The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, July 06, 1898, Image 6
MDA?S MHT.
AMERICANS LOSE MANY
MEN.
Washington, July 1 r-Tbe signal
office has received the fol io wi og from
one of its officers at the front :
"American troops driving Spanish
troops back Wounded being brought
io right alorg."
i,
SPANISH FORCED TO RETRAT
Si boney, July 1, 3 30 p. m., via
Plays Del Este. Guantanamo Bay.
At 1 o'clock this afternoon, after five
boors terrific fighting, the Spanish
began to leave their entrenchments
and retreat into tbe city. Many
Americans wepe wounded aod are
being brought in.
One man had both a -ms shot off
and waa wounded io the hip, bot was
laughing.
OUR L03S ESTIMATED AT 500
KILLED AND WOUNDED.
Playa Dei Este. Gqantaaomo Bay,
Joly 1 (evening).-The fightiog con
tinned until dark.
Oar forces carried the enemy's
oater works and have occupied them
this evening.
The battle wiil probably be re6um
ed at daybreak.
Tho American loss is heavy. Some
estimates place it at five hundred
killed and wonnded.
SHAFTE? SENDS THE OFFI
CIAL NEWS
Washington, Joly 2 -The war de
partment has received the following
from Gen. Shifter, dated at S?boney J
"Ead a very heavy engagement
to-day which lasted from 8 a m. till
sandown We have carried their
oater works and are now in posses
sion of them ?
"There is now about three quar?
ters of a roiie of opeaing between ?
my lines and tbfe city. By morning
-troops will be entrench^and consid?
erable augmentation of furces^will be
there.
"Gen. Lawton's division aod Gen.
Bates' brigade have been engaged all
day in carrying El Canty, which was
accomplished at 4 p. m
_ :**W?Ube in line and in front of
Santiago during the Dight
"I regret to say that our casual
fees wit! be above 400. Of these not
many killed.
(Signed) "SHAFTER,"
. SOME DANGERS OF
T?E SITUATION.
Off .Santiago de Coba, Jane 30, 2
p. m., by the Associated Press Dis
1 patch Beat Wanda*. Filed at Port
Antonio, Jamaica, July L 8 a m -
A two days' visit to the Cuban lines
and outposts by a correspondent of
the Associated Press bas developed a
situation, which if not broken by a
vigorous and successful attack on
Santiago may result in causing much
more serious work than has been an?
ticipated with thc Spanish forces that
have retired from the vicinity of
Azerraderos on the west and Bai
qairi on the east to join Gen. Li?
nares.
The forces in* Santiago and within
the fortified defenses of the city now
number 11,000-7,000 regulars and
4,000 volunteers. Concerning the
later. the Cubans allege that they
will not fight with any heart, but will
lay down their guns According to
Spanish soldiers captured yesterday
and held in the camp of Gen. Perez,
sear G a an tao om o half of the force of
men on the Spanish warships has
been landed with all the rapid-fire
guns This would make a total
force in the city of 12,000 men, in
addition to the protection from the
earthworks and forts and the assist?
ance of the ships in the harbor.
To meet this force, or at least to j
invade its stronghold, the American ?
commanders now have 17,500 men
and 4,000 Cubans-the latter to pre
vent, if possible, fiank movements at
the expense of the Americans. Now
here is the dangerous and most sig?
nificant feature of the situation
Marching from Manzanillo, 120 miles
west of Santiago, and having been
on the road for six days, and quite
well advanced now ic his progress is
Gen Pando with seven battalions, ag- j
gregating 8,400 men. To oppose j
bim is Gen Jesus Rabi* with a force
of 2,200 Cubans, lying in wait 17
miles from Santiago and on two
roads j
Of course it would be perfectly
possible for Gen Pando to take his
column far to the north and make a
junctiou with the Spanish troops sup
posed to be on the way from Hol
guin, and numbering, it is said, 9,000
men. This advance from the north
is being held in check by abouti,
500 Cubans under Gen Castillo, who
claims to bold the passes.
Gen. Castillo admitted in camp
yesterday, as he smoked his cigar
and sipped his coffee, that bis meth?
od was to do Indian fighting in the
mountain passes When he was
asked what his forces would do if
flanked, gravely said he had not
thought about that, but he supposed
he would have to retire The object
of the Spanish advancing from Man?
zanillo may be to elude Rabi, and by
eff-cting a juDCtion with the Spanish
fiotn the north to form an army of
17,400 men. As a flank on the west
end of the American army facing the
city, Gen. Rabi's forces combined
with those of Gen. Castillo would
only give a combating force of 3,700
Cubans, and tbe Cubans do not hesi
tate to ron . before overwhelming
numbers.
