The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-07-13
.SCHLEYiS VICTORY
WAS COMPLETE.
The Spaniards Beached the Last
of Their Ships in the Har-
bor of Santiago.
400 KILLED AND 1900 PRISONERS

400 KILLED AND 1900 PRISONERS
KINGSTON, Jamaica, July EN-
frantic effort to block the entrance 10
Santiago harbor and save the city from
bOmbardment by the American fleet,
the Spanish, early yesterday morning,
ran the Reina Mercedes ashore not far
from the wreck of the Merrimac. This
move was decided upon when it became
known that Admiral Cervera would
take his feet from the harbor and at
tempt to escape. There was a feeling
of temporary security in the city as
long as Cervera's fleet was there to op-
| pose the American fleet should Admiral
Sampson succeed in running past the
forts. With the Spanish flee; gone,
however, the mines in the hsrbor We're
practically the eity's only defense
against a bombardment. The Reina
Mercedes, which had been useG as a
hospital ship, was sent out toward the
mouth Of the harbor. and there run
ashore. Those in charge of her did not
succeed in their mission, for the vessel
does not block the entrance.
Admiral Sampson, when he learned
of the Spanish attempt TO initiate Hob
sons feat, decided to give his men some
target practice, with the Reina Merce-
des as a target. He ordered the Indi-
ana to throw few shells into the Span
ish vessel. The Indiana started inshore
on this mission shortly before u o'clock
last night. The battleship crept slowly
forward 10 escape detection. When she
had been maneuvered to a command
ing position she poured broadside
from her batteries in the direction OF |
the Reina Mercedes. 1t was impossi- |
ble, owing to the darkness, to deter |
mine just what was the effect of the |
Indiana's fire on the Spanish vessel.
While making preparations for the at
tack q shell burst below the Indiana's
forward deck, the explosion tearing a
n0AN AAAANAEA AAlt "
none of the Americans were killed.
The American loss in destroying Ger
vera's fleet was but one killed and two
wounded. All were on the Brooklyn.
The Spanish loss is estimated at 400
killed and 600 taken prisoners. Five
hundred of the prisoners are wounded,
200 seriously, aud 800 slightly. Those
whose wounds are most serious have
been transferred to the Solaee and the
Olivette. There are 200 of the prison.
ers on the Harvard, 800 on the st. Louis
and 500 on the ResOlute, while the other
prisoners are distributed about the other
vessels of the fleet. Admiral CerveTa
is on the Iowa, Captain Eulate aboard
the St Louis, and the commander of
the Cristobal Colon is on Admiral
SIMPSONS flagship.
The commander of the Oquendo, who
committed suicide, made plans to have
his vessel destroyed. When be saw
that his ship could not much longer
Withstand the fire of the American
fleet, he ordered all of his men below,
had the matches closed, poured oil on
the decE and applied torch. He then
fired pistol-shot into his brain. Cap
tain Eulate suffered the heaviest loss of
any of the Spanish commanders. More
than half of the crew Of the Vizcaya
were killed. The naval battle lasted 81
minutes, but during that time the Span
isrds were unable to infiict even slight
damage on our fleet. Commodore
Schley says the Brooklyn was hit 80
times, but all of the enemy's shot fell
harmlessly into the sea. The men on
Admiral Cervera's flagship were par
alyzed with fear. After they had run
up white flag, and while the Ameri-
cans were approaching the Colon to
take them off, the men shouted, 'eViva
los Americanos, /" at the same time ap-
pealing for mercy. Officers and crew,
numbering 504 men, were taken on
board the Brooklyn, and yesterday
were transferred to the Resolute. An
attempt was made by the Oregon to
drag the Cristobal Colon off the reef
on which she struck. This only made
matters worse, and the Spanish vessel
now is lying broadside on, and is fast
going to pieces.
Capt Bob Evans quickly brought 10
terms some Cuban sharpshooters, who,
after the fleet had been destroyed, were
picking of helpless Spanish sailors 1
who drifled past on bits of wreckage.
These sharpshOoters also were firing at s
SpaniaTds struggling toward shore.
Capt. Evans landed some marines from {
The Iowa TO protect the survivors and
;ent word to the Cubans that he would I
shell their positions if they continued |
heir guerrilla tactics. This warning c
lad the desired effect and no further l
roHble Of that kind was experienced. ?
The work of rescuing the Spanish
survivors, was directed by Lieut.. Bell,
# the Harvard. The Chicago naval n
eserves manned boats and dragged the n
Exhausted Spaniards from the wreck I,
ge and the water. To get the surviv- a
rs back on board the ships it was Y
Necessary TO I'LL them with brandy. n
lost Of the Spanish seamen were {,
runk during sundays battle, they v
Iaving been well supplied with liquor q
n tn. night before the fleet made its /,
ASH foi the sea- N
Constant danger attended the res fl