Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-07-20
Launches from Our Fleet Steam
Under Morro's Shadow.
SCHLEY RECONNOITERS
The Old Castle is Imposing Enough
ia Appearance but HASN'T
ii Gun.

ereignty of Spain in this part Of the
world was witnessed by a few Spanish
and American troops on shore and Dy the
Brooklyn, New York, Vixen and Nesu-
vius. lying within few hundred yards of
the harbor entrance.
Almost Immediately after the flag was
hauled down steam launches commanded
by Lieuts Hobson and Palmer entered
the harbor, penetrating as far as the FIR
ing stations of the submarine MINES.
These mines were judged TO be nor so
formidable as expected. and later in the
afternoon they were all exploded under
the supervision Of the Vixen.
1t was seen that two mines had oeen
exploded at the time Of the entrance OF
the Merrimac into the channel Of SAINT
ago harbor. but ii is not thought tnat
either of them had anything TO do with
the sinking of the craft.
Seven Steamers as Prisoners.
Six or seven steamers III the harbor
fall as prisoners to the army ana navy.
The Spanish gunboat Alvarez had al
ready been taken possession OF by prlze
crew from the New York. The other yes
sells lie at the other end of the harbor,
at Santiago proper.
Soon after noon Commodore Schley,
with Capt Cook of the Brooklyn, }. n.
Sears, the flag lieutenant: Lieut.; Is. w
Wells, the flag secretary, and three IN
yited correspondents Of the Associated
press went into the harbOr on steam
launch. which moved slowly III order to
make close observations Of the Spanish
forts and batteries.
Everyone expressed satisfaction at the
fact that MORO castle was not demol-
ished by the bombardment, Capt Cook
saying: I'VE need Ell MORO as an OBJ
ject lesson, and America is rather shy on
ruins. anyhow.
The old fort stands on the bluff, terrace
fashion. From the waters edge to the
cliff there are numerous caves formed by
the action of the waves ana round the
base and in the SuperStructure are not
few caves made by the navy's projectiles.
1t would appear, however, that only one
baStiOn was knocked to pieces. while the
queer little sentry-boXes. dating back to
the Sixteenth century, escaped almost III
tact.
MORO was Without Guns.
MORO castle is the only imposing forti-
fcation in the harbOr and il is only so IN
appearance, since not q gun is mounted
within Or on the crumbled walls. In
fact. all the batteries. masked and open,
dWindIed in their terrOr-inspiring quail
ties as the inspection grew closer
Growing the hill on the west side CT
the entrance were the famous G-inch
rapid-fre guns from the Spanish cruiser
|
ing and dangerous, while below, on brick
foundations on the western shore Of the
entrance were some revolving guns.
These were the ones which poured such
a bitter fire into the Merrimac.
Directly east of Moro castle, on the
crest of the plateau-like cliff were six
big guns, one or two of which were dis
mounted.
The Estrella battery and small neigh
Dor further in showed no guns, Will" the
famous Cay Smith filed the islet with
blue. white and yellow houses situated IN
groves of Towering trees, some of the
buildings looking as though they had
been the resorts of pleasure seekers in
| happier times. Others were humble
| enough in appearance for fshermen's
houses. All We're deserted and, strange
| to say. not one. apparently, had been
| touched by hostile projectle
On the inside of the slope and hill to
| the westward some hastily-constructed
| but very comforting caSemates were seen.
into which the Spanish gunners were
| wont to retire when our ships opened
| fire. When the firing ceased the gunners
| only had a few steps to climb to their
| 6-inch rapid-tire guns. which almost al
| ways fired few sDteful farewell shots
AT Punta Gorda there We're two 4-inch
| guns. one above the other neither pro-
| tected by even sand or earth. These
commanded the harbOr entrance pretty
| by one Well-directed heavy shell.
Could Have Entered the Harbor.
Commodore Schley has over and over
again expressed the belief that our fleet
) probably could have entered the harbor
without the loss Of single ship The
| mines might have stopped mgress by
| sinking the leading ship. but this is the
| chance of war and not so grave as many
taken during the civil strife, nor as serl-
| Gus as would have been the situation had
| there been good batteries, properly
| manned, in the harbor.
| Commodore Schleys party first steamed
| around the wreck of the Rena Mercedes
which lies with her bow pointed toward
the city. She had a list to starboard
and rested on reef near the foot of
| MORO cliff. The cruiser was sunk to the
| upper deck, enc gun, a 6-inch remained
! One torpedo gun was loaded and the aux
| !llary battery seemed in place. Evidently
| the crew of the Reina Mercedes left her
in hurry. This is the less to be won
! dered AT when it is noted that there
were great gaps III her sides, showing
where two II and two 13-inch shells had
| struck her.
The sea washed through the after
| cabin which was decorated in old-fash-
Toned style, and the wind futtered a red
silk curtain which could be plainly seen
| over an inner door, as the launch steamed
by.
The Sun}ken Merrimac,
About 600 yards ahead of the Reina
/ Mercedes and almost in line with her was
| the wreck of the Merrimac, lying in fully
six fathoms Of water on the very edge Of
the channel.
Had not the current swung the doomed
| ship alongside instead of athwart the
channel, the latter would have been we'll
blocked. When Assistant Naval Con-
| structor Hobson took the collier into the
! harbor he was hunting for four-f athom
spot and only missed by a few hundred
yards.
At the firing station On the west side.
which Commodore Schley inspected in
ish artillery captain, who was courteous
but gloomy. Commodore Schley was his
own interpreter and advised the officer,
with the few men under his command,
to go up to the city and surrender as
quickly as possible. When the Spanish
! captain was asked to point out the route