The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-10
REMAINS OF THE
SPANISH FLEET.
Ttey Lie BIackened and Shattered on
the Rockbound Coast.
A SCENE OF HORROR AND DEATH.
These steel Collins Contain tho Charred
and Manglcd Bodies of Brave
Sailors who Died Freely
for Their Country.

(Copyrighted. 1895. by Associated Press).
OFF SANTIAGO DE CUBA. July ~
(By the Associated Press Dispatch Boat
| Dauntless). Via Port Antonio, July s.
by way of Kingston. July S-ll:50 =. M
The vessels which composed Admiral Ger
vera'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 entrance of the harhOr OF San
tiago lies the Relna Mercedes. hunk at
midnight on July 81. Westward FIVE
miles form the harbor. is q tOrpedo-boat
destroyer. stuck fast in the rocks close
I'm shore and battered by the surf Rocks
jutting out Of the water just IN front OF
where she lies hide her hull from view.
Her davits and the top Of coming tower
alone mark her resting place.
THE PRIDE or THE NAVY.
Visible from tho sea a few miles fur
Their, I'm an inlet embraced by two mighty
arms Of black rocks that extend half
mile into the sea, are the remains OF the
twin scruisers. Infauta Maria Teresa
and Almirante Oquendo, formerly the
pride Of the Spanish navy.
on beyond lies the Nzcaya. mass OF
ruins. and forty-two miles away from
Santiago the Cristobal Colon lies help
less on her sides with her smokestacKs
under water.
A SCENE of DESTRUCTION.
The Infanta Maria Teresa and the Al
mirante Oquendo stand upright stuck
fast on the rocky shoals. All 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 boilers, engines
bunkers and magazines have been blown
into unacceptable masses Of twisted
melted iron. Exploded shells. burned
rifles and revolvers. pieces OF yellow brass
work and gold 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.
TILL THE SEA GIVES UP ITS DEAD
But the most ghastly horrible sight IN
those silent steel collins are the mansled
SCARED and charred bodies Of hundreds
Of brave sailors. sacrificed for their coun-
try. Buzzards are feeding OF the dead
and others are lowering over the wrecks.
On the beach other hocks OF vultures
sit in silence waiting for the sea 10 give
I'D its dead. Every tide adds 10 the tale
for instance a sleeve enclosing a wasted
arm. other portion Of human bodies
gnawed by sharks and countless relics
OF the battle.
Attention has been given to the burial
OF the dead Of the enemy. and over one
hundred bodies taken from the ships OF
washed ashore have been Inferred upon
the beach by Rear Admiral Sampson's
orders.
SPAIN MAY WE'LL MOURN.
Those which now remain arc either al
most totally consumed by fire charred
beyond recognition or lie I'm % depths
Of the sea These form the food OF the
buzzards who keep constant vigil all
about the wrecks. The buried remains
lie in a confused mass. unnumbered and
unnamed. in a huge pit dug in the sandy
beach. where the vessels went ashore.
A rude wooden cross from the wreck
age alone marks the grave grave over
which Spain may well mourn.