Nor is this all that menaces Leav
ing Guantanamo camp of marines and
plunging into the road to the west,
the Associatea Press correspondent
found a force of 800 Cubans under
command of Col .ferez This force
bad variously been otimated at from
1,200 io 2*500 Cubans; but there
were certainly not more than 800, as
Col Perez admitted in conversation,
although he had distinctly claimed to
have about 2,000 men. This force of
800 ia supposed to be keeping at bay
3,400 Spanish troops who are in the
town of Guantanamo The marines
are near this camp, but to the east of
it, so that they could do nothing to
prevent the Spaniards from moving
to the west on the flank of the Amer?
ican army.
In other words there are to the
northeast and west of the army of
invasion flanking forces of Spaniards
comprising over 20.000 troops, held
at bay by less than 5,000 Cubans,
whose fighting qualities are as yet
rather enigmatical
In an interview with Gen Garcia,
the correspondent called attention to
this situation Gen Garcia replied:
4 I believe we should be left to the
west and North to prevent Pando
making a junction with Linares We
can do thajt."
lu spite of this warning, Gen Gar
cia and his force were taken to the
east and ianded with the army, only to
te transported in part back again to
prevent the very movement which
Garcia had predicted The solution
of the difficulty evidently lies iu a
brilliant and quick attack
The unreliability of tbe Cuban
statements as to force may be better
understood when it is known .hat the
1,200 men Perez promised to send to
help the marines numbered exactly
82, of whom 21 are on the sick list
from overeating;
STATUS ON THE EVE OF
THE FIGHT.
Gen. Lawton's Headquarters, Rio
Gnana, Thursday, June 30, p m.,
Port Antonio, Jamaica, July, 1 8 p
m-Daylight to morrow (Friday) will
?ee a movemeot of tbe fifth division,
ander Gea. Lvwton, to a oew base
north and east of Saotiago. Ali this
morning Geo. Garcia's Cubans have
been mo vi og from their hill camp on
the east and have been passing head?
quarters almost at s jog trot.
Assuming that 4,000 will be de?
ployed on the northeast, cao the Ameri
advance is one mass ot net, which is
now drawing closer around the doomed
city
Geo Liwtoo and his command will
first take Caney. A slight skirmish
is expected, but nothing serious, the
captured paoificos al! alleging that the
Spanish m ai o force, wbi sb was bere
four days ago, bas now been withdrawn
to Santiago, tn pursuaoce of the general
pian of concentration.
Spies report Geo. Linares' contin?
uons retreat from Baiqaiii Santiago.
This plao is said to be much against
his own wishes, bat to be forced upon
him by bis superior officer, Gen Toral,
commanding at Santiago.
It is evident the Spanish stand is to
he made inside the strong eotrench
mente about the city With well
armed meo, eager for a fiaai clash,
this siat:d might well be depperate.
The temper of the Spaniards is bard to
sscertaio. Owing to the Cubans bi
ased estimate of Spaeth ability, they
predict a merely nominal resistance, but
the Americans thick otherwise At
any rate.the Spacish are eating horses
aod the civilians are gathering man?
groves in a suburban wood, where
some 20 have been captured by the
American patrol. . The Spaniards have,
iherefore, tbs spur cf hunger. Wheth*
er it bas broken their fighting spirit a
few days may tell.
The capture of Caney and possibly
the occupation of the commanding
plateau is now thought to be the limit
of to morrow's movement. Geo. Law
ton'*? command carries provisions suffi?
cient to last uotil July 4 With thc
pre?eot supply train service continuing
without any accident be will easily
have enough food to last to July 12
By that time, aocordiog to one well
informed officer, and perhaps soooer,
Saotiago will be taken
This move of the fifth divisioo will
completely torn the Spanish eastern
flank. Geo. Keot's command will be
able to move up parallel to its present
position, actiog as a wall against the
horde of Spaniards from three strong
lines south aod east Should a serious
effort be rn?de to prevent Gen L*w
too's gaining tho desired plateau and
the Spanish interior force thereby be
weakened, Gen Kent, and Gen.
Wheeler may be throwo forward and a
general engagement be precipitated.
A large detail has been ar. work all
day improving a military road to Caney
with a view of landing artillery aod thc
supplies for the other force outtiog
through the woods pirrallel to old
Santiago road. It is also possible that
this opening may bring the siege goos
inland from the railway that is now
working up the coas: io the hands of
our troops.
