The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1899-05-06


Muller y -Tojeiro. second in command 81
the Spanish raval force of tho province
of Santiago de Cuba, gives to his book,
which describes the recent campaign in
Cuba. --#--.
Lieut.. Tejeiro was stationed at San
tiago de Cuba before the arrival of Ad-
miral Cervera's fleet, and was cognizant
of all Of the subsequent operations. lie
describes in detail the departure Of the
fleet from Santiago de Cuba. and by
means of his diary is able to give daily
report of the doings of the beseiged city.
The book, which is dedicated to the mem
Dry 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, says
the New York Herald. He points out
not, however, for the first time-the true
condition OF Cervera's fleet. He tells
how the coal bunkers were nearly all
empty, how the majority of the guns on
the ships were useless, and how even the
ammunition with which the men were
supposed to defend their flag was nearly
all damaged. '-.-.
All on board the doomed fleet knew the
exact condition of affairs, yet they went
without a murmur to their death. The
gallant manner in which they did this
more than justifies Lieut.. Tejeiro in
claiming July 3 as a glorious day for
Spain. Lieut.. Tejeiros diary contains
every movement of the fleet upon it's de-
parture from Santiago de Cuba and its
entering into combat. In it and under
date of July 3 he says:
1.-THE hostile fleet in sight, about five
miles distant, at a quarter to 10 the Span
ish fleet went out. Shortly after a vio-
lent cannonading was heard. At twenty
minutes to II o'clock the Moro signalled:
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. Xhe Ameri-
Indiana, Iowa, Texas, Massachusetts,
Oregon, and one yacht. The ships from
Aguadores have come to assist in the
BATTLE
AT a quarter past II o'clock no more
firing was heard. AT half-past IL the
MORO again signalled:-'When our fleet
went out it did so very slowly. After the
four large ships had gone out the de-
stroyers followed, and all of the American
ships fell upon them. Our fleet resisted
the attack, and the destroyers hurried
to it's assistance. Near Punta Cabrera,
however, one of them took fire and ran
ashore. The other kept up strong fire,
and when all hope was gone lowered her
boats, full of men. One of these reached
the beach; the other was captured. Upon
leaving the destroyer the crew set fire
to it, and she ran aground, burning
''When our fleet passed Punta Cabrera
one of the ships, apparently the Teresa,
went close to the shore and great deal
of smoke was seen. The Iowa and New
York were pursuing her and the others
followed.
"At O'Clock an English warship was
signalled to the south. At o'clock the
Moro said that the ships which pursued
our fleet were twentyfour in all, fifteen
warships, armored and unarmored, the
others merchant vessels equipped for
war"
In more detailed account which he
received that night from one of the
wounded sailors the author says:
1.-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
until they had passed the bank of Dia-
mantle, because they could not present
their broadside and consequently their
guns to the enemy. Therefore as long as
they were in the channel they sustained
a terrible fire. - z.
'"They, however, reached the open seas
without sustaining much damage. The
Vizcaya, which was the fastest ship, but
had not 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 Vizcaya. ac-
companied by the Colon, which did not
have her turret guns mounted, with the
Oquendo and Maria Teresa, then have the
latter, by putting on forced draught, re,
Join the former. His plan, however, did
not succeed. The Oquendo and Maria Te-
resa caught fire and were soon converted
into an immense blaze, going aground on
the coast, the latter about seven miles
from Santiago harbor, with the Oquendo
close by. The Vizcaya took fire and
stranded twenty miles up the coast while
the Colon managed to get forty niles
further down the coast .....-...4.
..such was the hecatonlb (for there IS
no other name for iD Of our affiliated
fleet. I do not believe that history re-
cords another like it. Not single snip
was saved from the catastrophe. The
commanders and officers of all the ships
knew we'll what was going to happen,
IL,
thing, they babe each other farewell as
the ships left the harbor."
A fine pen picture is given of a gal
liant gentleman when Miguel Lopez, VINO
piloted the: Teresa, describes Atlmdra
Cervera on his flagship under hre. Lopez
relates the story:
IT was in the forward tower at the side
of the admiral, who was as calm as
though his ship was at anchor IN the har-
Dor. He never took his eyes off the hos
tile fleet.
:" Pilot, when may we shift the helm:
he asked, after few moments. He had
reference to turning to starboard, which
could only be done after we had passed
the Diamante bank We were nearing 1t.
-. So pilot, advise me when we may shit
the helm he repeated.
"'I will tell you, admiral replied.
.''Admiral, you may now shift the
helm cried a minute later.
.'Instantly the admiral, without becom
ing excited and without shouting, said
ITO starboard; then fire!
simultaneously the ten turTet guns
and three Of the port battery fired on 9
ship which seemed to me to be the In
diana, I never heard such noise.
thought the ship was sinking. Words
i fail me to describe my sensations. By
this time many had been killed ant
wounded, and believe, despite the water
that was in the ship, that she was al
ready on fire. The admiral turned e
me and said:
.Good-by pilot Go now. Be sure
that they pay YOU for YOU have earned