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STORIES OF OFFICERS OF CERVERA'S SQUADRON.

Reports of the Spaniards How Their Vessels were Beaten by Schley's Warships.

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BY CASPER F. GOODRICH,

(Commander of the Auxiliary Cruiser "St. Louis.")

FTER the destruction of Cervera's squadron by Rear-Admiral Schley's warships, July 3, the surviving officers and men surrendered and were sent to Portsmouth, as prisoners of war, on the auxiliary cruiser "St. Louis." During the trip north the Spanish officers talked freely with Captain Goodrich of their tragic experiences, and these interesting descriptions, made in frequent interviews, the captain reduced to

writing, which are herewith contributed, as follows:

I learned from Admiral Cervera that during his stay in Santiago he had received several telegrams from Madrid to leave port. On the second of July came the final message : "Leave port at once, no matter what the consequences, and engage fleet." This order was, as may be seen, imperative. Preparations were begun with a view to making the attempt during the following night, but for some reason the American battleships did not play their searchlights on the entrance that night as usual, and the wreck of the "Merrimac" could not be seen. As this hulk was at the turning point in the channel, it became almost impossible to go out. Admiral Cervera therefore decided to make the sortie early the following morning, after the American ships had withdrawn from their night blockading stations, and when they were, generally speaking, more scattered than at any other time of the day.

How the Spanish
Ships Left the
Harbor.

About seven o'clock on the following morning a signal was sent from the signal station near the Morro, that only the "Brooklyn" and the "Texas" were to the west of the entrance, and that the rest of the American fleet were scattered to the east. The squadron got under way at once and proceeded down the bay with the flagship, the "Maria Teresa," in the lead. She was followed by the "Almirante Oquendo," "Vizcaya," "Cristobal Colon," and the torpedo-boat destroyers "Pluton " and "Furor," in the order named. The wharves and docks at Santiago were crowded with people who had come down to see the ships off, and cheer after cheer arose as the pride of Spain's navy bravely sallied forth to meet a vastly superior enemy.

As only one ship could pass through the narrow entrance at a time, a definite battle formation was out of the question. The orders issued by Admiral Cervera to the captains of his ships, therefore, were to proceed at full speed to the westward after clearing the entrance, and to concentrate their fire upon the "Brooklyn." He hoped to disable the "Brooklyn," which he considered the only ship that could overtake his vessels; then to escape to the westward, raise the blockade of Havana and take refuge in the harbor.

The leading vessel, the "Maria Teresa," passed the Morro about halfpast nine o'clock, followed by the rest of the fleet in column. The details of the battle on board the "Maria Teresa" were told by Lieutenant Gomez, of the admiral's staff, as follows :

of the

"After clearing the harbor we headed to the westward along the shore. We fired the first shot of the battle, aiming at the 'Brooklyn,' then about three miles away. The 'Texas,' 'Iowa' and 'Brooklyn' returned our fire, but their first shots fell short. As the distance between the ships decreased, the shells commenced to strike us and did great damage. First a shell exploded in the admiral's cabin, setting fire to the woodwork there. A signal was sent to the engine room to start the pumps, but Terrible Results the fire mains had been ruptured by an exploding shell, American Guns. so that no water could be got to the fire. Another shell struck the main steam pipe, disabling the port engine, and the escaping steam killed every man in that compartment. One exploding shell killed or wounded eighty of our men. Our fire was directed principally against the 'Brooklyn.' The fire in the after part of the ship had driven the crews away from the after guns, and the rapid-fire guns of the American ships were playing havoc with our men and riddling the upper works of the ship. Having one engine disabled and the whole after part of the ship on fire, the vessel was headed toward the shore in search of a suitable place for beaching. The captain said to the admiral :

""My ship is in flames, my engines are disabled, my men have been driven from the guns and are being killed; ought I not for humanity's sake to surrender?'

"The admiral answered, 'It will be useless to fight longer.'

