The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-07
FULL OF WHISKY.
Cervera's Men We're Given
Large Quantities of Liquor
To Give Them Courage For the
Attempt to Escape.
HAD EATEN NOTHING.
They Were Without Food For
TWenty-fOur Hours.
All Felt That They We're Going
To Their Death.
SANTIAGO WAS OURS
The Spaniards Say If Attack
Had Been Prolonged.
The Garrison Was Completely
Worn 0u%
They Were Without Food For
TWenty-fOur Hours.
All Felt That They We're Going
To Their Death.
SANTIAGO WAS OURS
The Spaniards Say If Attack
Had Been Prolonged.
The Garrison Was Completely
Worn Out.

Copyright, 1898, by Associated Press.J
Guantanamo, via Kingston, jamaica
July THE steamer ResoIute has ar
rived with sos prisoners including 1s OF
the officers and crew of the Spanish
cruiser CristobaI Colon. The disposition
of the prisoners has not yet been de-
cided on. The number Of killed ana
wounded on the Cristobal Colon was
very small. officers Of the American
vessels which were in pursuit Of her,
say that as 1t was question Of only
a short time when the CristobaI Colon
should be compelled to surrender or run
ashore, they. ceased firing on her and
only three of her crew were killed Call
sailors) and thirteen were wounded.
Before running their ship ashore and
hoisting the white flag, the Spaniards
opened the Kingston valves on board
the Colon and threw overheard the
breechlocks of every gun, including
those of their Mauser rifles.
The captured Spaniards were remark
ably cheerful.
The officers say they had nothing to
eat for "a hours before the destruction
of the fleet and in order to get the
men to their posts, large amounts of
liquor were given out. Many of the
captured sailors still showed the effects
of drink when put on board the Reso-
Lutte
The Spanish officers say the order to
sail was given by the ministry Of
marine at Madrid and they decided to
make an attempt to escape on Satur-
day night, but it was postponed until
Sunday morning, for the reason that
] quarters inspection" would be held at
that time and the Americans would
IA ar their nf
Spaniards expected to be alive at noon
on Sunday. believing the destruction
of the fleet to be certain. Most Of their
valuables were put on the Cristobal
Colon, the fastest boat of the Spanish
fleet, and everything was done to give
her the best opportunity to escape. The
Spanish officers profess great adnira-
ton for the American ships, especial
ly the Brooklyn, New York and Oregon
The Spanish prisoners say that If the
Americans had pressed the land forces
much longer, the Spaniards would have
been compelled to surrender as the
troops were completely worn out
Brooklyn Was Hit As Times.
When the Spanish fleet left Santiago
de Cuba, it was with the intention to
make for Cienfuegos, the nearest port,
to secure coal and provisions. All the
ships were very short OF coal, the CrlS-
tobaI Colon having only two days sup-
ply which she had secured at Santiago
The Spaniards concentrated their frs
on the Brooklyn hoping to disable that
vessel, which they considered the fast
est of the American warsnips and thus
give an opportunity for at least some
of the Spanish ships to escape. Dur
ing the engagement the Brooklyn was
hit forty-fiVe times.
The Spaniards estimate the forces be-
hind the fortifcations OF Santiago al
about II, 600 including the 1000 rein
forcements brought by Gen. PandO
which are known to be in Santiago
The forces besides Gen. Pando's reg
ulars and 1900 volunteers are not to b8
| depended upon. Eleven hundred
marines and sailors were Withdrawn
when the Spanish fleet made its ILL
fated sortie.
The body of G. H. Ellis, chief yeoman
| Of the United States cruiser Brooklyn,
who was killed in the engagement with
| the Spanish feet, was brought here by
| the Brooklyn and was buried at dusk
on the side of the hill on which the
marines are entrenched and near where
| the bodies of the three marines killed
at the battle of Cusco Mountain ara
lying.
Ellis lived at Peoria Ill.