The ooodition of the American troops
is excellent. The men are foil of snap
aod eager for the big fight. Io prepa?
ration fur the fio al assault upon San tia
go 60 tried men io each brigade, non
commissioned officers and privates have
been promoted to be wire clippers, ?od
j they will precede the first firing line
about 200 or 300 yards for the purpose
of cutting the barbed G JIM fences of
obstruotioo to the way to the city. Their
mission is a most hazardous one, as
they will be exposed to the fire of our
men as well as that of the coeoay The
pac?ficos who have been brought into
the American camp during the last few
days are in a pitiable condition Men.
women and cV.'-dreo are absolutely
starviog. and they welcome Amtrioan
shelter. \
Geo. Shaffer has established bis
headquarters with Gen Lawton aud to
day hoisted the corps fUg. To day the
signal corp* used observation hallooes,
obtaining a perfect view of the Spanish
entrenchments, the city and the har?
bor.
THE OFFICIAL NEWS
CONCERNING THE SIT
? A?ION OF OUR
FORCES.
Washington, July 3 -The follow?
ing statement was to-night given ont
at the White House :
"Gen. Shafter telegraphs :
'Playa del Este, July 3 -Early
this morning I sent a demand for the
immediate surrender of Santiago,
threatening to bombard the city I
believe the place wiil be surrender
ed
In addition to the splendid work
accomplished by Admiral Sampson,
Gen. Shafter, in command of the land
forces before Santiago, had so far pro
grossed in the carrying ont of bis
plans for the reduction of that city,
that at 10:30 yesterday morning he
demanded the immediate surrender
of the Spanish forces At 4:30
yesterday afternoon Gen Shafter's
demand had not been complied with,
so far as the war officials here were
able to ascertain. That the demand
will be complied with, however,
Gen Shafter fully believes, aud that
the Stars and Stripes will on this
Fourth of July be raised over the
former capital of Coba is regarded as
practically certain
During the almost continuous con?
flict of Friday and Saturday, reports
show that the Spanish fleet did awful
execution by sheiling the American
troops It is regarded as unlikely
that with the fleet lying in the bay,
Gen Shaffer's forces would have
been able to safely occupy Santiago
After the reduction and capture of
the oater defenses of the city by Gen
Shafter, it became necessary that
Admiral Cervera'a fleet be eliminated
from the occasion Its elimination
was executed by Admiral Sampson,
tnu6 leaving the way opeu for the
continued advance of Shafter's troops
upon the city.
Shortly after 12 o'clock this morn
ing Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Allen left the White House hastily
and going directly to the department
posted the bulletin from Lieut Co!
Allen
The information contained in the
statement was received early in the
evening, but it was not tnnounced
officially until several hours Uter
As a result of its receipt, however,
a conference, of prominent officials,
was held at the White House imme?
diately. Those present at the con
ference. besides the President, were
Vice President Hobart. Secretary
Day, Secretary Long, Geu Alger,
Postmaster Gen Smith, Gen Miles,
Adjutant Gen Corbin, Gen Guy V
Henry and Senator Hanna. The io
formation was discussed in ail its
phases The news sent by both Gen
Shafter and Lieut Col Alleu was re
ceived with intense satisfaction. It
was taken to indicate not only that
Admiral Sampson had accomplished
magnificently the task to which he
had been set. but it also clearly
proved that Gen Shafter was in a
much stronger position "than the war
officials had been led to believe he
held. One of the officials who at
tended the conference said, after the
news had been officially announced,
that it very materially modified the
seriousness of the situation The de?
struction of the fleet, which was
not confirmed until a few minutes be
fore the news was given to the pub
lie, removes by far the most serious
obstacle to the occupation of Santia
go by the American land forces
Details of the destruction of Cer
vera's fleet have not been received,
at this writing, by either the war or
navy departments Whether Samp
son's ships entered the harbor and
there attacked and annihilated the
Spanish squadron or whether Cervera
made a deperate dash past the sunken
Merrimac to the ocean beyond in the
liOpe that he might be abie to save at
least a part of his fleet, has not been
officially ascertained
Adj. Gen. Corbin voiced the feel
jugs of every one of the officials
when he said :
"I don't care how the fleet was de
stroyed It was destroyed That is
enough for me. It is great news for
the Fourth of July "
The fleet of Admiral Cervera was
one of the finest Spain possessed
Three of the vesseis. the Almirante
Oquendo. the Vizcaya, and the Cris
tobal Colon were modern armored
cruisers of the first class. The Viz?
caya was of 7.000 tons displacement,
1 340 feet long, and heavily armored.
