Indianapolis Journal, Volume 48, Number 186, Indianapolis, Marion County, 5 July 1898 — Page 1

ILY L ESTA BLHm iS E^ M i VOL. XLVIII—NO. 186.

BOLD DASH FOR LIBERTY ■' ■ 4 Cervera’s Fleet Annihilated While Trying to Escape from Its Santiago Prison. Bravely Steamed Out of Harbor, Tried to Outrun Sampson’s Ships, but Was Speedily Destroyed by the Pursuers’ Terrible Fire. DEWEY’S GREAT FEAT DUPLICATED 350 Spaniards Killed or Drowned, 160 Wound* ed and 1,600 Taken Prisoners. Cervera Among the Captured—Complimented for His Gallant Fight—Only One American Killed and One or Two Wounded.

WASHINGTON, July 4.—At 11:25 to-night the Navy Department posted the appended translation of a cipher cablegram received from Commodore Watson. It is similar to that received to-day from Admiral Sampson, but contains the additional information that 350 Spaniards were killed or drowned, 160 wounded and 1,600 captured. Commodore Watson’s dispatch follows: “Playa del Este, July 3. "To the Secretary of the Navy, Washington: “At 9:30 a. m. to-day the Spanish squadron, seven in all, including one gunboat, came out of Santiago in column, and was totally destroyed within one hour, excepting the Cristobal Colon, which was chased forty-fiver miles to the westward by the commander-in-chief Brooklyn, Oregon and Texas, surrendering to the Brooklyn, but was beached to prevent sinking. “None of our officers or men was injured, except on board the Brooklyn. Chief Yeoman Ellis was killed and one man wounded. “Admiral Cervera, all commanding officers, except of the Oquendo, about seventy other officers and 1,600 men are prisoners. About 350 killed or drowned and 160 wounded, latter being cared for on Solace and Olivette. Have just arrived oft Santiago in Marblehead to take charge while com-mander-in-chief is looking out for the Cristobal Colon. WATSON.’* ♦ VDETAII.S OF THE FIGHT. Spaniard" Fought Every Inch of Their Way After Leaving Harbor. (Copyright, 1898, by the Associated Press.) OFF THE HARBOR OF SANTIAGO DE CUBA, ten miles west of the entrance, Sunday. July 3, 4 p. m., by the Associated Press dispatch boat Wanda to Port Antonio, Jamaica, July 4, morning, via Kingston, Jamaica, July 4. 4:45 a. m.—Admiral Cervera’s fleet, consisting of the armored cruisers Cristobal Colon, Almlrante Oquendo, Infanta Mi rla Teresa and Vizcaya and two torpedo boat destroyers, the Furor and the Pluton, which had been held In the harbor of Santiago for six weeks past by the combined squadrons of Rear Admiral Sampson and Commodore Schley, lies to-day at the bottom of the Caribbean sea, off the southern coast of Cuba. The Spanish admiral is a prisoner of war on the auxiliary gunboat Gloucester (formerly Mr. J. Pierpont Morgan's yacht Corsair), and 1,000 to 1.500 other Spanish officers and sailors, ail who escaped the frightful carnage caused by the shells from the American war ships, are also held as prisoners of war by the United States navy. The Spaniards, when they found they would be permitted to live, adapted themselves comfortably to the situation, rolled their cigarettes and began playing cards among themselves. The American victory is complete, and, according to the best information obtain.*', le at this time, the American vessels wen.* practically untouched and only one man was killed, though the ships were subjected to a heavy fire of the Spaniards all the time the battle lasted. Admiral Cervera made as gallant a rush for liberty and for the preservation of his -“Ps .his morning as has ever occurred in the history of nay al warfare. In the face of overwhelming odds, with nothing before him but inevitable destruction or surrender if he remained any longer in the trap in which the American fleet held him, he made a bold dash from the harbor at the time the Americans least expected him to do go The Plucky Spaniard fought every inch of hls nay. even when his ship was ablaze and sinking, but he failed to escape the doom which wai written on the muzzle of every American gun trained on his vessels. AWFUL HAVOC WROUGHT. The Americans saw Cervera the moment he left the harbor and commenced their work of destruction immediately. For en hour or two they followed the flying Spaniards to the westward along the shore line, ■ending shot after shot into their blazing hulls, tearing great holes in their steel sides and covering their decks with the blood of ihe killed and wounded. At no time did the Spaniards show any ination that they intended to do otherwise than fight to the last. They showed no slg-

