Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1898-07-07


Guarded by Our Troops to Save Them
From the Vengeance of the Cubans Only
One Man Killed in the American Squadron
Kingston, Jamaica, July 5.-A news
paper dispatch boat just arrived from
the feet ten miles west of the entrance
of the harbor of Santiago de Cuba,
brings the following story of the de-
struction of Admiral Cervera's fleet:
The American victory is complete,
and, according to the best information
obtainable at this time, the American
vessels were practically untouched, and
only one man was killed, though the
ships were subjected to the heavy fire
of the Spaniards all the time the battle
lasted
Admiral Cervera made as gallant a
dash for liberty and for the preserva-
ton of his ships Sunday morning as
has ever occurred in the history of ma
val warfare. In the face of overwhelm-
ing odds, with nothing before him but
inevitable destruction or surrender If
he remained any longer in the trap In
which the American feet held him, he
made bold dash from the harbor.
The Americans saw him the moment
he left the harbor, and commenced
their work of destruction Immediately.
For an hour or two they followed the
flying Spaniards to the westward along
the shore line, sending shot after shot
into their blazing bulls, tearing great
holes in their steel sides and covering
their decks with the blood of the killed
and wounded.
At no time did the Spaniards show
any Indication that they intended to
do otherwise than fight to the last.
They showed no signals to surrender,
even when their ships began to sink,
and the great clouds of smoke pour
ing from their sides showed they were
on fire. But they turned their heads
toward the shore, less than a mile
away, and ran them on the beach and
rocks, where their destruction was soon
completed. The officers and men on
board then escaped to the shore as
well as they could, with the assistance
of boats sent from the American men
of-war, and then threw themselves
upon the mercy of their captors, who
sent them a guard to protect them
from the murderous bands of Cuban
soldiers hiding in the bush in the hill
side eager to rush down and attack
the unarmed, defeated, but valorous
foe.
One after another of the Spanish
ships became the victims of the awful
rain of shells which the American bat
tleships,. cruisers and gunboats poured
upon them, and two hours after the
first of the fleet had started out of
Santiago harbor three cruisers and
two torpedo boat destroyers were lying
ON the shore ten to Is miles west of
MORO Castle, pounding to pieces,
smoke and fame pouring from every
part of them and covering the entire
coast line with a mist which could be
seen for miles.
Heavy explosions of ammunition oc-
Cured every few minutes, sending
curls OF dense white smoke hundred
feet in the air and causing a shower of
water on every side. The bluffs on the
coast line echoed with the roar of
every explosion, and the Spanish yes
sells sank deeper and deeper into the
sand or else the rocks ground their
hulls to pieces as they rolled or pitch
ed, forward or sideways, with every
wave that washed upon them from the
open sea.
Admiral Cervera escaped to the shore
in boat sent by the Gloucester to the
assistance of the Infanta Maria Te-
resa, and as soon as he touched the
beach he surrendered himself and his
command to Lieutenant Morton and
asked to be taken on board the Glou-
cester, which was the only American
vessel near him at the time, with sew
eral of his officers, including the cap
tain of the flagship. The Spanish ad-
nirai, who was wounded in the arm,
was taken to the Gloucester, and was
received at the gangway by her com
mander, Lieutenant Commander Rich
ard Wainwright, who grasped the hand
of the gray bearded admiral and said
to him;
81 congratulate you, sir, upon hav-
ing made as gallant fight as was ever
witnessed on the sea-"
Lieutenant Commander Wainwright
then placed his cabin at the disposal
of the Spanish officers.
The CristobaI Colon was the fastest
of the Spanish ships, and she soon OBJ
fafn Cd he of nft
leaving the harbor and escaped the
effect of the shots which destroyed the
other vessels, She steamed away at
great speed, with the Oregon, New
York, Brooklyn and several other ships
in pursuit, all of them firing at her
constantly and receiving fire them
selves from her after guns. She was
finally overtaken, and surrendered to
the Brooklyn, but was SO badly dam
aged that she was beached to prevent
her sinking.
The most dramatic feature Of the
battle was the contest between the tor
pedo boat destroyers and the Glouces-
ter. The latter was struck several
times, and Is the only American yes
sci reported damaged. At first the
Gloucester ared upon them with her
six Founders, but they ran past her
and engaged the battleships. Finding
the FIRE too hot, they turned and at
tackled the Gloucester again until both
dostroyers were afire and had to be
beached Their crews threw themselves
irto the surf to save their lives. just
before this the New York came up and
assisted in giving the finish blow to
the destroyers. There was explosion
after explosion from the beached YES
sells,
In addition to Admiral Ceryera all
commanding officers excepting those Of
the Oquendo, about 70 other officers
and 1900 men, are prisoners. About
$50 were killed or drowned and 1850
wounded, the latter being cared for on
the Solace and Olivette. Only one
American sailor was killed He was
George H. Ellis, chief yeoman Of the
Brooklyn.
PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION.
Urging Praise to God For Victories
and Prayers For Peace.
Washington. July President Nc
Kiniey at 11:40 last night issued the
following proclamation to the Ameri-