Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1899-05-19
"MEIN GoTT, IT'S UNHEARD or .
An Austrian Officers Commentou
Destruction of Cervera's FIeot "e

n
Destruction of Cervera,s Fla
Capt. Taylor gives an amusin, =.
count in the Century of his intery,or
with an Austrian lieutenant wh'
boarded the Indiana immediately ofta'
the fight at Santiago:
He was in full uniform, with a bi,
liant display of epaulets and gold ,on'
white waistcoat and trousers II,
found us covered with the smoke and
dust of battle, groups of half-nokod
men lining up to salute him as ha
passed, their faces streaked with now
der-smoke and coal-dust. He reocboa
me on the bridge, finally, in state ~
polite bewilderment and presented hi.
captains request for permission TO mass
through our blockading lines and brina
out from Santiago Austrian refugooo
desiring to leave that besieged town
After referring him to Admiral Somn
son, and telling him he would be found
some distance to the westward ha
asked for news, and l told him we had
just come out of action with CerveroO
squadron. He. showed great surpriSa
and said:
Then there has been q battlew
yes" l replied.
And the result?" he asked, eagerly
1--WE have defeated them"
"Rut where is Cervera's fleet noWp
he inquired.
His flagship, the Maria Teresa, IA
there, lieutenant" I answered. point.
ing. at the same time, TO the beach
few miles distant.
But | see nothing there but Some
smoke, captainw
1T Is the smoke Of the Teresa burn.
ing, lieutenant; she is wreck upon
the beach,"
lie was SILENT and l continued:
close to her on the beach you will
see another column of smoke; that il
the Oquendo burning. On this side,
nearer to us, is the Pluton, sunk in the
breakers; and the Furor Is near her.
but is on the bottom in deeper water
and is not visible
But" he interrupted you have
then destroyed half those splendid YES.
sells of Cervera'sw
wait, lieutenant" continued, "and
look a few miles farther to the west.
ward, and you will see another column
OF smoke; that is the Vizcaya, on the
beach near Aserraderos. AS to the
Colon, she is still farther to the west.
ward, out of sight from us here, but
you will see her presently as your cap.
tain steers in that direction to find Ad.
miral Sampson, who is at that end of
our line"
His eyes ranged along the shore as
pointed out the different vessels.
"Mein Gott" he exclaimed. Then
you have destroyed the whole of that
splendid squadron! l did not think it
possible"
After moment more of silent aston.
lshment, he said, with a polite sym.
pathy which concealed eager protes.
sional curiosity:
And your injuries, captain? What
losses has the American squadron sus.
tainedW
None" replied.
But, captain, you do not under.
stand; it is what casualties-what
ships lost or disabled-that l ask
None, lieutenant" l said. "The In
diana was struck twice, suffered no in
jury, no loss. The other ships are vir-
tually in the same condition. We are
all of us perfectly ready for another
battle-as much so as before Cervera
came out this morning"
His astonishment was now complete.
"Mein Gott" he exclaimed again.
Admiral SIMPSONS fleet has destroyed
these great Spanish ships, and without
injury to his own squadron! Sir, it Is
unheard of. l must go to inform my
captain"