Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-07-22
In the HarbOr at Santiago.
Commodore Schley's Tour OF InvestIga-
tiOn.

tion.
Almost Immediately after the Spanish
flag was hauled down Sunday morning
steam launches commanded by Lieutenant.
Hobson and Palmer entered the harbor
penetrating as far as the firing stations OF
the submarine mines. These mines were
Judged to be not as formidable as expected,
and later in the afternoon they were all
exploded under the supervision of the
Vixen.
Six or seven fine steamers in the harbor
fall as prizes to the navy and army. The
Spanish gunboat Alvarez had already been
taken possession of by prize crew from
the New York
Soon after noon Commodore Schley went
into the harbor on a steam launch, which
moved slowly in order to make close OBJ
seryaiion Of the Spanish forts and batteries.
Everyone expressed satisfaction at the
fact that Moro Castle was not demolished
by the bombardment.
The Old fort stands on the bluff, terrace
fashion. From the waters edge to the brow
of the beetling cliff there are huge caves
formed by the action of the waves, and
around the base and in the superstructure
are no, a few caves made by the navy's
proiectiles
MORO Castle is the only imposing forti-
fication in the harbor, and it is only 50 in
appearance, since not gun is mounted
within or on the crumbled walls.
Growing the hill on the west side of
the entrance We're tile famous six-!nch.
rapid-tre guns from the Spanish cruiser
Relna Mercedes. These were ugly looking
and dangerous, while below, on brick
foundations, on the western shore of the
entrance, were some revolving guns.
The Es,rella battery and a small neigh
Dor farther in showed no guns. Blue
white and yellow houses were seen situ-
ated in groves of Towering trees some of
the buildings looking as if they had been
the resorts Of pleasure-seekers in happier
times others were humble enough in APP
pearance for ishermen's houses. All
were deserted and, strange to say, not one,
apparently, was touched by hostile pro-
jectie.
Commodore Schleys party first steamed
around the wreck of the Rena Mercedes,
which lies with her bow pointed toward
the city. She had a list to starboard and
rested on a reef near the foot of Moro
cliff Evidently the crew left her in a
hurry. This is less TO be wondered at
when ii is noted that there were great gaps
in her sides, showing where two twelve
and two thirteen-inch shells had struck
her.
About six hundred yards ahead of the
Reina Mercedes, and almost in line with
her, was the wreck of the Merrimac, lying
in fully six fathoms of water and on the
very edge of the channel. Had not the
current swung the doomed ship alongside.
instead of athwart the channel, the latter
would have been well blocked.
Commodore Schley was determined to
have a glimpse at Santiago city and the
launch was headed along the west side of
the channel. 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 few vessels showing at its
wharves. At that distance Santiago did
not show any traces of the destruction
wrought by the l0l ont of the l06 eight
inch shells fired on the city limits last
Monday.
The first vessel to enter the harbor after
the mines were exploded in the afternoon
was the Red Cross steamer State of Texas,
which went in with relief for the sick and
wounded.