The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-07-14
CERvERA'S FLEET
is ANNIHILATED
Confined from First Page

them
The Oregon was the first TO join the
Brooklyn and afterward the Iowa, In
diana. Texas and Vixen closed around
the Spaniards, all pouring in a deadly
fire, but, from the beginning to the end
of the fight. the Brooklyn, Oregon and
Gloucester took the most important
part in the destruction of the enemy.
One man, George e. Ellis, was killed
on board the Brooklyn. His head was
blown off by a shell. One other man,
J. Burns, was injured on board OF
her
1t is claimed that one shell killed
100 men on the Vizcaya, raking the
vessel fore and aft.
NEW YORK, July "a cable to the
Sun dated Off Santiago. July Sd, says:
At $50 this morning, while the Texas
was lying directly in front of Santiago
harbor, Lieutenant Bristol saw smoke
arising between MORO Castle and La
Socapa. An instant later the nose of
a ship poked out from behind Es-
trella battery. Electric gongs called
the ships company to general quar-
tiers. The Texas plunged at full speed
toward the enemy, signaling THE
enemy is trying to escape.
The Brooklyn, Iowa and Oregon re-
sponded Immediately. All headed to-
ward the harbor entrance, about two
miles and a half away. The first of
the Spanish squadron to come into
view was a cruiser of the Vizcaya class,
presumably the flagship Almirante
Ouuendo. Closely following her came
the Critobal Colon. which was easily
distinguished by the military masts
between her two smOkestacks. Then
came the Vizcaya and Infanta Maria
Teresa.
Almost before the leading ship was
clear of the shadow of Moro Castle
the fight had begun. Cervera started
it by shell from his ship. 1t struck
none of the American vessels. In a
twinkling the big guns of the Texas
belched forth their thunder, which was
followed Immediately by heavy fire
from our other ships. The Spaniards
turned westward under full steam,
pouring a constant fire on our ships,
and evidently hoping to get away by
their superior speed.
The Brooklyn made her course paral-
lei with that of the Spaniards, and
after getting in good range began
running fight. The Texas, still head
ing inshore, kept up hot exchange
of shots with the foremost ships, which
gradually drew away to the westward
under the shadow of the hills. The
third of the Spanish vessels, the Viz
caya, or Infanta Maria Teresa, was
caught by the Texas in good fighting
range. Captain Philip directed opera
lions from the bridge until the fire
got so hot that he ordered the ship to
be run from the coming tower.
For half an hour shells whistled all
about the ship, but only one other
struck it. This tore hole through
the ash hoist, amidships, and exploded
inside the smokestack No one was
injured.
The din Of guns was so terrific that
orders had to be yelled close to the
messengers ears, and at times the
smoke was so thick that absolutely no
thing could be seen. Once or twice
a 12-inch gun in the turrets was
swung. across the ship and fired. The
conclusion shook the great vessel as
though she had been struck by a great
ball. Men near the guns were thrown
fat on their faces. One of them, a
seaman named Scarm, was tumbled
down the hatch into the forward hand
Ifng-ro0m and his leg broken.
Meanwhile the Oregon had come in
on the run. She passed the Texas and
chased after Commodore Sch1ey on the
Brooklyn to head off the foremost Of
the Spanish ships The Iowa also turn
ed her course westward and kept NJ
a hot fire on the running enemy.
At 1910 o'clock the third Of the
Spanish ships was seen to be on frs
and a mighty cheer went up from ou
ships. The Spaniards headed for the
shore and the Texas turned her atten-
ton to the one following. The Brook
Ign and Oregon, after a few parting
shots, also left her contemptuously anC
made ala steam after the foremost
n
and the Cristobal Colon.
Just then two Spanish torpedo
boats. the Pluton and Furor, were dis
covered. They had come out after the
cruisers without being seen, and were
boldly heading down the coast to the
east. "All small guns on torpedo
boats" was ordered on the Texas. ant
in an instant a hail of shot was pour
inc all about them. A SiX-DOundeI