The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-07-15
VISIT TO THE WRECKED SHIPS
Their HulIs Battered and ted
by Our shells.

Dy our SneIISs
Especial Cable to New York Journal.)
Off Santiago de Cuba, July 4, via
Port Antonio, July 5.-Last nights
story of the mighty sea fight, of our
glorious victory, and of the complete
destruction Of the Spanish feet has
been told. Early this morning We
headed u dispatch boat Silvia down
the coast TO inspect more closely than
we could yesterday, when the fire was
sweeping them, the wrecked and ruin
ed leviathans Of SPANS navy. They
lie with their heads buried in the
sand, as If to hide themselves from
the sight of their own destruction and
humiliation.
/ The first wreck we approached was
the Oquendo. She lies in a small bay
well up ON the beach, her steel sides
Scared by many shots, and with one
tremendous hole On her pol bow,
showing where a 13 inch shell from
one Of our battleships must have ex-
ploded. She has also a large rent aft
on the port quarter, near the water
line, Her military masts have been
swept overheard and her decks are
clear of top hamper down to the tur-
rets and the guns. We lowered a boat
to visit her, and as We came alongside
a shocking sight met our eyes. Dead
~Spaniards were floating about the
water stripped to the waist, as they
had stood to man their guns. We
steered nervously among the bodies,
fQQIinO pa11nh nifu and come cafiSf9n-
ton, too, that the Maine had been
again so we'll remembered.
About this time the Suwanee came
up n sent the famous Lieutenant
Blue ashore in her whaleboat to look
for survivors of the crews of the Span
ish vessels, and take them prisoners.
We determined to follow, but as Span
iards there were none, the lieutenant
pushed out through the breakers,
boarded the Suwanee, and put to sea
again. We Joined some dispatch
boats and headed for the Infanta Maria
Teresa, further along the coast to the
eastward. This vessel is not in quite
as bad condition as the Oquendo.
Blackened by fire and battered by
shell she certainly is, but her after
military mast still stands, her bridge,
though much bent and twisted. is rec
ognizable, and she has 1ot such ter
rible shot wounds in her hull as the
Oquendo has. Nevertheless, she was
the first of the Spanish ships yesterday
to give up the fight and head for the
shore. In the fire the cartridges still
popped as though still feebly endeav-
oring to keep up the fight.
I scanned the shore for Spaniards
and finally saw some score Of fig
ures huddled together in n corner
of the beach. We shouted to them,
and made a demonstration without
firearms, and the poor, cowed fellows
waved a white handkerchief or shirt
in token of surrender.
Most of them were wounded, and
had been in the heat of the fight, and
we learned from them how the gun
merry of the Americans had become
fercer and more deadly, until the
Spanish crews had deserted their guns,
and had been shot down by their own
officers; that as the conditions of the
battle became more and more desper-
ate the fine liquors of the officers
mess had been handed out to the
crews, so that with drunken courage
they would fight on the hopeless fight,
and how. at last the officers them
selves gave Up, and, scuttling their
ships, drove them UP on shore. Six
teen we're from the Vizcaya, six from
the Oquendo, and seven from the
Maria Theresa, making a total OF
twenty-nine. We took them aboard
the Silvia, and headed for the fleet.
Admiral Sampson thanked us very
courteously and asked us to deliver
our passengers on board the st. Louis.
We did so receiving a receipt in due
form from the officer Of marines in
charge. While aboard the st. Louis
we met Captain Eulate, of the Viz
caya, whom I had seen in New York
some months ago under very different
conditions. The captain expressed
his grief at the sad turn of affairs
had taken, but said he had done his
best and could do no more.
Admiral Cervera was also on board,
and we spoke a few words to him.
The old gentleman is a fine, imposing
figure as he stands, still proudly, IN
his full uniform, with all the gold
braid and several decorations OF his
rank on his breast. The full effect is
somewhat marred by the fact that his
trousers are very damp from wadlng
ashore, escaping from his burning
and disabled ship. But only the IT.
reverent would take notice Of such
things.