Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-07-08

westward with $50 prisoners With the Viz
caya just as the dispatch boat Wanda was
leaving the flagship In answer to an In
quigy he shouted through the megaphone:
81 left the Cristobal Colon far to the west
ward en- hour ago and the Oregon was
giving her he'll. She has undoubtedly gone
down with the o., and we will have
q Fourth of July Ion III Santiago to-
morrow"
American Vessels uniursned.
Capt. Evans, who had been In the thick
of the engagement up 10 the time ne took
the Nizcaya officers and crew from the
shore, said that TO the best of his knowl-
edge not one American ship had been
struck.
The torpedo boat Ericsson, which also
returned from the westward at about the
same time, made similar report, and 1t
was believed no man was injured on board
the American ships, though another re-
port had 1t that one maa 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
the Spanish loss was. but ii 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 statement that many
bodies could be seen fastened to the
pieces of wrecllage floating in the sea fter
the fight was over. A large number OF the
Spanish wounded were removed to the
American ships.
Ccrvcra's Movement Unexpected.
There can be no doubt that Admiral
Cervera's plan to escape from Santiago
harbor was entirely unexpected by Adj
niral Sampson, and the best evidence of
this is the fact that when the Spanish ves-
sells We're seen coming out of the harbor
the flagship New York was seven miles
away steaming to the eastward toward
Juragua. the military base, nine miles east
of Moro. The New York was out of the
fight altogether at every stage, but she i'm
mediately 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 Ceryera S fleet: Three
of the Spanish cruisers that were bottled
up in Santiago harbor and two torpedo boat
destroyers were pounded into helpless
hulks by the guns of Admiral SIMPSONS
fiaet on Sunday in vain attempt to escape
from the harbor. The vessels were beached
in a last effort TO save as many of the lives
of the crews IS possible.
Admiral Ceryera, on board the Cristobal
Colon, headed his fleet In the attempt to
u.
So little were the Americans expecting the
dash that the flagship New York was cruis-
ing up the coast 10 the east and returned
only In time to see the finis! of the fight and
to fire a shot or two at the torpedo boat
destroyers.
American Vessels Engaged.
The Iowa, Indiana. Oregon. aIassachu-
setts Texas. Brooklyn and the converted
yacht Gloucester, formerly the Corsair,
N DiN In 10
as the Colon was sighted rounding the
wreck of the Merrimac. The 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. Cervere headed to the west the
and Oquendo and the destfoyers all fir
Ing rapidly.
All Of the American ships opened fire ut
once, and the Spanish We're soon IN hur-
ricane OF shot md shell. but the Colon kept
on bravely till when about ten miles from
the westward of Morre castle, Admiral
Cervera turned his vessel to the shore and
beached her. She vas 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 0cusndo and Vizcaya were opposed
to this Iowa, Texas and Indiana and went
down 10 defeat with fearful swiftness COW
ering only about half the distance made by
the Colon before their captains ran them
ashore. Their crews fought with desperate
bravery, but their courage was no match
for the courage of our men. added to their
superb gunnery. The Spanish shells went
wild for the most part, but the American
gun fire WAC marked by mercileas preci-
sion. The two cruisers, both on fire. We're
beached not more than anesqnarter of a
mile apart
Hot Work for the Gloucester.
The 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 fred upon them with
Der siX-pounders, but they ran past her
and engaged the battieship. Finding the
fire tod hot. they turned and attacked the
Gloucester again until both destroyers
We're afire 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 APP
pended translation of cipher cablegram
received from Commodore Watson. 1t is
similar to that received Monday from Adj
miral Sampson, but contains the addition
al information that $50 Spaniards were
killed or drowned, 1850 wounded and 1000
captured. Commodore Nstsop's dispatch
follows
Playa del Este. July 3.-To the Secretary
of the Navy: At $3.50 a. m. Sunday the Span.
.ish squadron. seven in all, including one
and was totally destroyed within an hour
excepting the Cristobal Colon. which was
chased 10 miles to westward by the COM
Texas III fee 70 oef0 nt and
beached to prevent sinking. None Of our
6f dasd , or men were injured except on
killed and one man was wounded, Ia.
miral Ceryera, all comma nding officers. ex-
cepting Of oquendo, about 70 other officers
KILLED or drowned and 100 wounded, latter
being cared for on Solace and Olivette.
Have just arrived off Santiago in Marble
'1 asign ne S0As 9'' '0f o's'9 MA TstoS
shnfter Demands SURRENDER.
Off Juraugua, on Board the Dispatch Boat
Dandy. via Kingston, Jamaica. July b.
Gen. Shafter has demanded an instant and
unconditional surrender of Santiago de Gu
ba The Spanish commander CURLY and
emphatically refused The American gem
eral in sending his demand warned all for
eign residents out of the city before ten
O'Clock Monday morning, July 4, at which
hour the bombardment Wopla he said be-
gin. The only notice Gen. Linares took
was that no Cubans would be permitted Ia,
leave.
Sunday evening Lieut.. Col. Aston, of Gen.
SKATERS staff, was informed by a courier
that the Spanish generals were considering
terms of surrender. The courier's report.
however, IS altogether unconfirmed. and Is