The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-18

tiago city and the launch was headed
along the west side of the channel, go
ing slowly and sticking to the shallow
water lest some contact mine put an
end, as the commodore remarked, ITO
our pleasure party
Skirting the broad, lake-like spot in
the harbor. where the Spanish fleet
used to lie during the bOmbardments,
and noting the brilliantly painted buoy
which marked the shadows, Punta
GOrda was rounded and distant about
two miles the city of Santiago shOne
out, the cathedral being especially well
defined, and the masts and tunnels of
not a few vessels showing at it's
wharVes.
show any traces of the destruction
wrought by the 1O1 out of the 1O6 eight
inch shells fired on the city last Mon
day.
Returning to the Brooklyn, Commo-
dore Schley, accompanied by his staff,
entered the harbor soon after the mines
were exploded.
The crew of the Brooklyn regarded
the Vizcaya as their particular enemy,
since the time when they were both
present at Queen Victoria'S jubilee dis
play when there was much comment
abroad on what a good fight might be
expected between the two ships if they
ever met.
OF the four big ships which were in
Admiral CerVera'S fleet two are surely
doomed to destruction. They are the
Vizcaya and the Almirante Oquendo
and these as a coincidence, were the two
cruisers which went into Havana har-
Dor after the blowing up of the Maine
and were moOred near the wreck of the
United States battleship in all the
bravery of paint, gliding and bunting
seeming to gloat over the ruin caused
while the people of Havana shouted
themselves hOarse, fired myriads of
bombs and Dragged INCREASINGLY of what
the two formidable cruisers of Spain
would do with the United States navy
should ever fair fight be possible
Surely remarked Lieutenant Com
mander Wainwright, of the Gloucester,
formerly of the Maine, ''this is evening
for the Maine"
Speaking of the military victories of
July 1 and 2, and of the naval victory
on July 8, Commodore Schley said ser
iOusly: These victories may serve not
only to deprive Spain of her colonial
possessions, but to bring about a change
of frontiers in Europe. Spain cannot
get the terms now which she might
have had two months ago. What can
she hope for in six months more of such
warfare? Whom the gods would de-
stroy they first make mad a"
Maria Teresa Can Be Saved.
Capt. Cook of the Brooklyn is auth
ority for the statement that the former
flagship the Infanta Maria Teresa, float
ed off the reef on which she stranded
and that her heavy armament is prac-
~tically unfnjured. The captain says
this cruiser will almost surely be saved
and form an addition to the United
States navy, trophy of the glorious
July 3rd.
The Cristobal Colon may also be
saved, though a good deal depends up
on the weather, which is very uncer-
tain at this time of the year. A heavy
storm might drive the cruiser so high
on the coral reef that it would be i'm
possible to float her
Many of the naval men are outspo-
ken in their criticism of the treatment
of the Colon Immediately after her sur
render. They believe the ship could
have been saved when she slipped back
from the reef into deep water, had div
competent prize crew been sent on
board of her.