While the Brooklyn, Oregon, Texas, and New York were following the
Cristobol Colon, our other vessels were busy saving the lives of
Spaniards on board the sinking and burning ships. One small boat after
another was lowered from our vessels, and the crews went to the
burning vessels, where stores of powder were exploding every moment,
took off the wounded Spaniards, and saved the men who had jumped into
the sea and were trying to swim ashore. The work of rescue lasted till
eight o'clock that night. A thousand Spaniards, among them Admiral
Cervera and his son, were brought to our ships, and were well tended.
Most of the Spaniards needed clothes, having thrown aside their
garments when jumping into the sea; all needed food; a large number,
being wounded, needed the care of our doctors. What the captain of the
Iowa said of his men may be said of the crews of all our other
vessels: "I cannot express my admiration for my magnificent crew. So
long as the enemy showed his flag, they fought like American seamen;
but when the flag came down, they were as gentle and tender as
American women."

[Illustration: Admiral Cervera.]

Admiral Cervera was picked up by the Gloucester, but afterwards was
taken to the Iowa, where he was received with due honors. The bugles
were sounded as he came over the side of the ship, the officers
saluted him as Admiral, the crew cheered him to show their admiration
for his courage. The Admiral's kindness to Lieutenant Hobson was
remembered by our men, and they showed that they were grateful.
Afterward, the Admiral was asked why the Spanish ships had not left
the harbor during the hours of night, and he answered: "The
searchlights of your ships were too blinding."

What a change had taken place in less than four hours on that Sunday!
The Spanish fleet had been destroyed, six hundred Spaniards had lost
their lives, many were wounded, a thousand were in the hands of the
Americans. Our men had won a great victory, had not lost a ship, and
had only one man killed and one wounded.

The story of the Gloucester's fight with the "destroyers" has been
graphically told by one who was on board her during that exciting
time.

"The Spaniards were beginning to get the range with their deadly
automatic one-pounders. One shot in the right place would sink us.
There was a line of splashes in the water, like that made by jumping
fish, tracing accurately the length of our vessel, and gradually
coming nearer and near