"The flag was hauled down and the ship run on the beach. The captain was struck and severely wounded just as the flag was being lowered. The fire was now raging aft so that there was great danger of the magazine being blown up at any minute. The admiral and those of the officers and crew still alive took to the water, the risk of drowning being preferable to the certainty of being burned or blown up. Many reached the shore, but some were drowned. Admiral Cervera stripped to his underclothes and plunged into the water. Two of the sailors secured ropes to a grating, and taking the other end of the ropes in their mouths swam to the shore towing the grating, the admiral bearing part of his weight on it. The admiral's son, one of his staff, swam along behind his father and assisted as best he could. Had it not been for this assistance Admiral Cervera would undoubtedly have been drowned, as he is a very poor swimmer. While the men were in the water the Cubans on shore commenced firing at them until the 'Iowa' put a stop to that atrocity by throwing a shell among them and scattering them."

Captain Eulate, of the "Vizcaya," speaking of the battle, said: "When the order to leave port was given we all realized that we were going out to meet disaster, and that we were being sacrificed on the altar of Spanish honor. My officers and men fought like true Spaniards to the end, but it was useless. I was fighting four ships, any one of which was superior to my own. My poor 'Vizcaya,' she was a splendid ship, but now she is only a wreck. I have lost everything except honor." Continuing he said: "When the 'Maria Teresa' headed for shore I passed her, and I had the 'Brooklyn,' 'Texas,' 'Iowa' and 'Oregon' all firing at me. The firing from these ships was terrific; shells were bursting all around us. My ship was set on fire by a shell exploding in my cabin. My engines and pumps were disabled, and I could not fight the flames. My men were being killed and wounded in large numbers. A shell finally exploded in my forward magazines and I was forced to head for the shore. When I went into action, I had flying at my masthead a large embroidered silk flag, which had been made and presented to the ship by ladies of the province of Vizcaya. When I saw that my ship would be lost, I had this flag hauled down and burned, and hoisted another ensign in its place. My flag was shot away twice during the engagement, the last time just as the ship grounded. The boats of the 'Iowa' picked up those of my officers and men still left alive, carrying them to that ship. When I went on board the 'Iowa,' I took off my sword and tendered it to Captain Evans, but he refused it, saying that I had fought four ships and that I could keep my sword. That was the proudest moment of my life."

The captain of the "Oquendo" committed suicide and the second and third officers were killed during the engagement. The following description is from the paymaster of the "Oquendo: "

Suicide of the "Oquendo's" Captain.

"When we came out of the harbor we were fired on by the 'Iowa,' 'Texas' and 'Oregon.' Our fire was mostly directed against the 'Texas,' for we had seen the splendid shooting done by her in the attacks on the batteries. From the first the firing was terrific and great damage was done. The after part of the ship was set on fire by bursting shell and could not be put out. Finally, fearing that the magazines would explode and everyone be lost, the ship was beached and the flag lowered. The mortality on the ship was great, over half of the crew being killed and wounded."

Captain Moreu of the "Cristobal Colon" by far the ablest officer in the fleet gave an account of his ship. He did not open fire at first, but moved inside the other vessels. When the "Vizcaya" headed for the shore, he passed her and then opened fire on the "Oregon," "Brooklyn" and "Texas," which ships had taken up the chase. He ran to the westward close to the shore. The heavy guns intended for this ship had never been mounted, and when asked where they were, the captain shrugged his shoulders and said: "Perhaps in the pocket of the Minister of Marine." Finally, when about fifty miles from Santiago, he was headed off by the "Oregon," and the "Brooklyn" and "Texas " were both closing in on him. He saw that it was useless to continue, and so beached his ship and hauled down his flag at 1.20 p. m. There was no serious damage done to this vessel, and but one man killed and sixteen wounded. All the officers and crew were taken off and put on board the "Resolute."

