ADMIRAL CERVERA.
From the forts on the shore, the great ships looked like mere specks upon the horizon; and it was hard to realize that they were grim sentinels watching every movement of the Spaniards.
The "bright work" had all been cleaned and the men were at Sunday services, when suddenly a thin film of smoke was observed to rise behind the hills. The scene on the battleships was changed at once into one of greatest activity.
"The enemy is coming out!" was signaled in red, white, and blue from vessel to vessel, and on each deck rang out the command, "All hands clear ship for action!"
There was no confusion or noise, and every man was at his post. Powder magazines were opened, and shot and shell were being hoisted to the decks. The engineers stood waiting for the first command with every rod and wheel of the great machinery ready to move.
Meanwhile the film of smoke had become a thick cloud, and the Americans knew that soon the Spanish vessels would appear. Suddenly the flagship of the Spanish admiral was seen speeding out of the narrow channel. She passed the wreck of the Merrimac, and with the spray dashing high over her bows, started westward along the coast.
Close behind her came another vessel, and then another, until the six Spanish ships were all rushing wildly for the open sea. At full speed, the Brooklyn, Texas, Iowa, and Oregon bore down upon the Spanish ships. The Oregon gained headway so rapidly that she passed the Texas and the Iowa, and came in behind the Brooklyn.
Away to the right between the battleships and the shore, sped the little yacht Gloucester. Her captain, Lieutenant Richard Wainwright, had been an officer on the Maine when that vessel was blown up in Havana harbor, and so was, perhaps, most anxious of all for a chance at the Spanish.
He sent the Gloucester straight towards the Spanish torpedo boats, Pluton and Furor. He did not seem to mind the fact that his little yacht was no match for them, and that his decks were covered with Spanish shell. Although aided to some extent by the large vessels, the destruction of the two torpedo boats was due to Lieutenant Wainwright. He never paused in his deadly fire until both of them had surrendered. It was not long, however, until the Spanish shots began to fall about the other American ships, throwing up great columns of water.