New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-19

gunners only had a few steps 10 cHnlp 10 '"''t
G-inch rapid-fire guns. which almost always
fred a few spiteti farewell shots.
THE Guns AT PUNrA GORDA.
At Punta Corda there were two i-inch guns,
ono above the other. and neither protected oy
even sand or earth These guns commanded the
harbor entrance pretty well, hut they could have
been sienced by ore wo!l-drected heavy Shell.
Commodore Schley has over and over again
expressed the l.eief that the rect could proba-
bly, have entered the harbOr without ne loss OF
a single ship The mines might have stopped
ingress by sinking the leading ship But this il
a chance Of war. and not so grave as,many taken
during the Civil War. nor serious as would
have been the situation had there been good
batteries properly manned. in the harhor.
Commodore Schey's party first steamed around
Tho wreck Of the Rena Mercedes. which lies
with her bow pointed toward the city. She had
a list to- starboard and rested OF a reef near the
foot Of Moro elf The cruiser was sunk to the
upper deck on which S-ihch gun remained.
one torpedo tube was loaded end the auxiliary
battery seemed in place. Evidently the crew OF
tie Reina Mercedes LEFT her in a hurrE This
is less % be wondered at when 1t is noted that
thor. were great gaps in her sides. showing
where two IL and two Is inch shells had struck
her.
The sea washed gently through the after
CABIN o. the cruiser. which was decorated In
od-:a: h!ored style. and the wind futtcred
red silk cu~ttia. which could he plainly seen
over an .nrer door as the launch steamed ny.
THE WRECK OF TIE MERRIMAC.
About SIX hundred yards ahead of the Reina
Mercedes. and almost in line with her. was the
wreck Of the Msrrinac. lying IN fully six
fathoms o: water and on the very edge of TIC
charncl. Had not ;Ee current swung the
doomed ship alongside instead Of athwart the
channel the latter would have been we'll
blocked When Assistant Naval Constructor
Hobson took the collier into the harbor he was
hunting for a four fathom spot and only missed
ii by few hundred yards
At the firing station the west side. which
Commodore Schley inspected In person. the
American party met Spanish artillery captain.
who was courteous but gloomy. Commodore
Schley was his own interpreter. and advised the
officer. with the few men under his command.
to go up to the city and surrender as quickly "a
possible.
When the Spanish captain was asked 70 poin;
out the route to the 6-inch battery on the vest
HILL he said there none. and explained that
the way to get there was over steep. rosy and
difficult ground II learned Later ;hat this
was not true. and II was surmisei that the
SpaniarC was anxious 10 prevent tnr AIn'TltdNs
from seeing the damage done by the lombard
ment.
Commodore Schley then said that he vas de-
termined 10 have a glimpse at Santiago city
and the launch was headed along the west side
Of the channel. going slowly and sticking 20 the
shallow water. lest some contact mine put an
end as the Commodore remarked. TO our quiet
pleasure party"
Sk,rting TIE broad lakelike spot In the har-
Dor where the Spanish feet. destroyed two weeks
ago to-day. used 10 lie during the lombard
ments and noting the brilliantly painted huoys
which marked the shadows. the party rounded
Punta Gorda Distant about two miles. the
city Of Santiago shone out. the cathedral being
especially we'll defined. and the p1asts and fun
nels Of not few vessels showing AT its wharves
At that distance Santiago did not show any
| traces Of the destruction wrought by the 1Ol
out Of the 106 S-inch shells fired on the city
! limits las; Monday.
! On his return to the Brooklyn. Commodore
! Schiey. accompanied by his staff. entered the
| harbor this evening soon after the mines were
| exploded.