Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-11

the enemy outside, their sigma service
watching our every move? Made fast by
slip ropes to their mooring buoys lay the
rest of our division-the Colon, our fast
est and best ship, without turret guns,
but at least as good as the Brooklyn, she
surely should get away, and once into
Havana would be safe till the end of
the war; then the Maria Teresa and AL
mirante Oquendo, sister SHIPS to the
Niscaya. The Pluton and Furor We're in
another part of the bay. Their orders
We're to keep ciose under the sides of the
big ships and torpedo if possible.
h crew OF our ships We're tired out:
they had been fighting on shore for
nearly a week. and now they We're going
out IN a forlorn hope. They must have
something to drive the blood, which had
become ciogged and %stagnant in this hot
pesthole, through their veins. They had
been lying in water up TO their waists
in the trenches, and the fever in their
bones s1lone out of their black eyes.
Whisky alone could do 4. AT breakfast
plenty of "aguardiente" was served out.
Its effect was marvellous. Instead OF the
hangdog. frightened faces l had noticed
earlier. the mems eyes We're bright and
their cheeks flushed with the artificial
nerve the LIQUOR had given them. 1t
would last through the fight. just before
9 o'clock the MORO signalled that the
Massachusetts and New Orleans were
not in sight and that the New York was
off Siboney. The blockading fleet was
mostly to the e~astward-this was our
chance! We would go to the westward.
AS two bells We're struck we saw the
Teresa steam slowly toward the entrance
to the haIbor, while at her signal yard
flew the expected signal to follow her.
She was a beautiful ship, and we We're
all proud of our flagship. AT the trucks
of her masts flew the crimscn and gold
of old Spain. the flag we loved and We're
! willing to die under. and the flag of our
halnya1 A1ro;ra ntp Cp1.Vpra. We mus
tered a silent "a for him and for the
honor of Spain: l don't think in that
thrilling moment we thought or our
selves. i.
The Teresa is now in the entrance. A
challenge from her forward eleVen-lnch
turret breaks the sacred stiffness Of that
! Sunday morning. On she sweeps, turn
ing majestically to the westward, her
speed gradually increasing, great vol
lines Of smoke pouring from her black
; tunnels. Her port side is ablaze With the
flashes of her brOadside guns, hurting
shell after shell toward the advancing
enemy. Now is our turn. We are clear
Of the harbor in which we have been inn
prisoned. Free at last to feel the cool
breezes Of the Caribbean sea! Caramba.
Are we free? Out to seward, nearly 9
| miles distant, hang great clouds Of white
smoke, lighted up by myriads Of flashes,
like fire flies on a summers night, while
all about us the mysterious screech Of
steel missiles tells us u freedom must
be bought dearly. These great LIQUIDS of
smoke conceal from view our dreaded
foes, the squadrons Of Almirantes Samp-
clears away we see their terrible, vet
graceful outlines. Jose and I are stand
ing or the bridge. our nerves thrilled by
the excitement. We We're AIDS to ell Cap
itan de Navio. The Brooklyn is farthest
to the Westward, heading in shore and
i a r;p r. ~ ~ YNorncn ohnn1 nf nc Ma
must sink her before we can escape. The
Texas, Iowa, Oregon and Indiana. their
sides blazing with fire and incircled with
dense white smoke from their powder, are
sending their deadly shells in a way that
makes us shudder to think what they can
do at closer range. Over our heads the
terrible screech of shells is never ending.
Some have already struck and exploded
between decks, and smoke is pouring up
through our matches. but the fire is quick
ly put out, the men leaving their guns to
help this, our greatest enemy.
All of our gun are firing, and the din
and roar of the discharges, the bursting
of shells of fire, moving men down like
chaff before them, makes the spectacle
of battle more sickening han grand. Dur
target now is the Brooklyn, but the cease
less stream of shells all about us has so
terrified our unners that they desert
the batteries and are herding like sheep
amidship. A large shell explodes in their
| midst. Santa Maria! We will be blown
out of the water. Our officers drive them
back to their guns at the pistol point, but
the guns are never aimed.
Some of their shells strike the water
near our own ship. We head out to ram
the Brooklyn. Madre de Dios! What a
fire she hurls at us. Shell after shell ex-
plodes about me. Jose is dead at my
feet. his poor body broker nearly in two
by a large fragment. The beautiful Ter
~-- -. -: 80 49, III 80 - H.
ter all about her white with the blowing
Of shells, with dense smoke pouring from
her matches, is heading for the beach, the
white flag showing where the colors of
Spain had so proudly waved but a half
hour before.
We are going on a mission of certain
death. AS we draw nearer the Brook
lyn seems to anticipate our m%aneuVer,
for she circles toward us, hen out to
sea, bringing every gun of both her bat
teries to bear in turn. while the Texas
hurls shell after shell through u battle
SCARED sides. The dead and mangled
bodies of our poor sailors are strewing
the decks wherever the eye rests. But
we will not surrender! Our captain
stands near the coming tower, giving
orders as coolly as before the battle.
The Colon has oyertaken us and is pass
ing N our inshore side. She has escaped
thus far the terrific fire of the Ameri-
cans. Her glossy black sides are still
bright. Her crew is waiting anXiously
TO get into the battle. AS yet they have
fired but a few random shots. AS she
FORCES ahead of us she hurls her broad
side time after time at the Brooklyn
and the Texas. We mutter a prayer for
our Colon. that she, at least, may escape.
Away astern the smoke curls up from
the wrecks of our brave destroyers. Our
helm is put aport and we are heading
away from the terrible fire of the Iowa,
Texas and Brooklyn. The fire has gotten
beyond control, the decks are a mass of
roasting human flesh. The officers left
alive cannot drive the men to their guns.
Astern of us the Oauendo is burning near