Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1898-07-18

I crest Of the plateau.like cliff, were ak
big guns, one OF two of which we're dis
mounted. Estrella battery and a small
neighbOr further I'm showed no guns,
while on the famous Caysmith, fllled with
blua, white and yellow houses, situated In
groves OF towering trees-sOme OF the
builings looking AZ II they had been re.
sorts OF pleasure In happier times
strange TO say, not one apparently had
been touched by hostile prOjectile. On
the inside slope and hill TO the westward
some hastily constructed but very COM
fOTting classmates we're seen, into which
the Spanish gunners were wont 10 retire
when our chips opened fire. When the
firing ceased the gunners had few steps
only TO climb 20 the six.inch rapid. fire
guns, which almost always fred few
spiteful farewell shots.
In Santiago there were four 6inch
guns, one above the other, neither pro-
tacted even by sand or earth. These
commanded the harbOr entrance pretty
we'll but could have been silenced by one
well directed heavy she'll
Schley has over and over again ex-
pressed the belief that our fleet probably
could have entered the harbOr without
the loss Of a single ship. The mines
might have stopped ingress by sinking
the leading ship, but this is q chance OF
war, and not 80 grave as many taken
during the civil strife, nor as serious as
would have been the situation had there
been good batteries properly manned In
the harbOr.
Schley's party first steamed around the
wreck OF the Reina Mercedes, which lies
with bow pointed toward the city. She
had listed 10 starbOard and rested on
reef near the foot OF Moro Cliff. The
cruiser was sunk TO the upper deck, on
which one six. inch gun remained. One
torpedo tube was loaded and the auxil.
iaaTy battery seemed In place Eyi-
IDENTIFY the crew Of the Reina Mercedes
had left in hurry. This ia less to be-
wondered at when IL Is noted that there
were three great gaps in her sides, show
ing where two ~ and two thirteen-inch
shells had struck her.
About 800 yards ahead OF the Reina
Mercedes and almost in line with her
was the wreck of the MeTrimac, lying In
fully six fathOms Of water on the very
edge Of the channel. Had not the
current swung the doomed ship along.
side instead OF Rthwart the channel the
latter would have been we'll blocked.
When Assistant Naval Constructor Hob
son took the collier into the harbor ne
was hunting for four fathOms spot
and only missed by few hundred yards.
At the firing station on the west side,
which Schley inspected In person, the
Americans met a Spanish artillery cap
tain, who was courteous but gloomy.
Schley advised the officer with the few
men under his command 20 go up 70 the
city and surrender az quickly Rs posi-
Bile
Schley then said that he wasdetermined
TO have a glimpse OF Santiago City, and
the launch was headed along the
west side OF the channel, going
slowly and sticking 10 the shallow
water, lest some contact mine put an
end, as the commodore remarked, ITO
our pleasure party" Skirting the broad
lake like spots in the harbor where the
Spanish fleet destroyed two weeks ago to-
day used TO lie during bOmbardments,
and noting in brilliantly painted buOys
which marked the shadows, Punta GOrda
was rounded, and distant about two
miles the city OF Santiago shone out, the
cathedral being especially we'll defined
and the masts and tunnels OF not a few
vessels showing At the wharyes.
AT that distance Santiago did not show
any traces OF the destruction wrought by
the eight inch shells fired on the city
last Monday.
Returning 10 the Brooklyn, schley ac.
cOmpanied by his staff, entered the har.
hor this evening, soon after mines were
exploded.
Capt Cook, Of the Brooklyn, IL author
ity for the statement that the former
| Spanish flagship, the lnianta Maria
Teresa, has tloated of the reef on which
she stranded and that her heavy aTma-
ment IL practically uninIured. Capt
Cook also says that this cruiser will al
most surely be- saved and form
an addition 10 the United States
as trophy Of the glorious
July 3rd. The CristObal Colon may al
| 40 be saved, though good deal depends
upon the weather, which Is very uncer-
tain at this time OF the year. A heavy
storm might drive the cruiser 20 high on
the coral rect that IL would be- impossible
20 tlOat her, Many naval men are OutspOk
Colon Immediately after her surrender
They believe the ship could have been
saved when she slipped back from the
reef into deep water, had divers, carpen-
ters aud machinists, with a competent
prize crew, been sent aboard her, on the
four big ships in Ceryera's fleet, only two
are sure 10 90 10 destruction. They are
the NiZcaya and Almirante OQuendO
and these, az a coincidence, were the two
cruisers which went into Havana haT-
Dor after the blowing up OF the Maine