The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-20
SEA FIGHT
AT SANTIAGO
Spanish Account of Ger
vcra's Defeat.
CAPT.MACcRoHON'ssToR
He Describes the Destruction
Wrought by Our Shells.
BLAME FOR THE DEcEIvERs.


naval fight of Santiago between the
American and Spanish fleets.
~ love my country" said the Span.
lard simply, "and my heart bleeds for
her now. Our fieet my oountry's PRIDE
has been destroyed. / fear that there
will be an uprising at home when its
destruction is made known. Our plan
for escapowas well arranged, but better
formulated than executed. We had ar
ranged to force our way out ON Satur-
day night. July 2, and the Maria Teresa
was to have led. But, contrary to our
expectations, the searchlights of your
ships did not illumine the channel that
night, as had been usual, and without
that light we were unable to discern the
wreck Of the Merrimac. SO we could not
go out. You know how we came out
the next morning-Sunday, that was.
Great crowds were expected to come
down to the wharf to see us depart, but
the American troops were pushing the
city too hard in front and there was
none to see us off. Our orders were to
steam at full speed to the westward aft
er clearing the harbor and concentrate
our attack on the Brooklyn, paying no
attention to any of the other ships, un-
less they forced us TO attack them.
so in the morning they signaled to
us from the battery that only the Texas
and the Brooklyn were to the west
ward, and we got under way, the Maria
Teresa, being the flagship, taking the
lead. We opened fire on the Brooklyn,
and the Texas answered it, but her shot
fell short. Otherwise she would have
struck rs, for it was a straight line
shot. The Brooklyn and the Iowa then
fired, but neither shot hit. Again the
Brooklyn and Texas fired. The Brook
lyn's shell went into the admiral's cab
in. and exploding set fire to the after
part Of the ship. The shell from the
Texas pierced our side armor and ex-
ploded in the engine room. bursting the
main steam pipe. We signaled to the
engineer to start the pumps, but got no
reply, and then found that all below in
that part of the ship had been killed.
At that time it was like hell ON our
bridge. Shells were bursting all around
us, and the ships hull was being rid
died below.
"The captain turned to me and said:
Sir, do you think it best to continue
the hopeless fight or for the sake Of hu-
manity and to save life should we not
beach the ship? Many of our guns are
dismounted and our engines are Grip
pied Sir replied, we are unable
to fight longer. Let us beach the ship
Then, as said that, shell struck our
captain. His last words were to haul
down the colors. The American fire was
so fierce and their shells were bursting
around us so fast and making so much
smoke that the Americans could not see
that tho flag was down and continued
firing / sent below for blanket. and
as soon ss that was run up the firing
ceased.
Meanwhile the Vizcaya had run be-
tween us and the Texa& land was then en-.
gaging three ships-ttb Brooklyn, Ore
gon and Texas. She made desperate but
hopeless fight. Now that we have learn
ed that we lost between 500 and 1000
men and the Americans lost only one
man il alnazes us. It is incredible. We
cannot comprehend it. 1t does not seem
possible. And yet we must believe it.
Have we not seen with our own eyes
the utter wrecks of our ships and how
yours were not hurt, even the smallest
injury, that we could see."
IF you had managed to escape, where
would you have gone-to Cienfuegos?"
by 10 means" the officer replied.
"'Our intention was to run to Havana,
raise the blockade there and enter the
harbor."
"What will be the result of the bat
tlei" the Spanish commander was asked.
"Ah, do not know, was the mourn
ful reply. II hear now that the Amer
leans intend sending their fleet TO my
country--thst is my anxiety. My poor
Spain will be helpless against your at
tack. have seen what your ships can
do aud know our exposed cities will be
destroyed.
''It will be an awful fight, and Spain
bold enough to suggest that to my coun-
trymen he would be cut TO pieces II
America carries the war into Spain and
defeats US there, the disgrace would be
too great to bear. You know the fall Of
a great nation is like the fall of great
family, and great shall be the fall
thereof And am afraid that is how
it will bc wits Spain. o God, open
the eyes Of my countrlmen at home.
that they may understalNl why we were
defeated herer'
what did you think Of the fire OF
the American shipsi" the officer was
asked after pause. 1--WE were all as
tonished by its amazing rapidity and
was the frank reply. /
found this TO DO the general opinion
among all the captured officers. They |
were all FREQ 10 admit that the Amer
lean navy man behind his gun is the
most wonderful man they had ever
dreamed Of. The officers expressed wide |
eyed astonishment when told that 1t is