THE INDIANAPOLIS JOUENAL.

nals to surrender even when their ships commenced to sink and the gTeat clouds of smoke pouring from their sides showed they were on fire. But they turned their heads toward the shore less than a mile away and ran them on the beach and rocks, where their destruction was soon completed. The officers and men on board then escaped to the shore as well as they could with the assistance of boats sent from the American men-of-war and threw themselves on the mercy of their captors, who not only extended to them the gracious hand of American chivalry, but sent them a guard to protect them from the murderous bands of Cuban soldiers hiding in the bushes on the hillside eager to rush down and attack the unarmed, defeated but valorous foe. One after another of the Spanish ships became the victims of the awful rain of shot and shell which the American battle ships, cruisers and gunboats poured upon them, and two hours after the first of the fleet had started out of Santiago three cruisers and two torpedo boat destroyers were lying on the shore ten to fifteen miles west of Mofrro Castle pounding to pieces, smoke and flame pouring from every part of them and covering the entire coast line with a mist which could be seen for miles. Heavy explosions of ammunition occurred every few minutes, sending dense white smoke a hundred feet in the air and causing a shower of broken iron and steel out of the water on every side. The bluffs on the coast line echoed every shot and explosion, and the Spanish vessels sank deeper and deeper into the sand or else the rocks ground their hulls to pieces as they rolled or pitched forward or sideways with every wave that washed upon them from the sea. CERVERA’S SURRENDER. Admiral Cervera escaped to the shore In a boat sent by the Gloucester to the assistance of the Infanta Maria Teresa, and as soon as he touched the beach he surrendered himself and his con mand to Lieutenant Morton and asked to be taken on board the Gloucester, which was the only American vessel near him at the time, with several of his officers, including the captain of the flagship. The Spanish admiral, who was wounded in the arm, was taken to the Gloucester and was received at her gangway by her commander, Lieut. Commander Richard Wainwright, who grasped the hand of the gray-bearded admiral and said to him: “I congratulate you, sir, upon having made as gallant a fight as was ever witnessed on the sea.” Lieut. Commander Wainwright then placed his cabin at the disposal of the Spanish officer. At that time the Spanish flagship and four old Spanish vessels had been aground and burning for two hours and the only one escaping the fleet, which could not be seen at this point, was the Cristobal Colon. But half a dozen cur* •• of smoke far down on the western horizon showed the fate that was awaiting her. The Cristobal Colon was the fastest of the Spanish ships and she soon obtained a lead over her pursuers and escaped the effect of the shots which destroyed the other vessels. She steamed away at great speed with the Oregon, New York, Brooklyn and several other ships in pursuit, all of them firing at her constantly and receiving fire themselves from her after guns. There seemed no possibility whatever for her escape and while her fate is not definitely known at this hour, it can be readily imagined from the words of Captain Robley D. Evans, of the lowa, w T ho returned from the westward with 340 prisoners from the Vizcaya just as the Associated Press dispatch boat Wanda was leaving the Spanish flagship. WHAT “BOB’* EVANS SAID. In answer to an inquiry Captain “Bob” shouted through the megaphone: “I left the Crlstcbal Colon far to the westward an hour ago and the Oregon was giving her hell. She has undoubtedly gone down with the others, and we will have a Fourth of July celebration in Santiago tomorrow.” Captain Evans, who has been in the thick of the engagement up to the time he took the Vizcaya's officers and crew from the shore, said that to the best of his knowledge not one American ship had been struck. ... , ‘ -•

INDIANAPOLIS, TUESDAY MORNING, JULY 5, 1898.

SAMPSON’S FOURTH OF JULY PRESENT. WASHINGTON July 4.—The Secretary of the Navy this morning received the following, dated Playa, via Haiti, 3:15 a. m., July 4, Siboney, July 3 (probably filed late at night): “The fleet under my command offers the Nation as a Fourth of July present ths destruction of the whole of Cervera’s fleet. Not one ship escaped. The fleet attempted to escape at 9:30 a. m. (Sunday), and at 2 p. m. the last, the Cristobal Colon, had run ashore sixty miles west of Santiago and had let down her colors. The Infanta Maria Teresa, the Oquendo and the Vizcaya were forced ashore, burned and blown up within twenty miles of Santiago; the Furor and Pluton were destroyed within four miles of the port. Our loss, one killed and two wounded. Enemy’s loss probably several hundred from gun fire, explosions and drowning. About 1,300 prisoners taken, including Admiral Cervera. The man killed was George E. Ellis, chief yeoman of the Brooklyn. SAMPSON.” DEWEY MAY HAVE TAKEN MANILA. HONG-KONG, July 4.—The United States dispatch boat Zafiro, which arrived here early this morning from Cavite with the report that the American troops arrived on June 30, reports also that Admiral Dewey, when the Zafiro left on July 1, was planning to attack Manila with the fleet and the troops on July 4.

