Page:American Boy's Life of William McKinley.djvu/291

Rh Iowa, Indiana, and Texas, the converted yacht Gloucester, and the Vixen. There were other vessels, but they were too far off to get into the soul-stirring contest which followed.

The Spanish fleet under Admiral Cervera consisted of four cruisers, the Vizcaya, the Maria Teresa, the Almirante Oquendo, and the Cristobal Colon, and two torpedo boats, the Furor and Pluton. The Maria Teresa was the first war-ship to show herself around the bend of the channel leading out of the harbor, and at once there was a commotion throughout all the American ships which had waited in the hot summer sun so long for this fight.

"The enemy is escaping!" was the signal that was hoisted, and soon a cannon boomed out, followed by another and then another. "Remember the Maine!" was the rallying cry, and at once all steam was being put on and gunners were stripping for this contest, which was to equal in many respects the remarkable battle of Manila Bay.

As the Spanish ships turned to run along the western coast beyond Santiago Bay,