Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-04-16

the American vessels. Al the uiSt
sign of the smoke OF the Spanish war
ships the signal had been given TO the
blockading fleet TO close In. For a
few minutes there was doubt as 70
whether the Spaniards would turn 10
the westward or go east The east
ern route offered more opportunity TO
Cervera. FOR most Of the American yes
sells were 90 the west Of the harbor But
the Maria Teresa turned west.
The Gloucester was closer In shore
than any other vessel OF the blockad-
ing feet Had Cervera turned east
she would have been directly in his
path with the first sign OF Cervera's
course the fircroom blowers on the
Gloucester were started and the yacht
closed I'm with the rest ~ the fleet.
Tho great guns Of the battlcshlps were
beginning TO boom, and the oregon.
Iowa. Texas Brooklyn and Indiana
were bending every energy 10 get
abreast OF and Keep up with the flee
ing fleet.
The Gloucester nearer the Spaniards
than any Of the battleships. was not
long getting into the range ~ fire. Be
fore either the Pluton or the furor
had come out. the Gloucester, AZ 1900
wards range was firing az the big
spanish ships with her starboard guns.
They were not heavy enough 70 do seri-
Gus harm, hut they added their mite.
Thcu the Gloucester was slowed down
a. await the destroyors but an the
while the gunners kept up an incessant
fire on the Spanish cruisers. The forts
were blazing away at the American
vessels. but their fire amounted 10 lit
tic.
ONE AGAINST TWO.
When the four big warships were an
turned west the Pluton and Furor
came dashiug after them. The Glou-
cester now under fun speed, opened on
them at $500 yards range. Just az
This moment the Indiana signaled
.Gupboats will advance" TO the men
ON the Gloucester this meant so TAR
as the PlutOn and turor were con-
ccrncd, 10 was the GlOuCcsters nght
alone. for no other American guuboats
were near enough 10 get into action
with them. ThcreupOn the hght De-
tween the yacht and the two Span
ards became "a battle altogether apart
from the main action I'm which the bat
tloships were engaged. The starbuard
forward guns were trained ON the
Pluton and the starboard after and
stern guns on the Furor.
SO tremendous was the fire OF the
Gloucester and so accurate was IL
mat the Standards had little oppOr-
tunitv To- respond. several times crews
OF spanish gunners We're killed as
they were about to fire. The Pluton
ylaVered FIRST. The Gloucester forced
her further and further In shore. and
after one desperate cuort 10 swing
about the pluton suddenly was turned
landward and was sent crashing into
the rocks. Then the Gloucester con-
ccutrated her IRE on the Furor. Naiuly
the Spaniards fought back. one shot
wrecked the Jurors steering gear and
the destroyer. becoming unmanagoable.
began 90 turn i'm odd sorts OF ways.
Next she caught fire. From her deck
an officer waved towel I'M token or
surrender.
About the same moment that the
Furor surrendered there was an eN-
ulosion on the plutou. She too. was
anrc and one OF her magazines had
exploded.
Rescue crews were hurried from the
Gloucester TO the two vessels The
Furor was burning so rapidly that
many OF her crew jumped into the sea
Co escape the flames. From the water
and from the bow where the other
survivors We're crowded, the men in
the Gloucesters boats rescued two Of
hcers and n men Soon after they were
put aboard the Gloucester boats there
were several explosions on the Furor
and the destroyer disappeared I'm the
sea.
From the Pluton the Gloucester
rescued % men.
CERVERAS SURRENDER
But while the men in the boats were I
busy al tine work of rescuing the sur /
vivors ~ the Pluton and the Furor, /
Wainwright was in pursuit Of the /
Spanish hattleships Around a point /
OF land nearly two miles west of where /
the Plutou and Furor had been wound
ed Co death were the Maria Teresa and |
Oquendo ashore and burning iorcely !
Boats were sent To- the nearest battle /
ship, the Teresa An the survivors /
were crowded on the bow. Lieut. Nor |
man ~ the Gloucester landed them on |!
the beach through tho surf and there |
they surrendered one of the officers /
was admiral tcrvera.
He was stark naked. Most of the |
others were naked or nearly so, as they /
were prepared 10 plung into the sea II |