I her belt armor being 12 inches in
! thickness and her decfc aimoted three
I inches Her main armament consist
! ed of two ll inch, ten 5 5 inch Hon
I toria guns. She carried six torpedo
i tubes, waa capable of a speed rate of
twenty knots and her complement
was 500 men.
The Almirante Oquendo was in al?
most every respect a duplicate of the
Vizcaya.
The Cristobal Colon has displace
ment of 6,840 tons and was 328 feet
long. She had six inch armor, both
at the water line and at the gun posi
tion and 1 5 inch armor on her deck
Her main armament cousisted of ;wo
10 inch, ten 6 inch rapid fire guns,
six 4.7-inch and four torpedo tubes.
She was capable of a speed of twen
ty knots and carried a^omplement of
450 men. Of the regaining vessels
of tne fleet the Furor and Terror
were torpedo boat destroyers and the
Reina Mercedes was an old vessel
that was sunk a short time ago by a
shell from Sampson's fleet The Ter
ror was not with the fleet at Santiago,
but is supposed to be at San Juan,
Porto Rico, undergoing repairs made
necessary by an eucounter with the
St Paul a few days ago.
In addition to the above mentioned
vessels there were two torpedo boats
and a collier in the Spanish fleet
orignally Whether the collier was
at Santiago or not is not known
Shaftei's Official Report.
Washington. Juiy 3 -This mes?
sage was received to-day :
Playa del Esie, July 3.
Secretary of War, Washington :
Camp near Sevilla. Cuba, July 3
We have the town weli invested on
the north and east, but with a verv
* mt
thin line. Upon approaching it we
find it of 6uch a character and the
defenses so strong it will be impossi
ble to carry it by storm with my
present force. Our losses up to date
wiil aggregate a thousand, but list
has not yet been made But little
sickness outside of exhaustion from
intense heat and exertion of the bat
tie of the day before yesterday and
the almost constant fire which is kept
up on the trenches Wagon road to
the rear is kept up with some diffi?
culty on account of rains, bat I will
be able to use it for the present.
Gen WTheeler is seriously ill and
will probably have to go to the rear
today Gen Young also very ill;
confined to his bed Gen Hawkins
slightly wounded in foot
Daring sortie made by enemy last
night which was handsomely ie
pulsed. The behavior of the troops
was magnificent.
Gen. Garcia reported he holds the
railroad from Santiago to San Luis
and has burned a bridge and remov?
ed some rails, also that Geo Pando
has arrived at Palma and that the
French consul with about 400 French
citizens came into his line yesterday
from Santiago Have directed him
to'treat them with every courtesy
possible Shafter,
Major General.
Spanish Generals Both
Wounded.
Madrid,' July 3, 4 p m -Private
?iep-uches from Santiago give the fol?
lowing details :
"Geo. Shafter's army, composed of
17,000 infantry and 82 siege guns of
various calibre, attacked the SpaDish
positions before Santiago. G.000 rebels
under Garcia assisting them. The
Spaniards bad only 2,000 men. partly
volunteers
"Oar troops fought with heroic
courage. Tho battle lasted three hours
and the Spanish were then compelled
to abandon the trenches and to fall
back on Santiago. The retreat was
conducted io perfect order.
"Our losses were heavy and the
eoeoiy's were enormous The list of
our wouoded ioclades Geo Linares.
Col. Ordooez aod Major? Amadrid aod
Arraiz, the latter beiog Gen. Linares'
aide do camp.
"The American attack upon El
Caney was very severe, The position
was defended by Gen. Vera de Roy,
with 500 men. The enemy was at first
repulsed, but ultimately renewed the
attack."
A later dispatch says :
"The Americans fought eight agsinst
one. The Spaniards defended them?
selves heroically.
"Our wouoded are numerous, in?
cluding Gao. Vera de R?y aod Major
D >tniogu>z.
"The struggle ia becoming diffiaulr.
2.000 Spanish having to meet 25.000
nf the eunony."
??ni i i -
MEMORABLE INDEED.
Loodoo, July 4 -The Daily News
remark?: *'The preheat 4'h uf July
will be memorable Events oeem to be
rending to a fulfillment.of the remark?
able prophecy Capt. Mahaa made in
1890, that when thc United Skates
once bpgaa to busy itself with rhe affairs
ot the world, it would streich ou' its
hand* to Great Britaio."