Lieutenant Diego Carlier, in command of the destroyer "Furor," and Lieutenant Piedro Vasquez, in command of the "Pluton," tell the same short story. They were literally riddled by the rapid-fire guns of the "Oregon," " Iowa" and "Texas." Their boilers were struck and exploded, one after the other, in rapid succession. A large shell struck the "Furor" almost amidship and exploded, nearly tearing her in two. She sank almost immediately. The steering gear on the "Pluton" was shot away, and she ran into shoal water and sank. These vessels each carried seventy-two men. But twenty-two were saved from the "Pluton " and but seventeen from the "Furor." Among the killed being Rear-Admiral Villamil. The officers all expressed themselves as amazed at the rapidity and accuracy of the fire of the American ships.

Admiral Cervera sent me this letter after his arrival at Portsmouth: CAPTAIN CASPAR F. GOODRICH, U. S. M. S. St. Louis":

A Courteous Letter of Thanks.

MY DEAR SIR:-I have the greatest pleasure in acknowledging by these presents, in my own name and also in that of all captains and officers on board this ship, that we consider ourselves under the greatest obligation to you for the many kindnesses and excellent treatment which you and all the officers under your command have shown to us during this passage. I must also mention the careful and most valuable medical assistance which has been given to our wounded and sick men. Your kind feelings went as far in this respect as to order them to be put in one of the saloons of the ship in order to provide more effectually for their comfort. I know nothing which does not agree with what I have just written, the case of D. Enrique Capriles being wholly unknown to me, since neither you nor he has spoken to me about it. I thank you again for the delicate and manifold acts of kindness by which you have endeavored to alleviate the sore burden of our great misfortune. I assure you that I shall never forget them, and I am, sir, your most obedient servant,

PASCUEL, CERVERA,

Rear Admiral.

Following is the list of the officers of the Spanish fleet who were brought to the United States by the "St. Louis:" Rear Admiral Pascuel Cervera, Commodore Jose Paredez, Captain Antonio Eulate, of the "Vizcaya," and Emilio Diaz Moreu, of the "Cristobal Colon; " Commanders MacCrohon, Adolfo, Contreas and Manuel Roldan; Captains of Marines Frederich Baleato and Eugenio Espinoza y Leon; Lieutenants, first class, Diego Carlier, Xavier Quiroga, Piedro Vasquez, Pablo Marina, Enrique Capriles, and Carlos Gonzales Llanos; Chief Engineer Juan Cuenca; Lieutenants Cerman Suanzes, Antonio Magaz, Fernando Lengo, F. Bruquetas, and Jose Maria Pazos, A. С.

GLORIOUS STRUGGLE OF OUR ARMY BEFORE
SANTIAGO.

Storming Through Jungle Up the Hill That Led to San Juan.

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BY JAMES CREELMAN.

HE battle of Santiago, which was fought between the American troops and the Spaniards on Friday, July 1, reflected credit upon both armies-upon the Americans because they stormed trenches

that should have been impregnable, and upon the Spaniards because, with inferior numbers, they made a stubborn and desperate resistance, proving their boast that when engaged with an army fighting after the European fashion they would render a good account of themselves. That they showed themselves to be a match for American soldiers is not to be admitted for a moment, however. A generous foe can say no more of them than that they knew how to die. General Hawkins, being asked after the battle whether American troops could be driven from such intrenchments as those in which the Spaniards fought, answered with an emphatic "No! "

Between Siboney on the coast, the base of operations, and Santiago, lay, a little to the north of a line drawn between the two, the fortified village of Caney. It was judged necessary to reduce this place lest the enemy should threaten our rear. The nominal garrison of Caney was 800. General Shafter sent Lawton's division, the Second, of 6,000 men, against Caney, while Kent's, the First, and Wheeler's cavalry division were to proceed up the valley road and attack San Juan Hill, on which were the main land defences of Santiago. Lawton's division, having reduced Caney, was to co-operate with Kent and Wheeler at San Juan. It was believed that Caney

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