The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-07-13
ONE CHANCE In A HUNDRED.
But A dmiral Cervera Awaited Himself O.
That Chance.

both returned the Gloucester's fire,
and a rain Of small shells fell all
around the yacht. The Furor evil
dently determined that she would not
stand the fire any longer, and she put
about and headed back for Santiago.
Then the Gloucester simply smothered
her with shots from her rapid-fre
guns and running like the wind,
forced her to turn around and again
head westward. Smoke commenced
to rise from the Furor's sides and she
put in towards the shore. Before she
had gone far what was left Of her
crew abandoned her and took to the
boats, reaching the shore later. By
that time she was mass Of flames
and was drifting about helplessly.
The Pluton was in the same dis
tressed condition, and was also head
ed for the shore, running up along
side Of low bluff, where she soon
pounded to pieces and finally broke
in two completely. It was most
dangerous landing place for her crew
and but about half of them reached
the shore alive.
The Gloucester did not go any fur
ther west, but lay off shore, and sent
in boat to the assistance of the
crews Of the destroyers. 1t did not
take the flames long to reach the
Furor's magazines, and there were
two terrific explosions, probably Of
the guncotton on board of her, which
blew holes in her bottom, her stern
sunk Immediately. and as it settled
in the water her bow rode straight
into the air, and she went to the bot
tom in perpetual oblivion, giving out
Kissing, scalding sound as she dis
appeared below the surf.
Meantime the larger American ships
were gaining on the Spanish cruisers,
and storm of shot was passing be-
tween the pursuers and the pursued.
The American fire was so rapid that
the ships were enveloped in thick
clouds Of smoke and it was impossible
to tell at a distance which vessels
were doing the greater execution.
The Brooklyn and the five battleships
were keeping up an incessant fire upon
the Infanta Maria Teresa, the Vizcaya
and the Almirante Oquendo, and the
latter were returning it bravely, though
with no success. TheSpanish gunrers
seemed unable to get the proper range,
and many Of their shots were very
wild, though a number of them fell
dangerously near to the mark. The
guns of the battery just east of MORO
also took part in the game and their
shells fell around the American ships.
Many Of them struck the upper works
of the fleeing Spaniards and must
have resulted in killing and wounding
many of their men.
The Spanish ships had now reached
point about seven miles west of
Moro, and mile or two beyond the
place the Furcr was burning and the
Pluton broken in two against the cliff.
The flagship and the Oquendo were
the first to show signs of distress.
Two l3-inch shells from one Of the
battleships had struck the Maria
Teresa at the water line tearing great
holes in her side and causing her to
fill rapidly.
The Oquendo suffered about the
same fate, and both ships headed for
small cove ard went aground 200
yards from the shore, flames shooting
from them in every direction.
The officers and crew must have
been aware of the fate which seemed to
be before them, but it was not until
the ships were on fire and enveloped
in flames and smoke that the men
ceased firing.
The Gloucester, after sending boat
ashore to the Pluton, steamed along
the coast to where the armored cruis-
ers were stranded and went to their
assistance. There was danger from
the magazines and many Of those on
board jumped into Che water and
swan to the shore, though number
were unable to reach the small strip
of sandy beach in the cove and were
thrown against the e'rocks and killed
or drowned.
Many Of the wounded were lowered
into the ships own boats and taken
ashore, but this task was most diff
cult one.
The Gloucester had all her boats
out, and one seamen swan through