The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-18

| down the coast line steering straight for
the thick Of the battle. The big battle
ship Indiana, eastward guard Of the
blockadinR squadron, was headina
srraight for the entrance OF santiago
harbor in crder TO block the return OF
the flying fugitives in case, their flight
was balked and they attempted 10 re.
turn. Through the smoke Of her great
bow guns the Ericsson darted, pluugine
into the swirling cloud Of the smoke en-
shrouded fleets. A bit ON the starboard
bow huge hull loomed through mist
Of bursting. shells and through the
whirling white . glimpse was had Of
the flag Of Spain, almost riddled, but
still flying.
Over went the helm Of the torpedo
boat. around swung the torpedo tubes.
The long looked for opportunity to sink
an enemy's ship at last was at hand.
Nearer and nearer the great hull loomed
through the smoke. At last the mark
was fair. Wait for the next roll to plant
the splitting mine well under her armor
belt. "Stand by!" was the order. There
she goes over. "Hold on, SIR" was the
quick hail from forward as the order to
fire was given. "She has hauled down
her colorsL" And 50 it was. Cut to pieces
by shells, her decks shamble aEd on fire,
the Vizcaya had struck her flag. Blind
ly cropping, she found ledge on which
to rest her keel, and the Ericsson, in
tent on her destruction q moment be-
fore, came near to rescue. Many Of the
Vizcaya's men were then in the water.
The flagship signaled to the Ericsson to
drop back and pick them up The swim
mers were helped on board, and then
Captain Evans Of the Iowa signaled the
Ericsson to range near the Vizcaya and
rescue the survivors Of the now fercely
burning wreck.
In prompt obedience the Ericsson ran
as close to the burning hulk as the heat
would permit. A horrible sight was
there. On the port beam, off which the
Ericsson lay, frightful wounds had been
torn in the vessels side, and through
the gaping orifices the crew of the
Ericsson could sec the men Of the Viz
caya's fireroom force being broiled alive
in the fierce flames of the shell wrecked
compartment. have since been told
that they had been battened down and
had no means of egress.
But that was not all the horror
Swinging from boat falls were dozens
OF men who apparently could not swim
and who had been driven to those scorch-
ing threads Of life by the fierce heat of
the burning ship. The Ericsson could
approach no nearer for fear of being
dashed to pieces against the wreck. Her
men shouted to the wretched victims to
jump, but they would not or could not
be made to understand that efforts
would be made to save them, and not
until number Of the Ericsson's Is men
made lines fast around their bodies and
flung themselves into the sea did the
Spaniards seem tc understand. One by
one they dropped off, and some were
hauled on board the rescuing craft, but
the majority were drowned. The en-
gines of the Vizcaya had not been
stopped, and for hours after she had
struck they were faithfully throbbing at
their useless task. Her guns too, had
been left loaded, and one by one these
doomed requiem over the dying ship.
In all the Ericsson picked up nearly
100 survivors, among them the Viz
caya's commander, Captain Eulate OF |
Competitor fame, he being the officer |
who ordered the execution of the cap
tives Of that vessel. All Of the survivors
were barefooted and scantily clad, and
this added to the terror Of this CHASTITY |
tragedy. The steel decks of torpedo
boat are uncomfortably hot, and the
barefooted Spaniards were compelled to
execute continual dance on the heated
plates to prevent the soles Of their feet
from blistering. Many of them were
wounded, and here the grim
seriousness Of war shuts in again.
The padre Of the Vizcaya was asked
BY Lieutenant Usher to lend hand in
helping the wounded, but he was un-
concerned about their suffering Turn
ng deaf ear, he seated himself ON
,hest. That chest happened to be need
I'd for wounded man who was writh-
ng on the heated deck, but the padre
'efused to surrender it. Usher motioned
o his muscular young executive, En-
ign Edie, and the padre vacated the
hest Immediately and with some loss
# dignity.
asked the admiral If he thought the
Of his feet would end the
var. .-s--s
II cannot speak. I am unable to
peak Of that If the Americans attack
havana, am sure they will meet with
errific resistance and will lose ships.l
nd men,
Cervera then spoke of Lieutenant
Wainwright and his brave,
ig hearted executive officer, Lieuten-
mt II. Nc. L. p. Huse Cervera thanked
hem both from the bottom Of his heart
or the manner in which they had stood
y the fire imperiled Maria Teresa,
'hose heated guns made fearful dan
er zone and whose magazine threatened
D dash the life from every one near by.
eeing the danger, Cervera begged Lieu
enant Huse to shove off from the fam
ng wreck. THAT gallant and noble
tficer," said Cervera, replied and
aid, No, admiral, not until have