The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-07-06
1t was to the Executive Officer OF
That Ill-Fated Vessel Ger
vera Surrendered.
The Old Admiral Put Up a Gal.
liant Fight Against Fate
and Odds.
Rather Lose his Ships at Sea
Like a Sailor Than in
q HarbOr.


the Harbor Of Santiago de Cuba, Sun.
day. July 3, q p. m.) by Associated
Press Dispatch Boat Wanda, to Port
Antonio, via Kingston, Jamaica, July
6.-For hours after Admiral Cervera
went aboard the Gloucester, the In.
fanta Maria Teresa, Almirante 0 quen.
do and Vizcaya continued to burn, and
every now and then deep roar, &C.
companied by burst of fame and
smoke from the sides Of the ships
would announce the explosion Of more
ammunition or another ma gazine. As
the flames shot higher and higher
above the decks Of the magnificent YES.
sells that had composed Admiral Ger.
vera's fleet, many Of those who wit
messed the scene felt it had strong
connection with the destruction of the
American battleship Maine in Havana
harbor five months ago Lieutenant
Commander Wainwright, the com.
mander Of the Gloucester, was execu.
tive officer Of the Maine at the time Of
the disaster, and although he remained
III Havana harbor two months after
the explosion he lived on board the dis
patch boat Fern. and steadfastly re-.
fused to set his foot within the city un.
til, to use his own words, the time
should come when he could 60 ashore
at the head of landing party of
American blue jackets. Today it was
his ship that sank two Of the Spanish
torpedo boat destroyers, and after.
wards received the Spanish admiral
aboard as a prisoner Of war.
The Maine Avenged.
From his pos ition on tho bridge Of
the Gloucester, Lieutenant Commander
Wainwright watched the flames and
smoke as they enveloped the decks of
the three greatest warships of the Span.
ish navy, which We're soon to be re-
duced to nothing but shattered masts
and twisted smokestacks protruding
above the water, similar to that other
picture III Havana harbor 1t is not
strange. therefore, that he remarked to
his brother officers beside him: The
Maine is avenged
Just then the Pluton and the Furor
sank. The Gloucester's boa picked up
as many Of the survivors as she could
find eli the shore.
The prisoners Of war included the
captains Of both boats. None offered
any resistance and were glad to go to
the Gloucester, as they feared an at.
tack from the Cnbans.
a number Of the survivors. including
officers Of the Furor, who, it was re.
ported. had their legs shot off. were
scattered all along the coast for som e
distance and could not be found. Three
officers and six men Of the Pluton es.
capped from the shore in one of their
own boats. and pulled to the Ass ociated
Press dispatch boat Wanda, where they
remained until their captain. who was
held q prisoner on the Gloucester, or.
dered them to join him on the latter
vessel.
A Remarkable Feature.
The most remarkable feature of the
combat was the fact that notwithstand.
ing the utter destruction Of tho Span.
ish feet, and the hard fight those ships
made even after they were on FIRE. the
American vessels should escape with.
out injury. The only possible explana.
ton Of this is the poor mark smanship
Of the Spanish gunners. which has
been so well demonstrated In every
other con flict Of the war.
The Newark. Commodore Watson 9
flagship. did not participate in the
great capture. as she was coaling at
Guantanamo.