Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1898-07-19
MoRRo CASTLE 4
 COMPLETE WRECK.
Not Gun Was In Position to Be Used
 When the spanish Flag Was Hauled Down.

Copyrighted 1898, by tue Associated Press.
 Under Morro Castle, Santiago. July 19.-Exactly at o'clock Sunday morning the Spanish flag was lowered from the staff erowning the heights upon which the battered Morro castle spreads half way. Lowering Of the em- blem Of the defunet sovereignty of Spain in this part of the world was witnessed by few Spanish and American troops on shore ard by the Brooklyn, New York, Vixen and Vesuvius, lying with i'll a few hundred yards of the harbor entrance. Immediately after the flag was hauled down steam launches, com manded by Lieutenants Hobson and Palmer, entered the harbor, penetrating as far as the firing stations Of the sub marine mines. These mines were judgsd not so formidable as was expected, and later in the afternoon all were exploded under supervision of the Vixen.
 Six or seven fine steamers in the har- bor fail as prizes to the navy and army. The Spanish gunboat Alvarez had been taken possession of by a prize crew from the New York. The other vessels were at the other end of the harbor at Santia- go proper
 Morro castle is the only imposing for tifeation in the harbor, and it is only so in appearance, since not a gun is mount ed within or on the crHmblei walls In fact, all the batteries, masked and open, dwindled in their terror=insplriug quali. ties as the inspection grew closer.
 Captain Cook, of the Brooklyn is au- thoritv for the statement that tHe form. CT Spanish flagship, Maria Teresa, has foated off the reef oil which she was stranded and that her heavy armament is practically uninjured
 The captain also says the cruiser will also surely be saved for al addition to the United States navy, IS q trophy ot the glorious July 3 The Cristabat Colon may also be saved though good deal depends oh the weather, which is uncertain at this time of the year. \ heavy storm might drive the cruiser SC high on the coral reef that 1t would be impossible to float her.
 Many of the naval men are outspoken in their criticism of the treatment of the Colon immediately after her surrender. They believe the ship eonld have been saved when she slipped back from the reef into deep water had divers, earpen. ters and maehinists, with competent prize crew, been sent or board Of her. The crew of the Brooklyn regarded ihe Vizcaya as their particular enemy since the time when they were both present at Queen Victoria 5 jubilee display, when there was much comment aboard on whas q good tight might be expected between the two ships If they ever met.
 Of the four ships which were in Ad. miral Cervera's fleet, only two are sure ly doomed to destruction the Vizeaya and Almirante Oquendo-and these as eoncident were the two cruisers which went into Havana harbor after the tlow- ing I'D of the Maine, and were anchored near the wreck of fhe United States battleship in al bravery ofpaint gliding and bunting, seeming to gIoat over the ruin caused while the people of Havana shouted themselves hoarss bragging un- ceasingly of whar the two formidable cruisers of Spain would do with the United States navy should ever fight be possible "Srraly remarked Lieu tenant Commander Wainwright of the Gloucester, formerly Of the Maine, e.this avenges the Maine .
 GENERAL BROOKE AND