The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-10
MANY MILES OF COAST
SCATTERED WITH THE WRECKS
OF SPANISH GLORY.
THE CHASTITY BODIES OF THE DEAD
Those Buried Lie in Huge Pit in The Beach
Marked Only by Rude Cross from
the Wreckage.

Copyright 1898 by Associated Press.)
Off Santiago de Cuba, July by the
Associated Press dispatch boat Daunt-
less, via Port Aantonio Jamaica, July
s, by the way of Kingston, Jamaica,
July S.-11:J0 p. m.-The vessels which
composed Admiral Cervera's squadron,
converted into wrecked charnel houses.
are littering the Cubans coast and the
scenes of deSOlation, ruin, horror and
death BATTLE description.
AT the entrance of the harbor of San
tiago lies the Reina Mercedes sunk at
midnight on July Bird. Westward five
miles from the harbor, is torpedo
boat destroyer. stuck fast in the rocks,
close in shore and battered by the surf.
Rocks iutting out of the water just in
front of where she lies hide her hull from
view. Her davits and the top of
her coming tower alone mark her rest
ing-place.
Visible from the sea. 4 few miles
further, in an inlet embraced by two
mighty arms of black rocks that extend
half il mile into the sea, are the re-
mains of the twin. cruisers Infanta
Maria Teresa. and Almirante Oquendo,
formerly the pride of the Spanish navy.
Beyond lies the Vizcdya, mass of
ruins. and forty-twO miles away from
Santiago. the Cristobal Colcn lies help
less on her sides with her smoke-stacks
under water
The Infanta Maria Teresa and the
Almirante OquendO stand upright stuck
fast on the rocky shoals All that is left
Of them is their outer hulls. the heavy
armor defying total annihilation. III
side of them the work Of destruction is
complete. Their boilers. engines, bunk
ers and magazines have been blown
into unrecognizable masses of twisted,
melted iron. Exploded shells. burned
rifles and revolvers, pieces of brass work
ana gold and silver coin melted by the
intense heat are streWn all over the re-
mains or the once prand armored cruiS-
ers, whose protective decks only stand
in places.
But the most ghastly. horrible sight
III these silent steel coffinS are monolad
ana charred bodies of hundreds Of brave
sailors. sacrificed for their country
Bnzzards are feeding off the dead and
others are lowering over the wrecks.
On the beach other hOcks of vulturns
SIT in silence waiting for the sea TO give
M its dead. Every tide adds TO the tole
of horror. washing up such objects as
for instance. sleeve enclosing n wasted
arm. other portions of human bodies
@nawed by sharks and countless relics
of the battle.
Attention has heen given to the burial
of the dead of the enemy. and over 100
bodies taken from the ships or washed
ashore have been inferred upon the
beach. by Rear Admiral SIMPSONS or
derS.
Those which now remain are either al
most totally consumed by fire. charred
beyond recognition or lie in the depths
OF the sea. These form the food of the
buzzards. who keep constant vigil about
the wrecks.
The buried remains lie in a confused
mass. unnumbered and unnamed. in II
huge pit dug in the sandy beach. where
the vessels went ashore. A rude wooden
cross from the wreckage alone marks
the grave. grave over which Spain
may well mourn.