Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-07-07

Denver. July IA New York special
to the Republican says:
With Admiral SIMPSONS fleet OF
Santiago, Sunday, by the Herald's dis
patch boat Golden Rod to Port An
tonic, Jamaica, thence to Kingston, ia
maica, Monday.-Scattcrcd along the
shore for distance of two miles to the
west of Moro castle now lie the ar
morcd cruisers and torpedo boat de-
stroycrs that composed Admiral Ger
vera's fleet.
In running fight of two hours these
vessels. the cream of the Spanish navy,
were almost nnnihilated this morning
by the powerful ships of Admiral
SIMPSONS fleet. under the Immediate
command of Commodore Schley.
Sunday quiet rested over the en-
trance to Santiago hnrbor, and no
signs of life We're visible about old
Moro. Beyond and toward the city
of Santiago all was still. After two
days Of fighting the armies of both
nations We're resting In their trenches.
on this way for n distance OF half
n dozen miles from shore the vessels
of Admiral SIMPSONS fleet lay lazily
ut anchor. u
Admiral Sampson. desiring to nscer-
tain the exact condition Of the Span
ish coast defenses about Aguadores,
ordered the flagship to go that way.
Weighing anchor. the New York leis-
urely steamed of to the eastward.
Idle thoughts occupied the minds of
the men In the fleet They We're spec
ulating, as they had been for weeks,
when would come their opportunity to
get at" the Spanish fleet in the Inner
harbor.
Suddenly as n flash, at half past
o'clock, n vessel appeared near the EN-
trance to the hnrbor. She was throw
Ing out great black clouds of smoke
and was pointing straight toward the
American fleet.
The ease of the American officers
and sailors was rudely disturbed.
They had grabbed their glasses. scam
ned the hnrbori entrance. and We're
amazed to discover that an armored
cruiser was coming out.
In the absence of Admiral Sampson,
Commodore Schley, from the Brook
lyn. ordered the American warships to
rush in shore. In few moments it
was seen that the vessel emitting such
clouds of smoke was the Cristobal Co
Ion. Admiral Cervera's flagship. She
had passed the wreck of the Merrimac
and was making for the sea at full
speed.
Before Commodore Schley and his
other clouds of smoke came into view
beyond the Cristobal Colon. With n
rush fully equal to that of the Span
ish flagship. the Almirante Oqueudo
came toward the open sea.
Behind her came the ViZcaya. also at
full speed. while the rear was brought
up by the Infanta Maria Teresa and
the two torpedo boat destroyers, the
Furor and the Pluton. This stirring
scene. so dramatic and so unexpected,
quickly put the captain of every Amer
lean vessel on his mettle.
"Cervera's trying to escape" was the
cry that resOunded through the fleet.
Every American vessel quickly
weighed anchor. The engines were
started, and one by one the great
American warships made ready for
battle. Every man scampered to his
gun and the captains. knowing that
Admiral Sampson had gone along the
coast, eagerly watched the Brooklyn,
Commodore Schley's flagship.
In few moments the Resolute was
speeding TO the eastward after the
New York, but the advance of the
Spanish fleet was so rapid that our
men could not wait for Admiral Snmp-
son to get back Just rs the Cristobal
Colon was poking her nose out into the
open sea, Commodore Schley sent the
Brooklyn mndly rushing to the west
ward to head off Cervera's flagship. He
ordered the Massachusetts and Oregon
10 follow after, at the same time order
ing the Indiana, Iowa and Texas to I'm
:crcept the other ships of the escaping
icet. Then began one of the greatest
sea fights in history.
1t Is not known whether Admiral
rcrvera had blown up the Merrimac or
passed it in single column. His ship.
the Cristobal Colon, glided out of the
harbor and shot to the westward, her
two tunnels and hight black bulwarks
showing plain against the green hills.
her pennant and the Spanish red and
Yellow ensign lashing out. In few
seconds the American fleet was in mo-
ton, the Indiana, which was closest.
heading straight in shore to get close
range
The Spaniard opened fire with an H.
inch Honotoria and mighty fountains of
water rose about the battleship's
weather decks. The shell fell near her
now. The Indiana replied with her 13-
uch guns, and n monument later let go
everything that could be brought to
bear. One of the first shells fell on the
spanish cruisers deck.
Cervera WIS going past and the In
ulAna rounded to give him brOadside.
ana then. MS the Iowa and the Texas
opened on him, the doomed admiral
Iurned to the harbor mouth. where the
Almirante OQuendo was Just coming
into view.
At first one could scarcely believe
MS eyes. hut when the Oquendo ap-
hehred and steamed swiftly. westward
r''o the smoke and lightning where
nHrvcras flag still flew. It flashed upon
US that there was to be history max
ntG indeed. 1t was sublime spectacle
VI 4 dpSnpr1tn oIp hn ho1