The '-White" rani* light. Toe "White'
sews right.
The White is king ot Sewir-g Vachiups.
The ''Wh:re'; if thc- pride of home.
Base Ball Guides for 1893 for sale by H G.
Osieen k Co . 10 cents each ; bj mail, 2 cents
additiocal for postage.
THE STORY OF
SPANISH RUIN.
j
I How Cervera's Fleet Was
Annihilated.
A BOLD DASH TO ESCAPE
MET BY DEATH AND
DESTRUCTION.
SCHLEY'S FLYING SQUADRON
PURSUED FLEEING SPAN?
IARDS AND NONE
ESCAPE.
Washington. July 4 -secretary
of the navy has received the follow?
ing :
"Sibooey, Joly 3, via Hayti, 3:15 a.
m., Joly 4.
"To the Secretary of tbe Navy :
"Thc fleet ander my command offers
the nation as a Fourth of July present
tbe destruction of the whole of Ger
vera's ftaet. It attempted to escape at
9:30 a. a , and at 2 p m. the last,
the Cristobal Coloo had ruo ashore 60
miles west of Santiago and bas let
down ber colors The Infanta Maria
Teresa, Oquendo and Vizcaya were
forced ashore, burned aod blown up
withio 20 miles of Santiago Tbe
Furor and PlutoD were destroyed
within four mile? of tbe port. Loss
one killed and two wonoded Eaemy's
Inss probably several hundred killed
from gun fire, explodions and drowning.
About 1 300 prisoners, includiog Ad?
miral Cervera. The man killed was
George H Eilis, chief yeoman of the
Brooklyn.
"SAMPSON "
Ten Miles West of the Entrance cf
the Harbor of Santiago de Cuba, Sun?
day. July 3, 4 p. m., by the Asso?
ciated Press Dispatch Boat Wanda to
Port Antonio, Jai , Monday Morning.
July 4, via Kingston, July 4, 4:45
a. m -Admiral Cervera's fleet, coo
fisting of the armored cruisers Cris?
tobal Ooloo, Almiraote Oqueodo, Io
faota Maria Tersea and Vizcaya, and
two torpedo boat destroyers, the Furor
aod the Plutoo, which bad been held
in the harbor of Santiago de Coba foi
six weeks past by tbe combined tquad
of Rear Admiral Sampson and Commo?
dore Schley, lies today at the bottom of
tbe Caribbean sea, off the southern
coast of Coba.
The Spanish admiral is a prisoner of
war on the auxiliary gunboat Gieu
renter (formerly J. Pierpoint Morgan's
yacht Corsair) and 1,000 to 1,500
Spanish officers aod sailors, ali wiao
esoaped the frightful carnage caused
by shells from thc American warships
are also held as prisoners of war by the
United States Davy.
Tbe Spaniards, wheo they found they
would be permitted to live, adapted
themselves comfortably to the situation,
rolled their cigarettes and began play?
ing cards among themselves.
The American victory is complete
and according to the best information
obtainable at this time the American
vessels ?ere practially untouched and
ody one man was killed, though the
ships were subjected to the heavy fire
of the Spaniards all the time tbe battle
lasted.
Admiral Cervera made as gallant
dash for liberty and for the preserva
tion of his ships this morning as bas
ever occurred io tbe history of oaval
warfare. Io the face of overwhelming
odds, with ootbiog before bim bot
inevitable destructioo or surreoder, if
he remained any longer in the trap io
which the American fleet held him,
bs made a bold dash from the harbor
at the time the Americans least ex
peoted him to do so, aod fightiog every
icch of bis way, even wben bis ship
was ablaze and sinking, be tried to
escape tbe doom wbich was written on
tbe muzzle of every American gun
trained apoo his vessels
Tbe Americans saw him the mcment
he left the barber and commenced their j
work of destruction immediately For
an hour or two they followed the flying
Spaniards to the westward along the
shore line, sending shot after shot ?D?O
their blazing hulls, tearing great holes
io their steel sides and covering their
decks with thc blood of the killed and
wounded.
At oo time did the Spaniards show I
any indications that they iotended to do j
otherwise than fight to the last They
showed no signals to sorreoder even j
I when their ship"? commeooed to Muk :
and th? great clouds of smoke pouring j
from their sides showed they wereoi- 6r?. ?
But they turned their vereis toward !
