Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-18
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Red Cross Steamer State Of Texas the
First at Santiago.
MINES TAKEN up OR EXPLODED
Six Spanish Steamers and One Gun
boat Became Prizes.
PLIGHT OF THE REFUGEES

SANTIAGO, July 17-Steam launches
from the New York, Brooklyn and Vixen
entered the harbor this morning and ex-
amined the batteries, the wrecks of the
Merrimac and the sunken Spanish cruiser
Reina Mercedes and the torpedo-firing sta
don. They discovered six Spanish mer-
chant steamers and one small gunboat in
the harbor, and a prize crew was placed
upon tine latter.
This afternoon the torpedoes were taken
up or exploded after which the Red Cross
steamer State of Texas entered to give as
sistance to the sick and wounded in the
city. The warships may not enter the har-
Dor for several days, probably not until
after the arrangements have been complet-
ed for transporting the Spanish prisoners
to Spain. Nearly all the American men
of-war are now in Guantanamo Bay.
Watson's squadron is preparing to go to
Spain, and several vessels arc preparing for
the expedition to Porto Rico.
Inc auxiliary cruiser Yale, with Gen.
Miles, will probably leave for Porto Rico
in the course of day or two. Gen. Miles
says sufficient force will be sent to the
island at once to take and hold it.
The Host of Refugees.
Since o'clock this morning a stream Of
refugees has been pouring into the city,
some naked and all hungry and footsore.
Many had fallen by the wayside.
The town of Santiago presents a dismal
sight. Most of the houses have been sack
ed and the stores have all been looted and
nothing to eat can be had for love or
money. In the streets of the city this morn
Ing, at the entertainments, at the breast
works and at every hundred feet or so of
the barbed wire fences were the living
skeletons of Spanish soldiers.
lc tn6a fhn
man, japanese and Portuguese consuls and
their families, the British and French con-
suls having arrived day before yesterday.
Gen. Pando was never here, but $500
men from ManZanillo arrived on July 3,
making the total garrison here 900.
The contact mines in the harbor were re-
moved the day Admiral Cervera left. But
two chains of electric mines one from Es-
trella Point and the other from Socapa, are
still down.
The armament of the shore batteries of
Santiago consists of five brass 6-inch muz-
Zle-loaders, in the MORO Notifications; two
6-Inch Hontorias, from the cruiser Reina
Mercedes, and three 21-centimeter mortars
never used-in the Socapa upper battery;
two useless 21-centin1eter mortars, two g.
centfmeter muzzle-loaders and four S-centi-
meter field pieces, in the Estrella battery;
one O7-millimeter and one 25-millimeter
Nordenfeldt, and one 37-millimeter Hotch-
kiss, in the Socapa lower battery, and two
6-inch Hontorias, two 9-centimeter Krupps
and two 15-centimeter mortars,. at Punta
Gorda.
Four Spanish merchant steamers, the
Mortera, the Reina de los Angeles, the To-
mas Brooks and the Mexico and the gun
boat Alvarado are now in the harbor.
The market place has been sacked by the
troops. ID
twenty-five thousand refugees are quar-
tered at Ell Caney, 5000 at Firmeza and
5000 at Cubitas, ell Boniato and San Vim
cente, where they have been living for
fortnight. I'D, -
Admiral SIMPSONS last bombardlnent of
Santiago wrecked fifty-seyen houses, caus-
ing heavy damage. eat ..