Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-07-21
The Spanish Emblem Formally
Hauled Down From the Staff
Growing the Heights.
OUR SHIPS ENTER THE HARBOR
Several Fine Steamers There
Become Our Prizes --The
Sunken Ships--Interest-
ing Pen Picture of the
Harbor and Forth
fications.

tiagu do Cuba, July II, 3 p. m.,yia
Playa del Este, Province uf Santiago
de Cuba, July II delayed in transmits
aion). AT exactly o O'Clock this morn
ing the Spanish flag was lowered from
the staff browning the heights UPON
which battered MORO Castle spreads
half way. The lowering of this sm-
blem of the defunct sovereignty OF
Spain 10 this part Of the world was
witnessed by few Spanish and Ameri-
can troops on sh0re and by the Brook
lyn. New York, Vixen and Vesuyius,
lying within few hundred yards of
this harbor entrance.
HARBoR MINES EXPLODED.
Almost Immediately altar the. flag
was hauled down, steam launches com.
mnndeu by Lieuts. Hobson and Palmer
entered tho hariior, proceeding al far
as the firing stations OF the submarine
mines. The mines were judged to be
not as formidable as was expected, anil
later in the afternoon, they we're all ex-
ploded under supervision of the Vixen.
1t was sesn That two mines had baen
exploded at the time OF tho entrance
of the Merrimac into tho channel OF
Santiago harbor, but it is not thought
probable that either of them had any
thing ito do with the sinking of the
craft
Sixqr seven fine steamers In the har-
Dor fall as prizes to the navy and army.
The Spanish gunboat Alvarez had
already besn taken possession of by
prize crow from tho New York. The
other vessels lie at the other end of the
harb0r, at Santiago proper. So.
Soon after noon, Commodore Scbloy,
with Capt Cook of the BrooKlyn.
Lieut.. j. Ii. Sears. the flag lieutenant.
Lieut.. B. W. Wells, the flag secretary,
aud three invited correspondents Of The
Associated Press, went into the harbor
on steam launch which moved slowly
in order to make close observation of
the Spanish Notifications anu bat
teries.
Everyone expressed satisfaction at
the fact that Moro Castle was not de-
molished by the bomDnfdment, Capt.
Cook saying: 1--WE, need Ell MORN as
an object lesson. America is rather shy
on ruins, anyhow" t
DAMAGE DONE TO THE FORT.
The old Notifications stand oil the
bluff, terrace. fashion. From the watsr'a
edge to the brow OF the beetling cliff
there arc huge caves, formed by the
action VI the wayes and around this
base and the superstructure are not
few caves made by the nsvy's project
lies. 1t would appear, however, that
only one bastion was knocked 10 pieces,
while the queer little sentry boxes,
dating bnck to the Sixteenth Century,
escaped almost intact 10
MORO Castle 10 tho only imposing
fortification in the harbor, and 1t ia only
80 in appearance, since not gun is
mounted within or ON the crumhlsd
walls. In fact, all the bntteriss,
maskeu or opon, dwindlsd in their
terror-inspiriDg qualities as the inapee-
| tion grew closer.
Crowning the hill on the west side Of
the entrance were the famous sig Inch
rapid fire guns from the Spanish cruiser
Reina Mercedes. They wers ugly look
ing and dangerous, while below, on
brick foundations On the western shore
of the entrance. were some revolving
| guns. Thess were the oncs which
poured such bitter fire into the Mer.
rimae.
Directly east OF Moro Castle, on the
crest of plateau like cliff, were six big
| gums one or two OF which were dis
mounted.
| TIE OTHER BATTERIES.
The Estrella battery and q small
naighbor further in phowsd no guns,
whils the famous Cayo Smith filled
this inlet with hlue, white and yellow
houses, situated in groves of Towering
trees. come of the buildings looking as
! if they had been the resorts of plensure-
ssoksra in happier times. Other were
humble enough in appearance for fish
ermen's houses. They we're desortod,
and, st, auge TO say. not one, apparently,
had been touched ty hostile proiectile.
On the inside of the slope and hill to
the westward sonie hastily constructed.
but very comforting, classmates were
seen, into which the Spanish gunuers
were wont to retire when our ships
opened fire. When the firing ceased
the gunuers only bad q few sisps to
climb to their six-inch rapid fire guns,
which almost always fred fuw spite
fol farewell shote.
At Punta Gurda there were two
four-lnch guns. one above the other,
neither protected by even sand or surth.
These commanded the harbor entrances
pretty we'll, but they could hare beeu
silenoed- by ono well-directed heavy
she'll.
| Commodore Schley has over and over
again expressed the belief that our fleet
could probably have entered the harhoi
without the loss of a single ship. The
miues might havo stopped ingreas by
sinking the leading ship, but this is a
chanre OF war and not SO grave as many
taken during the civil strife, nor as
serious as would have been the sitra-
tion hud thsre bsen good batteries,
piobably manned, in the harbor.
THE WRECKED REINA MERc DIES.
Commodore Schlsy's party of the
ofllcers steamed around the wreck oil
the Reina Narcotics. which lies with
her bow pointed toward the city. She
had list to starboard and rested on
reef uear the foot OF Moro clilf. The
cruiser was sunk to the upper deck,
ON which one six-inch gun remained.
j One torpado tube was loaded and the
auxiliary battery seemed in play. Evil
IDENTIFY the crew Of the Reina Mercehes
LETT her 10 a hurry. Thisis lees to be
wondered ct whan 1t Is noted that there
we're great gaps In her sides, showing
where two IL and two u inch shells
had struck her.
About GOO yards nhead Of the Reina
Mercedes, and almost in line with her,
was the wreck OF the Msrrimac, lying
in fully GO fathoms OF watsr,on the very
edge Of the CHANNEL. Had not the cur.
rent swung the doomed ship, alongsid,
instead of sthwart the channel, the
latter would have been well blocked.
THE SPANISH CAPTAIN LIED.
At the firing stations on the wes
side, which Commodore Schley in
epected in person, the American party