The Red Cloud chief., 1898-07-08

SANTIAGO DE CUBA, July huinlrui
Cervera's feet. consisting of the ar
morcd cruisers Cristobal Colon, Almi-
rante Oquendo, Infanta Maria Teresa
and Vizcaya, and two torpedo BOAT de-
stroyers, the Furor and the Pluton.
which have been held in the harbor at
Santiago de Cuba for the past six
weeks, by the combined squadrons Of
Rear Admiral Sampson and Commo-
dore Schley, lies today at the bottom
Of the Caribbean Sc a off the southern
coast of Cuba. The Spanish admiral
Is a prisoner of war and 1000 to $500
other Spanish officers and sailors, all
of whom escaped the frightful carnage
caused by the shells from the Ameri-
can warships, are also held as prison
ers of war by thc.United States.
The ~Spaniards, when they found
they would be allowed to live, adapt
| ed themselves to the situation, rolled
their cigarettes and began playing
cards among themselves.
The American victory is complete,
and according to the best information
vessels were untouched and only ono
man was killed, though the ships were
subjected to the heavy fire of the
Spaniards all the time the battle
lasted.
Admiral Cervcra made as gallant n
dash for liberty and for the preserva-
ton of his ships as has ever occurred
In the history of naval warfare. The
Americans saw him the moment he
left the barber and commenced their
work of destruction Immediately.
At no time did the Spaniards show
any Indication that they intended to
do otherwise than fight to the last.
They showed no signals of surrender,
even when their ships commenced to
sink and the great clouds of smoke
pouring from their sides showed they
were on fire. But they turned their
heads toward the shore, less than Il
mile away, and ran them on the beach
and rocks, where their destruction vas
soon completed. The officers and men
on board them escaped to the shore as
we'll as they could, with the assistance
of boats sent from the American men
of-war and then threw themselves up
on the mercy of their captors, who not
only extended to them the gracious
hand of American chivalry, but sent
them a guard to protect them from the
murderous hands Of Cuban soldiers
hiding in the bush on the hillside,
eager to rush down and attack the un'
armed, defeated, but valorous foe.
One or another of the Spanish ships
became the victim Of the awful rain OF
shot and shells which the American
battleships, cruisers and gunboat.
poured upon them: and two hours after
the first Of the feet had started out OF
Santiago harbor three cruisers anG
two torpedo boat destroyers were
lying on the shore, ten to twelve miles
west of MORO castle, pounding Il
pieces, smoke and flames issuing from
every part of them and covering th'
entire coast line with a mist which
could be seen for miles.
Admiral Cevera escaped to the shore
in a boat sem by the Gloucester to the
assistance of the Infanta Maria Tere
sa, and as soon as he touched the beacl
he surrendered himself and his com
mand to Lieutenant Morton and aske,
!, to be taken on board the Gloucester
: which was the only American vesse
= near him at the time, with several o
his officer, including the captain o
the flag ship. The Spanish admiral
who was wounded in the arm, wa
taken to the Gloucester and was re
. ceived at the gangway by her com
. mander, Lieutenant-C Commander Rich
ard Wainwright, who grasped tn
hand of the gray-bearded admiral an
: said to him:
I 81 congratulate you, sir, upon hay
ing made as gallant a fight as wa
ever witnessed ON the sea-"
Observation-Disclosures Wainwright
then placed his cabin at the dispose
Of the Spanish officers.
9 At hat time the Spanish hagshi
and four other Spanish vessels ha
been aground and burning for tw
hours, and the only n of the escapin
feet which could not be seen at tn,
n point was the Cristobal Colon. Br
d half u dozen curls of smoke far dow
on the western horizon showed I'll
@ fate that was awaiting her. The Cri
tobal Colon was the fastest of IL
y Spanish ships, and she soon gained
lead over the others after leaving I'll
harbor and escaped the effect of Il
d shots which destroyed the other We
sells. She steamed away at great spec,
l. with the Oregon, New York, Brookly
d and several other ships in pursui I, n