The torpedo boat Ericsson, which also returned from the westward at about the same time, made a similar report, saying it was believed no man was Injured on board the American ships, though another report had it that one man was killed on board the Brooklyn, which could not be verified as this dispatch was sent. There is no means of telling now what the Spanish loss was, but it is believed to have been very heavy, as the prisoners in custody report their decks strewn with dead and wounded in great numbers, and, besides, there is a statemept that many bodies could be seen fastened to the pieces of wreckage floating in the sea after the fight was over. A large number of the Spanish wounded were removed to the American ships. There can be no doubt that Admiral Cervera’s plan to escape from Santiago harbor was entirely unexpected by Admiral Sampson, and the best evidence of this is the fact that when the Spanish vessels were seen coming out of the harbor the flagship New York was seven miles away, steaming to the eastward toward Juragua, the military base, nine miles east of Morro. The New York was out of the fight altogether at every stage, but she immediately put about and followed the other vessels in the race to the westward and overtook them in time to join in the chase for the Cristobal Colon after the other Spanish vessels had been destroyed by the Brooklyn, the Oregon, lowa, Massachusetts, Indiana, Texas, Gloucester and other ships of the fleet. SCHLEY IN POSITION. Commodore Schley’s flagship, the Brooklyn, had her usual position at the extreme western end of the line, ten miles from the New York and Texas. It is a peculiar fact that he should have been in proper position to direct the movement of his flying squadron against the Spanish fleet, which he had bottled up in Santiago harbor six weeks before. Asa matter of fact, the entire American fleet was much farther oif shore than usual when the Spaniards made their appearance this morning. With the exception of the bombardment yesterday morning which resulted in knocking down the flag on Morro Castle and jhe supposed silencing of the batteries, which opened fire again this morning, as usual, the navy had done little recently to attract interest here and officers and crews themselves were watching the developments of the operations being conducted by the army, which had succeeded in reaching the very gates of Santiago after an enormous loss In killed and wounded in the fighting of the past two days. It was not believed that Admiral Cervera would- attempt to escape from his perilous position at this late day, but it was supposed that he would keep his ships in the harbor to shell the advancing American army and that If Santiago fell he would blow up or sink them before permitting them to be captured by the fleet lying outside. The Spanish admiral’s real plans, however, were plainly not anticipated. He ao-

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Stuff Tbat Is Fed Spaniards. MADRID, July 4.—The following semi-official statement was issued this afternoon: 4 ‘The semaphore from Morro castle to Santiago says the Spanish squadron, after a cannonade with the Americans showed no signs of injury, therefore the American news of the rout of Admiral Cervera must be utterly untrue. Moreover, Admiral Cervera’s squadron is faster than Admiral Sampson’s.” -■ . .... , .. ■ Jl„ M, Foreigners Deserting Santiago. LONDON, July 4.—The evening News says a dispatch has been received at the Foreign Office here from the British consul at Santiago de Cuba saying he has obtained a postponement of the bombardment of that city in order to allow 20,000 noncombatants to leave the city. The consul and the British subjects will embark on board ships in the harbor. Pando Is in Santiago. WASHINGTON, July 4.—Several messages were received by the War Department to-night from General Shafter, but no information concerning their contents was made public. When the dispatch announcing the arrival of General Pando and a force of 5,000 men at Santiago was exhibited at the War Department it was ascertained that the department was already in possession of the fact, indicating that the officials had received confirmation of the press dispatches. No bulletins were posted to-night cepted the one chance open to hlm—th&t of running the gauntlet of the powerful men-of-war lying In front of the harbor and saving his ships for future service by dashing out of the trap in which he found himself, and going to some other field of operations. There seemed to be but one chance in a hundred that he would be able to soak*

