ion and doubt have vanished. The dreary days of delay are
over. The end is near--the end of Spanish misrule in the West Indies.

CHAPTER III.

THE SPANISH FLEET MAKES A DASH FROM THE HARBOR. -- ITS TOTAL
DESTRUCTION. -- ADMIRAL CERVERA A PRISONER. -- GREAT SPANISH
LOSSES. -- AMERICAN FLEET LOSES BUT ONE MAN.

When the event was least expected the Spaniards made a desperate dash
from the harbor, seeking freedom but finding only death.

July 3d the land forces of General Shafter were closing in on
Santiago. There had been hard fighting for two days, in which both
sides had shown dogged courage, but the Spaniards had been beaten back
into the city, which the Americans almost completely invested. Though
Shafter had but few heavy siege guns, many of the shells from his
field artillery fell in the streets of the town and produced a panic
there.

Admiral Cervera had landed some of his rapid-fire guns in aid of
General Linares, and his marines fought with the Spanish soldiers. But
as the American advance continued he saw that he would be caught in a
trap and ground to pieces between Shafter and Sampson. So he made up
his mind to the desperate chance of slipping out and trying to run
past the American squadron.

[Illustration: The Protected Cruiser "Olympia," Admiral Dewey's
Flagship.]

[Illustration: Admiral George Dewey.]

[Illustration: Acting Rear Admiral W. T. Sampson.]

[Illustration: Rear-admiral Montgomery Sicard.]

[Illustration: Commodore W. S. Schley.]

[Illustration: Captain A. S. Barker, _Late of the "Oregon"; Now of the
"Newark."_]

[Illustration: Captain "Jack" Philip, _Of the Battle-Ship "Texas."_]

[Illustration: Commodore J. Crittenden Watson. _Second in Command of
the Gulf Squadron._]

[Illustration: Ensign Worth Bagley Of The "Winslow." _The first
American Officer killed by the Enemy._]

[Illustration: Cadet George T. Pettengill. _Who fired the first Shot
of the War._]

[Illustration: Captain F. W. Dickins. _Chief of Bureau of
Navigation._]

[Illustration: Commodore John A. Howell. _Commanding inner Line of
Coast Defenses._]

[Illustration: Brig.-Gen. H. C. Hasbrouck. _Commandant of Fort
Monroe._]

[Illustration: Captain C. E. Clark. _Of the Battle-Ship "Oregon."_]

[Illustration: Admiral F. M. Bunce. _Commandant of Brooklyn Navy
Yard._]

[Illustration: Bombardment of Spanish Ports and Fleet at Santiago De
Cuba, July 6, 1898.]

[Illustration: "Maria Teres