Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-07-21
HOBSON IS FIRST TO ENTER
Commanded One of the Laun-
ches Which Took UP the
Mines at Santiago.
THE WRECKED CASTLES.
Six Ships Fall to Americans As the
Result of General ,Toral's
Surrender.

ny American Launches-Two Had Been
Exploded by the Merrimac-Neither Con-
tributed to Sinking of the Collier Bonn
bardment Not Seriously Destru ctive ia
the Fortifications.
Santiago, July 21.-Immediately after
the flag was hauled down steam
launches commanded by Lieutenants
Hobson and Palmer entered the har-
Dor. penetrating as far as the firing
station of the submarine mines These
mines were judged to be not as formid-
able as expected and, later In the aft
ernoon they were all exploded under
the supervision of the Vixen.
1t was seen that two mines had been
exploded at the time of the entrance of
the Merrmac into the channel of San
tiago harbor: but it Is not thought
probable that either of them had any,
thing to do with the sinking of the
craft.
Six or seven fine steamers in the har.
Dor fell as prizes to the navy and army.
The Spanish gunboat Alvarez had a.
ready been taken po ossession of by a
prize crew from the New York The
other vessels lie at the other end OF the
harbor, at Santiago proper
Soon after noon, Commodore Schley,
with Captain Cook of the Brooklyn:
Lieutenant ]. H. Sears, the flag lieu
tenant; Lieutenant B, w. Wells, the
flag secretary, and three invited corre-
spondents went into the harbor on n
steam launch, which moved slowly in
order to make close observations of the
Spanish forts and batteries.
Everyone expressed satisfaction at
the fact that Moro Castle was not de-
molished by the bombardment Captain
Cook saying:
I'VE need El Moro as an object les
son, and America is rather shy on
ruins, anyhow"
The old fort stands on the bluff, ter
race fashion. From the waters edge
to the brow of the beetling cliff there
are huge caves formed by the action Of
the waves, and 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 intact.
MORO Castle Is the only Imposing
fortification in the harbor and it is only
so IN appearance, since not a gun is
mounted within or on the crumbled
walls. In fact, all the batteries, mask
ed and open, dwinded in their terror
inspiring qualities as the inspection
grew closer.
Growing the hill on the west side
of the entrance were the famous 6-inch
rapid fire guns from the Spanish
cruiser Reina Mercedes. They were
ugly looking and dangerous while be-
low, on brick foundations on the west
ern shore of the entrance were some
revolving guns. These We're the ones
which poured such bitter fire into the
Merrmac.
Directly east Of Morro Castle, on tn,
crest of the plateau-like cliff. were six
big guns, one or two of which were dis
mounted.
The Estrella battery and a small
neighbor further in showed no guns.
while the famous Cay Smith filled the
islet with blue, white and yellow hous-
es, situated in groves of Towering
trees. Some Of the buildings looked as
II they had been the resorts of pleasure
seekers In happier times. Others were
humble enough in appearance for fish
ermen's houses. All were deserted, and
v,
was touched by hostile projectile.
On the inside of the slope and hill
to the westward some hastily CON
structed but very comfortable case
ments We're seen, into which the Span
ish gunners were wont to retire when
our ships opened fire. When the firing
ceased. the gunners only had n few
steps to climb to their 6-inch rapid fire
guns which almost always fired spite
full farewell shots.
AT Punta Gorda there were two H.
inch guns. one above the other, and
neither protected by either sand or
earth. These guns commanded the
harbor entrance pretty well: but they
could have been silenced by one well
directed heavy shell.
Commodore Schley has over and over
again expressed the belief that our
fleet could probably have entered the
harbor without the loss of a single
ship.
NI..-.