The Monte Vista journal., 1898-07-09
CERVERA'S FLEET NO MORE.
THEY SAILED OUT AND WERE DESTROYED.
The Spanish Admiral Took Desperate Chances to Escape R
Our Ships Under Schley Promptly Drove Them on
the Beach and They Are Now Battered Hulls

to the Republican says:
With Admiral sampson's fleet of
Santiago, Sunday. by the Herald'x dis
patch boat Golden Rod to Port An
tonic, Jamaica, thence to Kingston, ia
malca, Monday.-Scattered nlong the
shore for Il distance OF two miles to the
west OF MORO castle now lie the ar
morcd cruisers and torpedo boat de-
siroyers that composed Admiral Ger
vern's fleet.
In running fight of two hours these
vessels, the cream Of the Spanish navy,
were almost annlhilated this morning
by the powerful ships OF Admiral
Sampsons fleet. under the Immediate
command OF Commodore Schley.
Sunday quiet rested over the en-
trance to Santiago harbor, and no
signs of life were visible nbout old
Moro. Beyond .and toward the city
OF Santiago all was still After two
days OF fighting the armies OF both
nations We're resting In their trenches.
ON this way for a distance of half
dozen miles from shore the vessels
OF Admiral Simpsons fleet lay lazily
ut anchor.
Admiral Sampson. desiring TO nscer-
tain the exact condition OF the Span
lsh coast dcfenscs about Agundorcs,
ordered the flagship 10 go thnt way.
Weighing anchor the New York lcis-
urely steamed on TO the eastward.
Idle thoughts occupied the minds of
the men in the fleet. They We're spec
ulating. as they had been for weeks.
when would come their opportunity to
get at the Spanish fleet in the inner
harbor.
Suddenly us flash. Mt half past o
o'clock. vessel appeared near the en-
trance TO the harbor. She was throw
Ing out great black clouds Of smoke
and WAS pointing straight toward the
American fleet.
The ease of the American officers
and sailors was rudcly disturbed.
They had grabbed their glasses. scan
ned the harbor entrance. and were
amazed to discover that an nrmored
| cruiser WIS coming out.
In the absence OF Admiral Sampson.
Commodore Schlcy. from the Brook
lyn. ordered the American warships to
| rush In shore. In II few moments II
| was seen that the vessel emitting such
| clouds of smoke was the Cristobnl Co
Ion. Admiral Ccrvcra's flagship. She
had passed the wreck OF the Mcrrimac
and was making for the sen Mt full
speed.
Before Commodore Sclllcy md his
men could recover from their surprise
other clouds OF smoke came into view
beyond the Cristobal Colon. With u
rush fully equal TO that Of the Span.
ish flagship. the Almirantc Oqucndo
came toward the open sea.
| Behind her came the Vizcnyn. also nt
full speed. while the rear was brought
up by the lnfnnta Maria Teresa and
the two torpedo boat dcstroyerr. the
Furor and the Pluion. This stirring
scene. 40 dramatic and so unexpected.
quickly put the captain of every Amer
lean vessel on his mcitlc.
"Ccrveru's trying to escape" was the
cry TINT rcsonndcd through the fleet.
Every American vessel quickly
weighcti anchor. The engines We're
started. and one by one the great
American wnrships made ready for
battle. Every man scampcrcd to his
gun md the captains. knowing that
Admiral Sampson had gone along the
coast. engerly watched the Brooklyn.
Commodore Schlcy's flagship.
| In n few moments the Rcsolute was
| speeding 10 the eastward after the
New York. hut the advance OF the
Spanish fleet was 80 rapid that our
men could not walt for Admiral Samp.
son to get back. Just ms the Cristohal
Colon was poklng her nose out into the
open sea. Commodore Schlcy sent the
brooklyn mndly rushing to the west.
ward 10 head or Ccrvcrn's flagship. lie
ordered the Massachusetts and Oregon
10 follow after. at the same time order.
Ing the Indiana, Iowa and Texas to In.
terccpt the other ships Of the escaping
fleet. Then began one Of ,lic greatest
sea fights In history.
u Is not known whether Admiral
C.rvcra had blown up the Nerrlinac or
passed II In single column. His shin.
III. Crlstohal Colon. rlIdic,i out Of the
harior and shot 10 tho westward, ocr
two tunnels and hight bincx bulwnrks
showing plain against the green hills.
her pcnnnnt and the Spanish red and
yellow ensign lnshIng out In N few
seconds 'll" american fect was In mo-
iion. the Indiana. which was clo.cnt.
heading straight In shore to get close
range.
The Snanlnrd opened nrc with cn,ii.
Inch liono'orla nnd mighty fountains OF
water rose about the hpttlcshIp's
weather decks. The shell fell near hcr
how. Tho Indiana replied with her n.
Inch guns. nni n monument intcr let 20
everything that could bc brought 10
hear. One Of tiic first shells fell on IN.
! Spanish cruisers deck.
Crrvcrn was going pnst and the In.
dinnn rounded in give him n bronds side
md then. ns the Iowa and the Tcxn.
opened an him. the doomed ndmirul
turned Ia the harior mouth. where the
Almirnn'c OIncndo was Just coming
into View.
~ first one conld scarcely hclicvc
his eyes. hut when the Ouurntio m.
r"nrcd aud steamed swiftly westward
Into the smoke nnd lightning where
C"rvcrn- flag s'il new. II flashed uIon
rs that there was TO he history max.
Ing Indeed II was n sublime spectacle
OF desperate ndniirni who Ind dc.
cid'si 10 give battle nrninst ovcrwhcln.
Ing odds In the open water rntiier thnn
remain and blow up his own shin. In
the hnrbor Of the hcienRucN.i city.
Ccrtcrn's hrR wns hidden for n time
ms b" Ned westward. his rort broad.
side emitting nnahc. nnd Tongues Of
nnMcs which marked his prorrcss
For tho next Avr minutes hc ran a
gauntlet such ms no shin ever run In
history. and when Ills r0nsorts wrrr
burning and hr surrendered his shlp
h~ siili had q gun or two capable Of
action.
The Indiana fell on the OnuenAo
paying No herd To the Morro t,ettrry.
whoae Gunnrra tried hard 10 protect
the cruiaef ~ she moved 10 the west.
ward. The lows III Cervera 70 on
oaen Ak~ M nuS. 40 a.. SN-.--.