the move successfully, but he took that chance and while great pile# of naval architecture now ground to pieces on the rocks a few miles from where he started tell the mournful story of his failure, there are none who applaud his conduct more than the American officers and seamen who sent his ships to destruction. THE MARIA TERESA LED. It was about 9 o’clock this morning when the flagship Infanta Maria Teresa passed under the wall of Morro Castle and steamed out to sea. She was followed by the Cristobal Colon, Vizcaya and Oquendo, and last by the torpedo boat destroyers Furor and Pluton. The lookouts of the American vessels, which were lying five or ten miles off the entrance to the harbor, sighted them immediately. Most of the American cruisers were at the usual Sunday morning quarters, without thought of anything as surprising as the Spanish fleet getting past the sunken collier Merrimac, •which they had been deluded into believing effectually blocked the exit. There was great excitement at once and very rapid action along the American lines. The signal for full speed ahead was running from bridge to engine room of every ship, and the entire fleet commenced to move inshore towards the Spanish, and the great twelve and thirteen-inch guns of the battle ships and the smaller batteries on the other vessels fired shot after shot at the long range. As the ships ran in towards the shore it soon became evident that the Spaniards had not come out to make an aggressive fight, for they turned to the eastward as soon as they had cleared the harbor and started on their race for safety, at the same time sending answering shots at the American ships as fast as the men could load and fire the guns. The Brooklyn, Massachusetts, Texas, Oregon and lowa were nearer the Spaniards than any others of the American vessels, but still most of them were too fax away to get an effective range. They crowded on all steam, however, in preparation for the chase, never stopping their fire for one moment. GLOUCESTER’S TERRIBLE WORK. The Gloucester, a fast little yacht, that cannot boast of any heavier battery than several six-pounders and three-pounders, was lying off Aguadores. three miles east of Morro, when the Spaniards came out. At first she joined in the attack upon a large vessel and then held off some, Captain Wainwright concluding to reserve his efforts for the two torpedo boat destroyers in the rear. The Gloucester steamed after them when they appeared and chased them to a point five miles west of Morro, pouring shot after shot Into them all the time. Her efforts bore abundant fruit, for to her belongs the credit for the destruction of both of the destroyers. She fired 1,400 shots during the chase, and It was not long before both destroyers were on fire and plainly (Vontinued os SeveatJi Pajj^J

px> T nr o nr vto sat railway nkwb stands, on X IVlbli O iO. > TRAINS AND SUNDAYS 6 CENTS.

CAUSE FOR JUBILATION Great and Glorious Fourth of July News from Cuba and the Philippines. Destruction of Cervera’s Fleet, Prospective Fall of Santiago, Arrival of Transports at Manila and Capture of Ladrone Islands. BATCH OF OFFICIAL DISPATCHES Tidings from Sampson, Shafter and Dewey that Cheered the Hearts of All Patriots. Spaniards at Santiago Given Until Noon To-Day to Surrender—Noncombatants Removed—Commodore Watson Ordered to Spain.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal. WASHINGTON, July 4.—ln a single day Washington passed from the depths af anxiety, foreboding and gloom to the bright sunshine of rejoicing. Forty hours of distress at the White House and War Office were followed last evening by news too good to be accepted as true without verification. The Journal was advised almost as soon as the President of the destruction of Cervera’s fleet, and Indianapolis had the news before any city in the United States. Official announcement w r as deferred a full three hours, and the news which has been coming along ever eince has only added brighter color to the first reports. There has not been a break in the chain of bulletins of glad tidings. Many details lacking, but enough is now known to establish the fact of glorious land and sea victories at Santiago and to warrant confident faith in a supplemental and triumphant climax in the surrender of the stronghold to-morrow.. The city may hold out and only fall after a considerable siege, but the expectaUon at the War Office to-night is that the white flag will go up after an hour or two of bombardment from American battle ships in front and the American batteries from the overlooking hills in the rear. No surprise would be occasioned if the Spanish forces were to attempt to cut their way out and make for the back country, but General Shatter advises the President that he has the garrison 6afely caged. The many friends of the President took the liberty to call on him to-day and exchange felicitations with him over the signal succese of the American army and navy and to venture upon prophecies. Numerous predictions were voiced by White House visitors to-day that the fall of Santiago would be followed immediately by peace overtures. The flower of the Spanish navy has been destroyed and the utter folly of further prolongation of the war must be impressed upon Madrid by this time, they argue. From far away Manila came more glorious good news. Reports of further triumphs, of the arrival of the first military expedition, and quite as important trustworthy advices that Admiral Dewey had reduced the victorious rebel chieftain to a sense of his duty. He had been growing more arrogantly troublesome for two ft weeks. He is again in line, apparently. The President stands good news well. He was in high good humor to-day and this evening. - ♦ —— ONE DAY’S GLORIOUS NEWS. Dispatches from Sampson, Shatter and Dewey That Aroused the Nation. Associated Press Dispatch. WASHINGTON, July 4.—The complete annihilation of the Spanish squadron at Santiago and the capture of the Spanish admiral, Cervera, with 1,300 prisoners; the demand by General Shatter for the surrender of Santiago by 12 o’clock to-morrow noon on pain of bombardment: word from Admiral Dewey that the Ladrone islands had been captured, that a Spanish gunboat had surrendered, that a hundred or more Spanish officers and men were taken and that our first Philippine expedition had landed—this is in part the thrilling record of such a Fourth of July as has not been known since the bells of Independence Hall rang out the tidings of American freedom. It was a day when one momentous event followed another in constant and rapid succession, each hour bringing forth some new feature more startling than what had gone before. The climax came at 1 o'clock when, amid the