?bc shore, lo>s than a miic away, and :
ran them on the beach and rocks, where |
their destruction was soon completed |
The < ffi >ers and men on board ihcv '
escaped to the shore S6 well as they
could, wirb tb* assistance of boats scot j
from ?he American men of war * nd threw
themselves upon tho mercy of their cap
tors, who not only extended to them
the gracious hand of American ;
Chivalry, but send them a guard to :
protect them from the murderous
bands of Cuban soldiers hiding in the
bush on the hillside, eager tc rush
down and attack the unarmed, defeat .
ed, but valorous foe One after an
other the Spanish ships became the
victims of the awful rain of shells
which the American battleships. :
cruisers and gunboats poured upon
them, and two hours after the fiist of.
the fleet had started out of Santiago. !
their cruisers and two torpedo boats
wpre lyin^ on the shore, 10 to 15
miles of Morro castle, pounded to
pieces, emoke and Aime pouring from
every part of them and covering the
entire coast line with a mist which
could be 6een for miles
Heavy explosions of ammunition
occurred every few minutes, sending
curls of dense white smoke a hundred
feet in the air and causing a shower
of broken iron and steel to fall in the
water on every side
The bluffs on the coast line echoed
with the roar of every explosion and
the Spanish vessels sank deeper and
deeper into the sand cr 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 open sea.
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 command to Lieut Morton and
asked to be taken on board the
Gloucester, which was the only
American vessel near him 8t 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
the gangway by ber commander,
Lieut Commander Richard Wain?
wright, who grasped the hand of the
gray bearded admiral and said to
him :
"I congratulate you, sir, upon hav
ing made as gallant a fight as was
ever witnessed on the sea."
Lieut. Commander Wainwright
then placed his cabin at the disposai
of the Spanish officers.
At tba- time the Spanish flagship
and four other Spanish vessels had
been aground and burning for two
hours, and the only one of the escap?
ing fleet which could ,not be seen at
I this point was the Cristobal Colon.
But half 8 dozen curls 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 obtain?
ed a lead over the others after leav?
ing the harbor 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 oth^r
ships in pursuit, all of them firing at
her constantly and receiving fire
themselves from her after guns.
There was 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 Capt. Evans of the Iowa,
who returned from the westward
with 340 prisoners from the Vizcaya
just as tbe Associated Press dispatch
boat was leaving the Spanish flagship.
In answer to an inquiry, he shout?
ed through the megaphone: "I left
the Cristobal Colon far to the west?
ward an hour ago and the Oregon
we~ giving her hell She has un?
doubtedly gone down with the others
and we will have a Fourth of July
celebration ia Santiago to morrow
Capt. Evans, who bad been in the
thick of the engagement up to the
time be took the Viscaya'6 officers
and crew from the shore, said that to
the best of his knowledge not one
American ship had been struck
The torpedo boat Ericsson, which
also returned ftoai the westward at
about the same time, made a similar
report, saying it was believed that
?no man "was injured on board the
j American ships, though another re
! pert had it that one man was killed
on board the Brooklyn, which could
not be vetified as this dispatch was
sent
SPANISH LOSS FEARFUL
j There was no means of telling now
? what the Spanish loss was, but it was
\ believed to have been very heavy, 89
t the prisoners in custody report their
decks strewn with dead and wound?
ed in great numbers, and besides
there is a statement that many bodies
could be seen fastened to pieces of
wjeckage floatiog in the sea after the
fight was over. A large nnmber of
the Spanish wounded was removed
to the American ships
There can be no doubt that Admi?
ral Cervera's plan to escspe from
Santiago harbor was entirely unex?
pected by Admiral Sampson, and the
best evidence of this is the fact that
when the Spanien vessels were seen
coming out of the harbor, the flag?
ship New York was seven miles
away steaming to the eastward to?
ward Juragua, the military base, nine
miles east of Morro
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 Span?
ish vessels had been deft toyed by
the Brooklyn, the Oregon, Iowa,
Massachusetts, indiana, Texas, Glou?
cester and other ships of the fleet.
P*EP0ST OF LOSSES AND PRIS
OtfEES CAPTURES.
Washington. July 5 -Gen. Shaffer
reports to the war department that he
ba? two thousand Spanish prisoners,
captured io tbe last few days battiez
The total American los? is one hun?
dred and fifty killed aod four hundred
wounded Spanish los* is nine bun- *
dred killed, ene thousand wsunded and
two thousand captured
Admiral Sampson reports that the
American fi^et had but one mao killed
and sixteen wnuoded. none seriously.
He captured sixteen hundred prisoners .