Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-07-14
SPANS WRECKED FLEET.
Admiral Cervera's Former Squad
ron Now Veritab1e Charnel Houses
.Littering the Cuban Coast.
TWO DISPATCHES FROM GEN. SKATER.
Killed and Wounded-Sampson Said to
Have Demanded the Evacuation OF Cuba
by the Spaniards Within 4S Hours-Gen.
Toral Refuses to Surrender Santiago.

OFF SANTIAGO, by way of Kingston,
Jamaica, July 10.-The vessels which
compose Admiral Cervera's squadron,
converted into wrecked charnel houses,
are littering the Cuban coast and the
scenes of desolation. ruin, horror and
death battle description. At the en-
trance of the harhor of Santiago de
Cuba lies the Reina Mercedes, sunk at
midnight on July 3. Westward, five
miles from the harbor, is a torpedo
boat destroyer. stuck fast in the rocks,
close in shore, and battered by the
surf. Rocks jutting out of the water
in front where she lies hide her hull
from view. Her davits and the top of
her coming tower alone mark her
resting place. Visible from the sea,
few miles further, in an inlet
embraced by two mighty arms of black
rock that extend half mile into the
sea, are the remains of the twin cruisers
1nfanta Maria Teresa and Almirante
Oquendo, formerly the pride of the
Spanish navy. On beyond lies the
Vizcaya, a mass of ruins, and AZ miles
away from Santiago de Cuba the
Cristobal Colon lies helpless on her
side with her smokestacks under
water. The Infanta Maria Teresa and
the Almirante Oquendo stand upright,
stuck fast on the rocky shoals. Ali
that is left of them is their outer
hulls, the heavy armor defying total
humiliation. Inside of them the work
of destruction is complete. Their boil
ers, engines, bunkers and magazines
have been blown into unrecogniz able
masses of twisted, melted iron. Ex-
ploded shells, burned rifles and re-
vOlverS niaoaS of Ual1Oyu
and silver coin. melted by the intense
heat, are strewn all over the remains of
the once proud armored cruisers, whose
protective decks only stand in places.
But the most CHASTITY, horrible sights
in those steel coffins, are the mangled,
Scared and charred bodies of hun
dreds of brave sailors sacrificed for
their country. Buzzards are feeding
Off the dead and others are lowering
over the wrecks. On the beach other
fiocks of vultures sit in silence wait
ing for the sea to give up its dead.
Every tide adds to the tale of horror.
washing up such objects as. for in
stance, a sleeve enclosing a wasted
arm, other portions of human bodies
gnawed by hungry sharks and count
less relics of the battle.
Two Dispatches from Gen. shafter.
WASHINGTON, July 10-The war de-
partment received two dispatc hes from
Gen. Shafter over night as follows:
PLAYA DEL ESTE. with Army Corps in the
Field. July 9.-Secretary of War, Washington:
Cable operators were permitted to go in yester-
day morning. The English cable was in work.
ing order and some of the operators were in
the city. Gen. Toral wanted these there as
they were the principal men. This cable has
not been cut and the sent in have not
taken it up again English cable has been
working all the time through to Havana.
SKATER
PLAYA DEL ESTE. July Q, Camp Near San
tiago. July S.-Adjutant General Washington:
Complete report received to-day of loss on July
and ?. Killed. % officers. POS enlisted men.
Wounded 81 officers, 1,2l3 enlisted men, Miss
ing. 70 enlisted men The reports giving the
names of the killed and wounded are being rap
idly prepared and it is hoped to get them OF
tomorrow SKATER
A Demand to Evacuate Tuba.
MADRID. July lot is rumored here
that the Spanish government has re-
ceived dispatch from Capt Gen.
Blanco stating that Rear Admiral
Sampson has sent him a telegraphic
dispatch summoning the Spanish COM
mander to order the evacuation of
Cuba within rs hours and announcing
that otherwise the Americans will
lombard all the ports in Cuba
Gen. Toral Refuses >urrenfer santiago
New YORK, July IO.-A dispatch to
the Herald from Havana says: The
Americans have again demanded the
surrender of San tiago. fixing the terms
of truce until Saturday noon. Gen.
Toral has refuse d the proposition, say
ing he is resolved to defend the town
until he dies. Gen. Blanco approves
of the frmness of Gen. ToraPs resolu.