great war, state and navy building to foundation, Admiral Sampson’s dispatch arvnoundng his glorious victory and the entire destruction of the Spanish fleet, wai given to the public. The White House was naturally the focal point of the enthusiasm and stirring activity which marked official Washington. It was the busiest day the President haa had since the war began. Conference followed conference, with the heads of the military and naval departments, high officers of the sewice came and went in a constant and steady stream and as each hour brought its added luster to the American arms the crowd of officials iincreased. The President had not a moment’s respite. Telegrams came and went without cessation and the historic old mansion presented a scene such as has not been jjaralleled since the momentous hours of the civil war. SAMPSON’S NOW FAMOUS DISPATCH. The story of the day is best told in the series of official dispatches, each bearing date of July 4, from Sampson, from Shafter and from Dewey. Stirring as they all are, that of Sampson was accorded the honor of chief importance, not only for the immediate results secured, but also from tha effects of this crushing defeat in weakening the defenses of the city of Santiago, and in dealing Spain such a staggering blow that she is left practically without a navy. The admiral’s dispatch Is as follows: “Slboney, July 3, night, via Playa del Esto and Haiti, 3:15 a. m., July 4.—The fleet under my command offers the Nation as a Fourth of July present the destruction of the whole of Cervera’s fleet. Not one ship escaped. The fleet attempted to escape at 9:30 a. m., and at 2 p. m, the last, the Crtstobal Colon, had run ashore, sixty miles/ west of Santiago, and had let down her colors. The Infanta Maria Teresa, Oquendo and Vizcaya were forced ashore, burned and blown up within twenty miles of Santiago. The Furor and Pluton were destroyed within four miles of the port. Our loss, one killed and two wounded. The enemy’s los® is probably several hundred, from gun fire, explosions and drowning. About 1,300 prisoners taken, including Admiral Cervera. The man killed was George E. Ellis, chief jteoman of the Brooklyn.” Although brief, Admiral Sampson’s dispatch tells the story of fearful destruction. It not only disclosed the tremendous prowess of the American fleet, but it again displayed the strange immunity which th® American sailor seems to have in the midst of death and carnage. That but one of our sailors, a yeoman on the Brooklyn, should have been killed in an engagement of this magnitude, is without a parallel in naval annals, save in that other unparalleled record which Dewey made at Manila. With the Spanish fleet destroyed, the way is partly cleared for the advance of the American squadron into the harbor of Santiago. If Cervera’s armored cruisers could cross the mine field and clear the Merrimac, at the entrance to the harbor, the American ships can follow’ the same course. There at <> the inner fortifications and island forts still to be reduced, but they have passed through a baptism of fire recently and are little more than ruins. Thus with Shafter's guns thundering on Santiago from the land, and Sampson from the harbor, the fall of the city, is assured beyond further question. Tha authorities here, military and naval, say that Santiago has already made Its best fight, and that its occupation is only a question of time—and very brief time. SHAFTER’S DEMAND ON SANTIAGO. General Shafter's strong position was shown in a series of dispatches. Most convincing of all as to his feeling of confidence and strength was that dispatch given out late In the day, In which General Shafter