The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-07-18
GARRISOHs STILL HOLD OUT
Minor Places Awaiting Tora1's Or
Scr to surronder--our Flag on
the Morro Castle.
tBy Gable. copyrighs, 1898, By The Associated

tBy Cable Copyright, 1898, by The Associated
Press.
UNDER AdORRO CASTLE, HARBOR
OF SANTIAGO DE CUBA, July II, 1888
3P. NJ, via Playa del Este, Province Of
Santiago de Cuba, July 1L-SDelayed in
transmission AT exactly nine o'clock
this morning the Spanish flag was lower
ed from the staff erowning the heights
upon which battered Morroa Castle
spreads half way The lowering of this
emblem of the defunct sovereignty Of
Spain in this part of the world was wit
messed by a few Spanish and American
troops on shore and by the Brooklyn
New York, Vixen and yesuvius, lying
within few hundred yards off the har-
Dor entrance.
Almost Immediately after the flag was
hauled down steam launches commanded
by Lieutenants Hobson and Palmer en-
tered the herbor, 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.
It was seen that two mines had been
exploded at the time of the entrance of
the Merrimac into the channel of San
tiago harbor; but it is not thought prob
able that either of them had anything to
do with the sinking Of the craft.
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 d prize crew from
the New York. The other vessels lie at
the other end Of the harnor, an Santiago
proper
Soon after noon, Commodore Schley
with Captain Cook of the Brooklyn, Lieu
tenant j. H. Sears, the flag lieutenant;
Lieutenant B. w. Wells. the flag secre-
tary, and three invited correspondents OF
the Associated Press, went into the harbor
on steam launch, which moved slowly
in order to make close observation of the
Spanish forts and batteries
Every one expressed satisfaction at the
fact that Morro Castle was not demolish-
ed by the bombardment, Captain Cook
saying
1--WE need El Morro as an object lesson,
and America is rather shy on ruins, any
how.
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 round the base and in the super
structure are not a few caves made by
the navy's projectlles 1t would appear,
however, that only one bastion was
knocked to pieces. while the queer little
sentry. boxes, dating back to the sixteenth
century, escaped almost intact
Morro Castle is the only imposing forti-
fication in the harY1or, and 1t is only so in
appearance, since not gun is mounted
within or on the crunbled walls. In
fact, all the batteries masked and open,
dwindled in their terror inspiring quail
ties as the inspection grew closer.
Crowning the hill on the west side of
the entrance We're the famous six inch
rapid fire guns from the Spanish cruiser
Reina Mercedes. These were ugly Look
ing and dangerous, while below, on brick
foundations on the western shore of the
entrance We're some revolving guns. These
We're the ones which poured such bitter
Directly east OF MORO Castle, on the
crest of the plateau-Ake cliff, were six
big guns, one or two OF each were dis
The Estrella Battery and a small neigh
ber further in showed no gums, while the
famous Cay Smith filled the islet with
blue white and yellow houses situated 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 ap-
pearanee for fishermen5s houses All were
deserted and, strange to say, not one, APP
parently, was touched by hostile pro-
jcctile.
on the inside of the slope and hill to
the Westward side hastily constructed,
but very comforting were seen
into which tho Spanish gunners
we're wont to retire when our ships OPEN
ed fire. When the firing ceased. the gum
rers only had a few stpes to climb to their
6-inch rapid fire guns, which almost al
ways firei few spiteful farewell shots.
At Punta Gorda there weIF two 4-ineh
guns, one above the other and neither
protected by even sand or earth. These
guns commanded the harbor entrance
pretty well; but, they could have been
siaeiced by one wel1 directed heavy shell.
| Commodore Schley has over and over
again expressed the belief that our feet
| could probably have entered the harbor
| without the loss Of a single ship. The
mines might have stopped ingress by
sinking the leading ship. But this Is
chance of war and not SO grave as many
taken during the civil strife, nor as ser
ious as would have been the situation had
there been good batteries, properly
manned, in The harbor.
Commodore Schleys party first steamed
around the wreck of the Rcina Mercedes
which lies with her bow pointed towards
the city She had a list to starboard and
| rested on reef near the foot of MORO
cliff The cruiser was sunk TO the upper
deck, on which one six-inch gun remained.
auxiliary battery seemed III place. Evil
IDENTIFY the crew Of the Reina Mercedes
| left her in hurry. This is less to be
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