, 1898-11-14

In view of the utter impOSSibllity OF
defending the ship any longer in such
a position, she was directed with the
greatest rapidity, to the shore to the
westward of the Cabraera, where she
was stranded at the same moment that
her machinery stopped.
The second and third commanders
agreed with me that it was impossible
to longer prolong the fight. We pro-
posed to haul down the flag, but it was
impossible on account of the great
Roadway made by the flames. At this
time the fire had made such Roadway
that it became necessary to abandon
the ship, and those who were able to
do so threw themselves in the water,
where they were saved by two Ameri-
can boats which had approached"
Admiral Cervera gives the names of
wounded and dead officers on the Te-
resa. A Spanish boat was lowered in
injuries it had sustained under the ter
rife fire of the American ships. An
other steam launch met the same fate.
The admiral then jumped into the wa
ter, followed by his son and W. SER
geants.
Il was aided in swimming" said the
admiral, by a sailor called Andreas Sc
Gueros and my son and arrived there
naked. The American officers COM
handing the boats invited me t. the
Gloucester. I accept the invitation,
going with my flag captain, who was
wounded with my adjutant and the sec
Ond commander of the Teresa. who was
last to leave the ship.
The Oquendo stranded half a mile
to the west of the Teresa, and | lost
sight of the Vizcaya and the Colon,
which were being pursued by Ameri-
can ships.
" AS related by the master of the
Oquendo. the story of the progress
made by this unfortunate ship is as
follows:
"The unequal combat became more
unequal when a projectile from the
enemy entered the forward turret and
exploded. killing all the personnel ex-
cept one gunner, who was badly
wounded. Of the battery OF 14-centi-
meter guns two only remained in &C
ton. fighting with unconquerable ell
ergy. The rear turret was soon with
out a commander, the officer in charge
having been killed in opening the door
to escape asphyxiation.
Two fires started on the Oquendo,
one just forward, which was promptly
gotten under control, and the second
on the after deck, which could not be
suppressed because OF the failure of the
fire engines to operate. From the time
the battle opened the ammunition
hoists failed to work.
When it was seen by. Captain Laza-
ga that the fires could not be controlled
and that the entire battery Of the ship
was cut of commission, he determined
to run ashore, ordering before such
action the discharge of all torpedoes,
in order to prevent the enemy's vessels
from approaching. After comforting
with all the officers present. and as a
last resort he ordered thar the flag be
hauled down. On account Of the IN
tinuous explosions on board it was
found impossible to save anything on
board ship
Admiral Cervera Their resumes his
narritave:
"On board the Gloucester were 200
Spanish sailors. who were solicitiously
attended by the Americans and provid-
ed with every necessity. These atten-
lions were particularly gratifying be-
cause of the fact that all the men we're
naked.
The insurgents mad captured about
200 Spanish sailors, and with them five
or six who were wounded. The insur-
gents rendered their services, which l
thankfully declined. We ave surren-
dered to the Americans l told them.
If you have surgeons with you, kindly
permit them to attend to the wounded,
several of whom are in a very bad con-
dition.'
Commander Wainwright, command
ing the Gloucester, offered to take from
the insurgents the prisoners whom they
had captured. but apparently nothing
was done. as the Gloucester started
westward and Joined the Iowa, the re-
mainder of the squadron being nearby.
| asked Commander Wainwright If he
had seen the d%estroyers and was told
of the disaster sustained by these YES
sells. Villamil found in the combat a
most glorious death. The commander
Of the Pluton was wounded in the
foot"
The admiral says he was received on
board the Iowa with military hOnors.
Il saw on board the Iowa Captain
Eulate, the commander of the Vizcaya,
who still wore his sword. the captain
Of the Iowa having refused to accept
1t because OF the courage he had dis
played during the battle
The prisoners remained on board
the Iowa until 4 o'clock, when they
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