The evening times., 1898-11-12
CERVERA'S YOEFUL STORY
Report of the Disaster TO the
Spanish Fleet.
HAD NO HOPE OF SUCCESS
Regarded Admiral SchIey's Fla ship,
the HrooLI.n. ns the Most For
of the Fight Never fn Doubt-Gen-
erosity of His NictOrs Praised.

New York, Nov. 12-The Herald prints
the following dispatch dated Washing
ton:
In his official report to the Spanish min
lister of marine, describing the battle of
Santiago, Admiral Cervera gives high
praise to the humane and courteous treat
ment accorded him and his subordinates
by the American authorities. He speaks
of the efforts made by the Iowa and the
Gloucester to save life, OF the solicitude
shown by the Americans for the comfort
Of those whom they had taken prisoners,
and. finally, Of the generosity of the VIC
tors in providing so Hospitality for them
in the United States.
Admiral Cerveras report was forward
ed 10 Spain through the Navy Depart
ment, having been translated in order
that no information of a character yalua-
BILE to the enemy might reach Madrid.
A copy Of the translation has been re-
tained al the department, and Secretary
Long has repeatedly declined TO make il
public From other sources, however, the
facts in Admiral Cervera's report have
been obtained.
The report includes the reports made to
the commander in chief of the squadron
by the officers who commanded the Span
iyh ships during the action, but they,
however, are Withheld from publication
al this time.
sailed i'm DeStruction'S Face.
Admiral Cervera states that he left the
harbor Of Santiago de Cuba at half-past
nine on The morning Of July 3, telegraph
ins TO Capt Gen. Blanco:
IN compliance with the orders Of your excel
lency and approaching the fate that viii beiail
ny squad on. as 7 have already announced, l
leave the Bay Santiago on Juy Tor the sea
The order OF sailing" the admiral con-
tinues had been fixed as follows: In the
first place the Infanta Maria Teresa, and
afterward. in this order. the Nizcaya,
Colon and Oquendo. and lastly the de-
stroyers, all going under fun steam and
proceeding as rapidly possible. The
Maria Teresa was TO commence the bat
tie giving the other ships the direction
10 the westward.
That he was justified in taking this ac-
ton the admiral states. Is shown 10y the
praise which h. has obtained from Ameri-
can officers.
The 6cstroycrs were not to take part
81 the fighting, continues the admiral,
nor. in fact. were any Of the ships, the
plan being To MAKE our escape as best we
could and avoid engaging the enemy if
possible. II WAS about twenty five min
utes to ten In the morning when the Ma
Iia Teresa attacked and opened fire upon
the eneny's battleship of the type OF the
Indiana and upon the Iowa. launching
herself particularly against the Brooklyn,
which was the most dangerous obstacle
IN our path.
The RrookI.H Looked Dangerous.
''Tne Brooklyn was stationed on the
right of the mouth Of the bay. and her
egeat speed gave her an advantage which
made her especially dangerous TO my
command The remainder Of the ships
were at this time ATTACKING other YES
SIS Of The enemy"
Admiral ColN-era gives a list Of the
ses comprising the powerful American
feet which he was compelled TO engage
and especially calling attention to the
srmored cruiser New York which carried
the flag OF Rear Admiral sampson; the
Brooklyn, flying the flag of Commodore
Schley and the batteShins Iowa, ore
Eon Indiana and Texas.
Realizing what the departure Of my
squadron would mean says the report,
'.I took the course which I had de1ermin-
ed upon before sailing, fully understand
ing the desperateness of the venture and
appreciating beforehand what the result
would be. The American men-of-war
were alongside Of our ships. ana after a
short time the battle became general
The result OF the battle was never in
doubt, but I never thought that my yes
sels would be so quickly destroyed The
enemy's fire produced terrible injuries on
board the Maria Teresa. destroying her
auxiliary steam pipes and fire mains. In
such a horrible moment the comma nder
OF the Teresa. Commander Conca, fell,
wounded and II was necessary to remove
him. ] myself took command Of the ship.
The dead and wounded were falling
without cessation. Shortly afterward |
was Informed that, in consequence Of the
explosion Of d shell Of 81 NM, my apart
ments had taken fire. The fire, which
soon spread, commenced at the same
time on the other side Of the ship, also
as a result OF the explosion of a shell.
Sufficient water could not be obtained TO
keep the flames under control.
I gave instructions TO my adjutant to
open the valves in the after part of the
ship but il was impossible TO do so
thick wall of smoke prevented passage
through the ship below deck and my in
ssuctions couldn't be carried out. In
Wv Of the utter impossiblity OF defend
ing the ship any longer in such position.
she was directed, with the greatest rapid
fly, TO the shore 10 the westward of the
Cabraera. where she was stranded at the
same moment lndl nef machinery stopped.
Could Not Lower the Flag.
THE second and third commanders
agreed with me that it Was impossible to
longer prolong the fight. We proposed TO
haul down the flag, but ii was impossible
on account Of the great headway made by
the flames. AT this time the fire had made
such headway that it became necessary
10 abandon the ship. and those who were
able to do so threw themselves i'm the
water where they were saved by two
American boats which had approached
Admiral Cervera gives the names of
wounded and dead officers on the Teresa.
A Spanish boat was lowered in the water,
but hlled on account of the injuries II had
sustained under the terrific fire of the
American ships. Another steam launch
met the same fate. The admiral then
jumped into the water, followed by his
and two sergeants.
Il was aided In swimming" said the
admiral. by a sailor called Andreas Sc
Queros and my son, and arrived there
naked. The American officers command
ing the boats invited me to go 10 the
Gloucester. j accepted the invitation. go
ing with my flag captain, who was wound
ed with my adjutant and the second COM
mander of the Teresa, who was last TO
leave the ship.
The Oquendo stranded half a mile to
the west OF the Teresa. and / lost sight