d.
rected him to treat them with every
courtesy possible. Signed]
sSHAFTER, Major General"
CERvERA's FLEET DESTROYED.
For some weeks Admiral Sampson
has been blockading the entrance OF
Santiago Bay to prevent the escape OF
the Spanish admiral, Cervera, who had
anchored bis fleet there. This state OF
affairs no longer exists. To-day the
Spanish ships are burning hulks, and
Admiral Sampson is in possession OF
Santiago Bay The gratifying intelll-
gence which had been rumored some
time before, was confirmed by the fol-
lowing dispach received at the War
| DEPARTING Mt:
''Playa del Este, July 3.-Slboney
office confirms the statement that all OF
the Spanish feet except one warship
was destroyed and burning on the
beach. It was witnessed by Captain
Smith, who told the operator. There
is no doubt of its correctness.
(Signedl "ALLEN, Signal Officer. y
An earlier dispatch from Lieutenant
Colonel Allen, signal officer at Playa
de Este, says that all the vessels of
| Cervera's fleet made dash out OF the
harbor of Santiago to-day, and then,
apparently before they were placed hors
du combat, ran upon the beach, and
with one exception grounded and were
blown up by the Spanish crews. One
ship skated out to sea, and, Colonel
Allen adds, our fleet Is after her and
will capture her in few minutes.
The Secretary Of the Navy at Wash
ington recei yed the following July 18th
from Admiral Sampson
'P!aya, via Hayti, 3 I'D a. m, July
4.-(siboney, July y.
To Secretary OF Navy, 3 10 a. NJ:
The fleet under my command offers
the nation as fourth Of July present
the destruction Of the whole Of Ger
vera's feet. It attempted to escape al
8 80 a. H., and at 2 p. II. the last, the
Cristobal Colon had r'7n ashore, sixty
miles west Of Santiago, and has le
down her colors. Tie Infanta Maria
Teresa, Cquendo and Nizcaya were
forced ashore, burned and blown III
within twenty miles Of Santiago the
Furor and Pluton were destroyed with
in four miles Of the port. Loss, one
killed and two wounded; enemy's loss
probably several hundred from gul
fire, explosions and drowning. Abou
l 300 prisoners, including Admlra
Ceryera. The man killed was George
II. Ellis, Chief Yeoman Of the Brook
lyn." "SAMpsoS.
Also the following from Commodore
Watson
Playa del Este, July 3, 1S9S.-A
} 8 SO a. N. to-day the Spanish squad
) ron, seven IN all, including one gun
boat, came out of Santiago in column
and was totally destroyed within al
: hour, excepting Crlstobal Colon, which
was chased forty-five miles to westward
by the commander-in-chief. Brooklyn
Oregon and Texas. surrenderlng t
) Brooklyn, but was beached to proven
sinking.
Chief Woman Ellis was killed ant
one man wounded. Admiral Cervera
5 ell commanding officers, excepting Q
Oquendo, about seventy othfr officer
and 600 men are prisoners.
About $50 killed or drowned alt
lGO wounded, latter being cared for o.
} Solace and Olivette. Have just aIriy
ed off Santiago in Marblehead to TAX
, charge while commanderln-chle j
looking out for Cristobal Colon.
(4Signed) WATSON.
, CLEARER DETAILS.
Following is the most accurate dc
scription of tho capture yet received
(. 'There can be no doubt that Adnirs
5 Cervera's plan to escape from Santlag
(, harbor was entirely unexpected by Ae
. miral Sampson, and the best evidenc
} of this Is the fact that when the Spar
e ish vessels were seen coming out OF til
: harbor, the flagship New York wa
c seven miles away steaming to the cas-
1 ward toward Juragua, the military bass
e nine miles east OF Moro.
D "The New York was out OF the figh
S altogether at every stage, but she in
0 mediately put about and followed til
l. others.
! ''The New York was cruising up til