The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-23


Santiago de Cuba, July 1.-THE Sab.
batarian may not find IL as good rea-
son for thankfulness and congratula-
tion as do the men of the American
fleet off Santiago de Cuba; but the sim
gular fact remains that every event OF
supreme Importance that has happened
in our naval operations during the war
with Spain has fallen on a Sunday.
On Sunday. May ], Dewey won the
great victory at Manila, on Sunday,
May 20. Schley found the feet of Ger
vera in Santiago harbor and said They
will never get home" On Sunday, July
3, portion of Admiral Simpsons fleet
under Commodore Schley defeated the
attempt of Admiral Cervera TO escape
and destroyed his squadron, and on
Sunday, July IL (today) the Spanish
flag on Moro castle. Santiago, was
hauled down forever.
The Sunday morning was beautiful
among the most beautiful that have
fallen to the lot of our ships before
Santiago. The blockade was depleated,
the two fiagships, New York, with Ad-
miral Simpsons flag flying, and the
Brooklyn. known to the Spaniards as
the "three-horned devel," flying Com
modore Schley's broad pennant, being
the only warships in sight. The little
Vixen. Capt. Sharpe. was present and
the Gloucester, Capt. Wainwright,
filed out quota of four ships.
MORRO'S FLAG COMES DOWN.
red and yellow flag of Spain still fioated
over Morro Castle and that the Spanish
soldiers were still in the forts. At pre-
cisely 3 o'clock, however, watchful
officers ON deck saw the hag come
slowly 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 majesti-
cally in toward the entrance of the har-
Dor, followed by the Brooklyn. Soon
both these great cruisers lay close un-
der the batteries that for weeks had
menaced them and swung lazily and
nonchantly 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 pefinant went up on the
New York and in the very mouth of the
harbor, began a service of thanksgiv-
ing to the Creator.
On one launch went Commodore
Schley and party. including a cores
A SPLENDID HARBOR.
The trip was full of incident and in
terest. Entering the narrow neck OF
the harbor the eye met with a great
expanse of water, beautiful sheet.
harbor offering splendid protection and
all the great requisites for naval
station. All along both banks were
thrown up earthworks and batteries
and these were mounted with rapid fire.
ox,I ~tx.ex t,,tr
up at Morrow one saw the crumbling
old ruin in the same condition in which
IL has been for half a century, except
that Ii had received on one corner a
large shell that had PARTLY demolished
a tower and flag support.
Punta Gorda, just inside the Morro
and on high hill, had three guns. evil
IDENTIFY ship guns. pointing directly
down at the entrance. To the west
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 and shields and three
muzzle-loaders.
THE SUNKEN MERCEDES.
Turning we'll into the mouth of the
harbor, the Rena Mercedes was seen
lying over on her side and about two
thirds. submerged. All her boats had
been taken off and her heavy port guns.
On the starboard,- however, were two
heavy guns. and her rapid fire guns
were in position so that they could be
used for harbor defence. Around the
rail on the quarter deck hung the crews
hammocks as though for an airing. and
blankets and other paraphernalia
showed a huryied desertion. She does
not lay in the channel. but ashore in
the eastern shadows. The cause OF her
hurried abandonment was soon dis
covered in the big shell holes in her
side, two or three being visible where
poured in a hot fire. On her starboard
side Is seen the effect OF one OF the
shells that fell on her during the sec
ond bombardment, on June 6. Tho
whole side of. the deok is torn away
and the steel. lies curiad up I'm huge