The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-24
IN SANTIAGO HARBoR.
Commodore SchIcy's Exploration the
Day the City Surrendered.

Commodore schIey's Exploration the
Day the City Surrendered.
Correspondence of the Associated Press.
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, July 1.-THE Sab
batarian may not find it as good reason
for thankfulness and congratulation as do
the men of the American fleet off Santiago
de Cuba, but the singular fact remains that
every event of supreme importance that has
happened in our naval operations during the
war with Spain has fallen on Sunday. On
Sunday May /, Dewey won the great vic
tory at Manila. On Sunday, May %, Schey
found the fleet of Cervera in Santiago har-
Dor and said They will never go
home" On Sunday. July ,, a portion of
Admiral Simpsons fleet, under Commodore
Scllley, defeated the attempt of Admiral
Cervera to escape, and destroyed his fleet
and Sunday, July IL to-day the Spanish
flag on MORO Castle Santiago. was hauled
down forever.
This Sunday morning was beautiful,
among the most beautiful that have fallen
to the lot of our ships before Santiago The
blockade was depleted the two fagships
the New York with Admiral Simpsons flag
flying, and the Brooklyn, known to the
Spaniards as the "three-horned DEVIL" fly
ing Commodore Schley's broad pennapt, be-
ing the only war ships in sight.
The little Vixen, Captain Sharp,
omnipresent, and the Gloucester, Cap
tain Wainwright filled out a quota
of our ships Sunrise developed the
fact that the red and yellow flag Of Spain
still hoated over Moro Castle and that the
Spanish soldiers were still in the forts AT
precisely 8 o'clock, however, watchful Off
GERS on Geek saw the flag slowly come down.
There was a salute of some kind fired in
| side. for guns were heard. AS soon as the
| flag had been lowered, the New York
moved majestically in toward the entrance
| of the harbor, followed by the Brooklyn.
| Soon both these great cruisers lay close I'M
| der the batteries that for weeks had me-
raced them and swung lazily and nonchal-
| antly at anchor, while steam launches were
| lowered to take ashore the officers who de-
| sired to see tine harbor and Notifications
| At the same time the church pennant went
| up on the New York ard in the very mouth
OF the harbor a Thanksgiving to the Creator
went up.
| A party including a correspondent Of the
| Associated Press, went ashore. Entering
| the narrow neck of the harbor, the eye met
| with great expanse of water, beautiful
| sheet, harbor offering a splendid protec-
| ton and all the great requisites for naval
| station. All along both banks were thrown
| UP earthworks and batteries, and these
| were mounted with rapid-fire guns and re-
| volving cannon. Looking up, there was
| MORO, the crumblng old ruin, in the same
| condition in which it has been for half a
century, except that it had received on one
corner large shell that had partially de-
| molished tower and flag support. Punta
/ Gorda, just inside the Moro and on a high
hill, had three guns, evidently ship guns,
pointing directly down at the entrance. To
the west Were two emplacements on the
side hill, both with four-inch rapid-tire
guns and six Founders. To the east of
| MORO the earthwork battery displayed
three modern guns with shields and three
| muZZle-lOadeIS.
Turning well into the mouth of the har-
| Dor, the Reina Mercedes was seen lying
| over on her side and about two-thirds SUBJ
| merged. All her boats had been taken off,
| and her heavy port guns: On the star
| board, however, were two heavy guns, all
her rapid-fire guns were in position so that
they could be used for harbor defense.
Around the rail on the quarterback hung
the crews hammocks as though for an air.
ing, and blankets and other paraphernalia
| showed a hurried desertion She does not
lie in the channel, but ashore in the east
ern shadows. The cause of her hurried
abandonment was soon discovered in the
big shell holes in her side, two or three be-
ing visible where the Massachusetts, and
Texas had poured in hot fire. On her
starboard side is seen the effect of one of
the shells that fell on her during the sec
ond bombardment on June 6. The whole
side OF the deck is torn away and the steel
lies curled up in huge heaps. On her bow
cleaned, in. white and gold and yellow, the
crown of Spain, with the royal coat of
arms beneath it,
Five hundred yards up the harbors mar
!
means obstruction to the channel, but
much further up than necessary. Her posi-
ton while demonstrating Hobsons wonder
full bravery, showing also that he lost his
bearings in the dark. Only the tops of heI
single smokestack and her two nasts are
visible. tug, the Colon, and lighter
were lying just near her, and Commodore
Schley stopped to examine the captain
Schley talks Spanish, and easily engaged
the man in conversation. The latter said he
had been employed in taking troops from
the batteries at MORO. He did not know
how many sailors had returned or escaped
from Admiral Cerveras squadron, but ht
| believed there were only few. He then di
lected Commodore Schley to a wooder
house on the side of the hill, where lay, ht
said, the electric plant for setting of tbs
harbor mines.
Our launch. running alongside a small
wooden pier on the west of the harbor
found a launch from the Reina Mercedes
with a number of Spanish sailors and ma
rine officer in charge The latter conducte.
Commodore Schley and the party by a line
of filthy houses TO a rough wooden shanty
matched with palm leaves In this place
was a beautiful apparatus with electrical
batteries to set OFF the mines. The Offices
explained that two were exploded. having
: been set off the night the Merrimac en-
tered. The keyboard shows about boz six row
would be wise to set them off, but refrainet
from taking action in the absence of Ad
! .niral Sampson
1t was intended to make the trip to tn
hill battery, but that plan was deferred a
the request of the Spanish officer, VIII,
urged for some reason, that the part,
should not go up there Enough was seen
however, to show that the repeated bonn
bardments had had little or no effect. Jus
; as The party was leaving Lieutenant Scar
stumbled over a five-inch she'll OF American
manufacture, that had not exploded. TIL
Brooklyn is the only ship that uses five-incl
Shells and there was one that had com
: over the hill.
little exploration further up the ba,
2 showed Cay Smith with its numerous pleas
ure houses and residences, almost deserted
, Close to the city lay five or six merchant
men and a little later prize crews from tn
l American ships took charge of them.
Returning toward the Brooklyn, Comma
dore Schley sent the launch alongside of tn
State of Texas. the Red Cross Society
[ ship. and made call on Miss Clara Barton
T when he congratulated warmly on he
$ splendid services.