Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-13
Lieutenant Tejeiro's Account Of the
Battle of Santiago.
DESTRUCTION OF CERVBRA'S FLEET
Realized From the FIST That They
Had No Chance.
SINKING OF THE MERCEDES
From the New York Herald.

From the New York Herald
''Combates y capitalization de Santiago de
Cuba" is the title which Lieut.. Jose Mullery
Tejeiro, second in command Of the Spanish
naval force of the province of Santiago de
Cuba gives to his book, which describes the
recent campaign in Cuba.
Lieut.. Tejeiro stationed at Santiago
&c Cuba before the arrival of Admiral Ger
vera's fleet and was cognizant of all of the
subsequent operations. He describes in de-
tail the departure of the fleet from Santi-
ago de Cuba, and by means of his diary is
able to give daily report of the doings of
the besieged city. The book, which is dedi-
Gated ito the memory of the heroes who
died, victims of their duty, at Santiago de
Cuba was written with the sole hope of
showing to Spain the manner in which her
soldiers fought and died for their flag
The story which Lieut. Tejeiro relates
is one of Spanish neglect and bravery He
points out-not, however, for the first time
the true condition of Ceryera'S fleet He
tells now the coal bunkers were nearly all
empty, how the ma jority of the guns on the
ships were useless, and how even the am
munition with which the men were sup
posed to defend their flag was nearly all
damaged.
All on board the doomed feet knew the
exact condition of affairs, yet they went
without murnlur to their death. The gall
liant manner in which they did this more
than justifes Lieut.. Tejeiro in claiming
July ; as a glorious day for Spain. Lieut..
Tejeiro's diary contains every movement of
the fleet upon its departure from Santa go
de Cuba and its entering into combat In
it and unde,' date of July ; he says:
"GIorious Day for Spnin."
The hostile fleet in sight, about five
miles distant at 9:45 the Spanish feet
Csl.z
aiding was heard. At twenty minutes to II
o'clock the Moro signaled The Spanish
fleet is fighting in wing formation at
Punta Cabrera. The enemy does not have
the range, and it seems as though they
would escape. The American fleet is COM
posed of the Brooklyn, Indiana. Iowa,
Texas Massachusetts. Oregon and one
yacht. The ships from Aeuadores have
come to assist in the battle
AT q quarter-past II O'clock no more
fighting was heard AT half-past Il the
MORO again signaled: When our fleet
four large ships had gone out the destroy
ers followed and all of the American ships
fell upon them Our fleet RESISTED the at
tack. and the destroyers hurried to it's as
sistance. Near Punta Cabrera, however,
one of them took fire aTd ran ashore. The
other kept up a strong fire and when all
hope was gone lowered her boats full of
men. One of these reached the beach: the
stroyer the crew set fire. 10 it,. and she ran
aground, burning ina L
When our fleet passed Punta Cabrera
one of the ships apparently the Teresa,
went close to the shore Gandba great deal
of smoke was seen. The iowa and New
York were pursuing heriand the others fol-
lowed. .fsYf -.
"Twenty-Four American Ships"
AT O'Clock an English was
signaled to the south. At o'clock the
MORO said that the slips which pursued
our fleet were twenty foar In all, fifteen
warships, armored ana Gnarnored, the
others merchant vessels equipped for war
In more detailed account which he re-
ceived that night from one of the wounded
sailors the author says:
THE Spanish ships, which necessarily
had to go out in line ahead, received as
each went out the fire from all the Amer
lean ships, which they could not return I'M
til they had passed the bank of Diamante
because they could not present their broad
side and consequently their guns to the
enemy. Therefore as long as they were in
the channel they sustained a terrible fire
Ihey, however, reached the open seas
without sustaining much damage. The
NiZcaya, which was the fastest ship, but
had rot had her bottom cleaned during
many months, was making only thirteen
miles, and the other ships had to regulate
their speed by hers in order to preserve the
line.
II suppose from what has happened. and
taking into account the order Of the sortie
that Admiral Cervera intended to protect
the retreat OF the Ffzcaya, accompanied by
me Colon, which did not have her turret
guns mounted, with the Oquendo and Maria
Teresa, then have the latter, by putting on
Iorceo draught, rejoin the former. His
plan, however, did not succeed The
Oquehdo and Maria Teresa caught fire and
We're soon converted into an immense blaze
gong aground on the coast, the latter
ABOUT seven miles from Santiago harbor,
with the Oquendo close by. The Vizcaya
took ire and stranded twenty miles up the
coast, while the Colon managed to get forty
miles further down the coast.
''HecatoMb of Our Inflated Fleet
such was the hecatomb (for there is no
other name for it, of our Inflated fleet l
do not believe that history records another
like it. Not a single ship was saved from
the catastrophe. The commanders and Of
ficers of all the ships knew well what was
going to happen, when, calm and serene in
spite of everything, they babe each other
farewell as the ships left the harbor."
fine pen picture is given of a gallant
gentleman when Miguel Lopez. who piloted
the Teresa. describes Admiral Cervera on
his flagship under fire. Lopez relates the
story:
Il was in the forward tower at the side
of the admiral who was as calm as though
his ship was at anchor in the harbor. lie
never took his eyes off the hostile fleet.
Pilot, when may we shift the heinz?
he asked. after a few moments. He had
reference TO turning to starboard which
could only be done after We had passed the
Diamantc bank. We We're nearing it.
Pilot, advise ME when We may shift
the helm he repeated
- 1 will tell you, admiral, l replied.
Admiral you may now, Shift the helm,
L cried minute later. NJ
Instantly the Neutrality-suspicious. becoming
excited and without shouting, said: To
starboard; then fire.
simultaneously the ten turret guns and
three of the port battery fired on a ship
which seemed to me to be the Indiana. l
never heard such a noise L thought the
ship was sinking. WopdsEfail me to de-
scribe my sensations. BY THIS time many
had been killed and wouhded, and believe,
despite the water that was in the ship,
that she was already on fire.-The admiral
turned to me and said: ),f4.a q
Why Santiago Was Lost.
" Goodbye, pilot. Goi,now.I.l,,Be sure that
they pay you, for you ziaavesearned your
money Then the adrniralI turned once
more to his men, N
Chapter twenty-eight iss,devoted to the
causes of the loss of the naval battle CT