The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-05
HOW IT WAS DONE.
Description of the Great Naval
Battle in Which Cervera's
Fleet Was Demolished.

@NCW AOIhB Juiy 81 le new IN
Herald has received from it's correspon-
o-nts at Santiago the following details
of the destruction of Admiral Cervera's
fleet:
Three of the Spanish cruisers that
were bottled up in Santiago harbor and
two torpedo boat destroyers were
pounded into helpless huIks by the guns
of Admiral SIMPSONS fleet on Sunday
in their vain attempt to escape from
the harbor. The vessels were beached
in a last effort to save as many of the
lives of the crew as possible.
Admiral Cervera on board the Girls
tobaI Colon. headed his fleet in an at
tempt to get away at about haIf-past 9
o'clock. So little were the Americans
expecting the dash that the flagship
New York was cruising up the coast
to the east and returned only in time
to see the finish of the fight and to
fire shot or two at the torpedo boat
destroyers.
The Iowa, Indiana, Oregon, Massa-
chusetts, Texas. Brooklyn and the con-
verified yacht Gloucester, formerly the
Corsair, formed in position to give bat
tie as soon as the Colon was sighted
rounding the wreck of the Merrimac.
The American vessels did not open
fire at once. They waited until Ger
vera's ships were out of the range of
MorrO's guns before giving battle
Cervera headed to the west with the
Colon in the lead, followed by the Viz
caya and Oquendo and the destroyers
all firing rapidly.
All of the American battleships open
ed fire at once and the Spanish were
soon in hurricane of shot and shell,
but the Colon kept on bravely till about
ten miles from the westward of MORO
CASTLE Admiral Cervera turned his
vessel to the shore and beached her.
She was blazing in a score of places
but her guns kept at work and the
white flag never showed until she was
completely disabled.
The Oquendo and Vizcaya were op-
posed to the Iowa, Texas and Indiana
and went down to defeat with fearful
swiftness, covering only about half
the distance made by the Colon before
their captains ran them ashore. Their
crews fought with desperate bravery
but their courage was no match for the
courage of our men added to their SUI
perb gunnery.
The Spanish shells went wild for the
most part, but the American gun fire
was marked by merciIess precision. The
two cruisers, both on fire, were beached
not more than one-quarter of a mile
apart.
The most dramatic feature of the bat
tie was the contest between the torpedo
boat destroyers and the Gloucester. The
latter was struck several times and is
the only American vessel reported dam
aged.
At first the Gloucester fired upon
them with her 6-pounders, but they ran
past her and engaged the battleships.
Finding the fire too hot they turned
and attacked the Gloucester again I'M
til both destroyers were afire and had
to be beached. Their crews threw
themselves into the surf to save their
lives Just before this the New York
came up and assisted in giving the fin
ishing blows to the destroyers. There
were explosion after explosion from the
beached vessels.
It was at first reported that Admiral
Cervera was dead, but this was after
ward denied.
Cablegram from Watson.
Washington, July 5.-The navy de-
partment has posted the appended
translation of cipher cablegram re-
ceived from Commodore Watson. It is
similar to that received yesterday from
Admiral Sampson, but contains the adj
ditionaI information that $50 Spaniards
were killed or drowned, 160 wounded
and 900 captured. Commodore Wat
sons dispatch follows:
Playa del Este, July 3.
To the Secretary Of the Navy, Wash
ingtOn, D. c.
At $3.50 a. m. today the Spanish squad
ron, seven in all, including one gunboat,
came out of Santiago in column and
was totally destroyed within an hour,
except the ChristObal Colon, which was
chased As miles to the westward by the
COMMUNICATIVE chief, Brooklyn, Oregon
and Texas, surrendered to Brooklyn,
but was beached to prevent sinking.
None of our officers or men injured
except one on board the Brooklyn.
Chief Yeomen Ellis was killed and one
man wounded. Admiral Cervera, all
commanding officers excepting of
Oquendo, about 20 other officers and
800 men are prisoners. About $50 killed
or drowned and 100 wounded, latter be-
ing cared for on SOlace and Ohyette-
Have just arrived off Santiago in Mar
blehead to take charge while COM
mander-in-chief is looking out for Girls
tobal Colon. (Signed) WATSON.