The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-07-09

could NOT be seen at this point was the
Cristobal Colon. But half dozen ourls Of
Smoke far down on the western horizon
showed tho fate that was awaiting her.
The Crlstobal Colon was the fastest Of the
Spanish ships, and che soon obtained q
harbor. and escaped the effect Of the shots
Which destroyed the other vessels. She
steamed away at great speed With the
oregon, New York, Brooklyn and several
other ships in pursuit.. all Of them firing at
her constantly and receiving fire them
selves from her after guns.
''EiEhtlnx Dob's" Prediction.
There seemed no possibility whatever for
her escape. and. whio her fate Is not def
tnitely known at this hour. It can be readily
Imagined from the words OF Capt. Robiey
D.Evans.o the Iowa, who returned from the
westward with ESQ prisoners with tho Viz
caya Just az the Dispatch boat Wanda was
leaving the flagship. In answer to an In
curry he Shouted through the mcgaphone:
Il left the Cristobal Colon far to the vest
ward an hour ago and the Oregon was
giving her hell. She has undoubtedly gone
down with the others. and we will have
4 Fourth Of July celebration In Santiago to.
morrow"
American Vessels Unframed.
OHpS' AaNoa0p WIZ udo peSu AZ tuo kkIVA
OF the engagement up to the time he took
the Vizcaya officers and crew from the
Ghore. said that to the beat Of his knowl-
edge not one American ship had been
1truck.
The torpedo boat Ericsson, which also
same time. made similar report, and It
was believed no man was injured on board
the American ships. though another re-
port had 1t that one man was killed on
board the Brooklyn, which could not be
verified as this dispatch was sent.
Spanish Loss Very Heavy.
There Is no means Of telling now what
me spanish loss was. but It Is believed to
have been very heavy, and the prisoners in
custody report their decks strewn with
dead and wounded IN great numbers, and
besides there Is q statement that many
bodies could be seen fastened to the
pieces of wreckage floating in the sea after
the light was over. A large number Of the
Spanish wounded We're removed to tha
American ships.
Cervera's Movement Unexpected.
Cervera's plan to escape from Santiago
harbor was entirely unexpected by Ad-
miral Sampson. and the best evidence Of
this is the fact that when the Spanish ves-
sells were seen coming out of the harbor
the flagship New York was seven miles
Juragua. the military base, nine miles east
Of Moro. The New York was out Of the
night altogether al every stage, but she Inn
medlately put about and followed the 9th.
ers.
Another Story of the Affair.
New York, July 5.-The New York Her
aid has received from Its correspondent at
Santiago the following details Of the de.
struction of Admiral Cervera's fleet: Three
OF
up In Santiago harbor and two torpedo boat
destroyers were pounded into helpless
hunks by the guns OF Admiral Sampson's
fleet on Sunday in vain attempt to escape
from the harbor. The vessels were beached
in last effort to save as many Of the lives
OF the crews as possible.
Admiral Cervera, on board the C,ristobal
Colon. headed his feet in the attempt to
get away at about half-past nine o'clock.
80 little were the Americans expecting the
dash that the flagship New York was cruis-
Ing up the coast to the east and returned
only In time to see the finish of the fight and
TO tlre shot or two at the torpedo boat
destroyers.
American Vessels Engaged.
The Iowa, Indiana. Oregon, Massachu
sets, Texas, Brooklyn and the converted
yacht Gloucester formerly the Corsatr
formed IN position to give battle as soon
as the Colon was sighted rounding the
i"ASSn VI t4o N4SIIlIldC Inc American
vessels did not open fire at once; they
waited until Cervera's ships were out Of
the range Of Morros guns before giving
battle Cervera headed to the west. the
Colon In the lead. followed by the Vizcaya
and Oquendo and the destroyers. all Ar
ing rapidly.
AL of the American ships opened fire at
once. and the Spanish were soon in hur-
ricane Of shot and shell, but the Colon kept
on bravely till when about ten miles from
the westward of Moro castle, Admiral
Cervera turned his vessel to the shore and
beached her. She was blazing In score
OF places, but her guns kept at work, and
the white flag never showed until she was
completely disabled.
No Match for the Americans.
The Oquendo and vizcaya were opposed
to the Iowa, Texas and Indiana and went
down to defeat with fearful swIftness, COW
iering only about half the distance made by
the Colon before their captains ran them
ashore. Their crews fought with desperate
for the courage Of our men; added to their
superb gunnefy. The Spanish shells went
wild for the most part but the American
gun fire was marked by merciless preci-
sion. The two cruisers, both on fire, were
,beached not more than one-quarter of q
mile apart.
Hot Work for the Gloucester.
Fne most dramatic feature OF the battle
was the contest between the torpedo boat
destroyers and the Gloucester The lat,
ter was struck several times and is the
only American vessel reported damaged.
AT first the Gloucester fired upon them with
her six-pounders, but they ran past her
and engaged the battleship. Finding the
fire too hot, they turned and attacked the
Gloucester again until both destroyers
were aflre 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
finishing blow to the destroyers. There
was explosion after explosion from the
!beached vessels.
Dispatch from Watson.
Washington, July Sat 11:25 Monday
night the navy department posted the an,
pended translation Of cipher cablegram
received from Commodore Watson It Is
similar to that received Monday from Adj
miral Sampson. but contains the addition
al information that $50 Spaniards were
killed or drowned, 100 wounded and 1000
captured Commodore Watson.s dispatch
follows:
Playa del Este, July 8.-To the Secretary
Of the Navy: AT $50 a. m. Sunday the Span
ish squadron, seven in all, including one
gunboat, came out OF Santiago in column
and was totally destroyed within an hour
excepting the Cristobal Colon. which was
chased 45 miles to westward by the COM
mander In chief, Brooklyn, Oregon and