The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-24
Our Important Victories Have Been
Won On the Sabbath.
SURRENDER OF SANTIAGO
SCHLEY'S INSPECTION OF BAT
TERIES AND HARBoR.
The Spaniards Have Named His
Flagship the ''Three horned
Devil" - Many Modern Guns
Mounted Along the Shore
Thanksgiving Services Held.

The Sabbatarian may not find 1t as
good reason for thankfulness and con-
graduation as do the men of the
American fleet off Santiago de Cuba,
but the singular fact remains that
every event of supreme Importance
that has happened in our naval opera
tons during the war with Spain has
fallen on Sunday.
Sunday, May l, Dewey won the great
victory at Manila.
on Sunday. May %, Schley found the
fleet Of Cervera in Santiago harbor and
said, They viii never go home.
On Sunday July g. a portion OF Ad-
Iniral SIMPSONS fleet, under Comno-
dore Sckley, defeated the attempt or
Admiral Cervera to escape and de-
stroyed his squadron, and on Sunday,
July II (today). the Spanish flag on
5dorro castle, Santiago, was hauled
down forever. beginning the finale of
Spanish control in the western hemi-
sphere.
This Sunday morning was beautiful.
among the most beautiful that have
fallen to the lot of our ships before
Santiago. The blockade was depleted,
the two f1agships. New York, with Ad-
miral SIMPSONS fleet, and the Brook
lyn, known to the Spaniards as the
''three-horned devil" flying CommO-
fore Schley's broad penant, being the
only warships in sight. The little
Vixen. Captain Sharpe, omnipresent,
and the Gloucester, Captain Vain
wright, filed out the quota of our
ships.
Sunrise developed the fact that the
flag of Spain still floated over MORO
castle, and Spanish soldiers were still
in the fort At precisely 8 o'clock,
however, watchful officers on deck saw
the flag slowly come down. There was
a salute of some kind fired inside, for
guns were heard. AS soon as the flag
had been lowered, the New York moved
in toward the entrance of the harbor,
followed by the Brooklyn Soon both
these great cruisers lay close under
the batteries that for weeks had men
aced them, and swung lazily at anchor,
while steam launches were lowered to
take ashore officers who desired to see
the harbor and Notifications. At the
same time the church pennant went up
mouth of the harbor began service of
thanksgiving to the Creator.
sCHLEY's TRIP.
On one launch went Commodore
Schley and party, including a CORE
spondent of the Associated Press. The
trip was full of incident and interest.
Entering the narrow neck of the har-
Dor. the eye met with a great eXpanse
of water, a beautiful sheet, a harbOr
Offering a splendid protection and all
the requisites for a naval stand. All
along both banks were eaTthworks and
batteries, and these were mounted with
rapid-fire guns and revolving cannon.
Looking up at MORO, one saw the
crumbling old ruin in the same condi-
ton in which it has been for half a
century, except that it had received
on one corner a large shell that had
partially demolished tower and flag
support.
Punta Gorda, just inside the Moro,
on a hill. had three guns. evidently
ship guns, pointing directly down at
the entrance. To the west were two !
emplacements on the side hill, both |
with four-inch rapid-fire guns and six |
Founders. To the east of Moro the |
earthwork battery displayed three |
modern guns with shields and three |
muZzle-loaders.
MERCEDES WRECK.
Turning well into the mouth of the |
harbor, the Reina Mercedes was seen !
lying over on her side and about two |
thirds submerged. All her boats had |
been taken of and her heavy port
guns. On the starboard, however, !
We're two heavy guns. All her rapid
fire guns were in position, so that !
they could be used for harbor defense.
Around the rail on the quarter deck
hung the crews hammOcks, as though
for an airing; and blankets and other
paraphernalia showed a hurried deser-
ton. She does not lay in the channel,
but ashore in the eastern shadows. The
cause of her hurried abandonment was
soon discovered in the big shell holes
in her side, two or three being visible
where the Massachusetts and Texas
and poured in a hof Gre. On her star
board side is seen - effect of one of
the shells that fell on her during the
second BON bardment on July 6. The T
whole side of the deck is torn away and
the steel lies curled UP in big heaps.
On her bow cleaned in white and gold
and yellow the crown OF Spain. with
the royal coat of arms beneath.
HOBSoN'S WORK.
Five hundred yards up the harbor's
Aecl lies the wreck OF the collier Mer-
rimac not by any means an obstruc-
ton TO the channel but much further
up than was necessary, her position,
while demonstrating Hobson's wonder
full bravery, showing also that he lost I
MS bearings in the dark. Only the ,
tops Of her single smokestack and her I
two masts are visible.
a tug, the Colon, and a lighter. were
lying just near here and Commodore :
Schley stopped to examine the captain.
Schley talks Spanish well and engaged {
the man in conversation. The latter I
said he had been employed in taking
troops from the batteries at MORO. He I
did not know how many sailors had {
or escaped from Admiral ;
Ceryera's squadron. but h believed
there were only a few. he thercupon / I
directed Commodore Schley TO a wood {
en- house on the hillside, where lay, he I
said, the electric plant for setting off {
the harbor mines. I
Our launch, running alongside a I
small wooden pier on the west OF the
harbor, found q launch from the Reina
Mercedes. with number of Spanish
sailors and a marine officer in charge. ,
The latter conducted Commodore l
Schley and the party by line of filthy
houses 10 a rough wooden shanty.
matched with palm leaves. IN this
place was q beautiful apparatus, with
electrical batteries TO set off the mines. !
The officer explained that TWO were /
having been set off the night l
he Merrimac entered. The keyboard )
shows about six rows of mines and I
Commodore Schley thought ii would be S
wise to set them off, but refrained from e
aking action in the absence of Admiral
sampson.
1t was intended to make the trip to T
he hill battery. but the plan was de- G