The western recorder., 1898-07-07

tonic, Jnmaica, thence to Kingston, ia
mnicn. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. along th'
shore for distance OF two miles TO thu
west OF Morro castle now lie the mr.
morcd cruisers and torpedo boat de
stroyers that composed Admiral Ger
vera's fleet.
/ In running fight of two hours these
vessels. the cream Of the Spanish navy
were almost annihilatcd this morning
by the powerful ships OF Admira
SIMPSONS fleet. under the immediate
command OF Commodore Schley.
Sunday quiet rested over the en-
trance to Santiago harbor, and nc
signs OF life were visible about old
Morro. Beyond and toward the city
OF Santiago nll wns stiIl. After two
days OF fighting the armies OF both
nations were resting ~ their trenches.
on this way for a distance of half
dozen miles from shore the vessels
of Admiral SIMPSONS fleet lay laziiy
at anchor.
Admiral Sampson, desiring to ascer-
tain the exact condition Of the Span
ish coast dcfenses about Aguadores
ordered the flagship to go that way
Weighing anchor, the New York lcis-
urely steamed Off to the eastward.
Idle thoughts occupied the minds of
ulnting. as they had been for weeks,
when would come their opportunity "a
"gct Mt" the Spanish fleet In the inner
hnrbor.
Suddenly ms n flash, Mt half past q
o'clock, a vessel appeared near the en-
trance to the hnrbor. She was throw
Ing out great black clouds Of smoke
and was pointing straight toward the
American fleet.
The ease OF the American officers
and sailors was rudcly disturbed
They had grabbed their glasses, sean
ned the harbor entrance. ana were
amazed to discover that an armorcd
cruiser wns coming out.
In the absence of Admiral Sampson
Commodore Schley, from the Brook.
lyn, ordered the American warships to
rush In shore. In few moments II
was seen that the vessel emitting such
clouds of smoke was the Cristobal Co
lon. Admiral Ceryera's flagship. She
had passed the wreck of the Merrimat
and was making for the sea at full
speed.
Before Commodore Schley and his
men could recover from their surprise
other clouds of smoke came into view
beyond the Cristobal Colon. With a
rush fully equal to that of the Span
ish flngshlp, the Almirante Oquendc
came toward the open sea.
Behind her came the Vizcayn, also nj
full speed. while the rear was brought
up by the Infantn Maria Teresa and
the two torpedo boat destroyers, the
Furor and the Pluton. This stirring
scene. so dramatic and so unexpected
quickly put the captain OF every Amer
lean vessel on his mettle.
"Cervera's trying to escape" was the
cry that resoundcd through the fleet.
Every American vessel quickly
weighed anchor. The engines were
American wnrshlps made ready for
bnttle. Every man scampered to his
gun and the captains, knowing that
Admiral Sampson had gone along the
const. eagerly watched the Brooklyn,
Commodore Schley's flagship.
In n few moments the Resolute was
speeding to The eastward after the
New York. but the advance of tn,
Spanish fleet was so rapid that oul
men could not walt for Admiral Samp
son to get back. Just as the Cristoba
Colon was polSIng her nose out into the
open sea, Commodore Schley sent the
Brooklyn madly rushing to the west
ward to head Off Cervcra's flagship. He
OTNtTtu tnt liuttutnuHtttS anu OTtEDt
to follow nfter, at the same time order
ing the Indiana, Iowa and Texas to in
tercept the other ships of the escaping
fleet. Then began one OF the grentes
sea fights in history.
II Is not known whether Admira
Cervcrn had blown lp the Merrimac ol
passed 1t In single column. His ship
the Cristobal Colon, glided out of tn,
harbor and shot to the westward. he
two tunnels and hight black bulwarki
showing plain against the green hills
her pennant and the Spanish red an,
yellow ensign lnshing out. In few
seconds the American fleet was In mo
ton. the Indiana. which was closest
heading straight in shore to get clos,
range.
The SpanIard opened fire with an II
inch Honotoria and mighty fountains o
water rose about the battleship',
weather decks. The shell fell near he
bow. The Indiana replied with her 13
| inch guns, ana monment later let e,
everything that could be brought I,
bear One of the first shells fell on tn,
| Spanish cruisers deck.
Cervcra was going past and the In
dinnn rounded to give him broadside
and then. ms the Town and the Texai
opened on him, the doomed admira
turned to the harbor mouth. where tn,
Almirnnte Oquendo was just comiu,
| into view.
At first one could scarcely believ,
his eyes. hut when the Oquendo mp
peared and steamed swiftly westwar,
into the smoke and lightning wher,
Cervera's flag still flew. 1t flashed upoI
us that there was to be history max
ing Indeed. 1t was sublime spectacl,
of desperate admiral who had de
cided to give battle against overwhelm
ing odds in the open water raHler thai
remain and blow up his own ships Ii
the harbor of the beleaguered city.
Cervera's flag was hidden for tim,
ms he fled westward, his port broad
side emitting flashes and tongues o.
| flames which marked his progress
For the next five minutes he ran
gauntlet such as no ship ever run II
history. and when his consorts wer,
burning and he surrendered his shil
he still had gun or two capable o
action.
The Indiana fell on the Oquendo
/ paying no heed 10 the Moro battery
whose gunners tried hard to protec
the cruiser as she moved to the west
ward. The Iowa let Cervera go ol
Into the hands of the Oregon. Massa
chusefts and Brooklyn, and then turn
ed with the Texas to pound tn
Oqnendo.
Then every American ship was II
action and smoke shrouded the coas
and blew lazily. revealing gcyser
about the ships where the Spanisl
shells from the cruisers and the Nor
tore the water. A ship moved iron
the harbor. II was the vizcaya com
ing at full speed. smoke curling owe
her bow MS she took her course to tn
westward and brought her guns int
play.
Behind her came the fnfanta Mari
Teresa and Spnin's two much dreade,
torpedo boat destroyers, perhaps 20