The second
was also beached and deserted by her crew. Meanwhile the _Vizcaya_ ran
up the white flag and the _Texas_ stopped firing. She, like the _Infanta
Maria Teresa_, was on fire and her crews could do nothing but take to
the shore in the desperate effort to save themselves.

The _Almirante Oquendo_ and the _Colon_ were still fleeing for life,
with the _Iowa, Oregon, Brooklyn_ and _Texas_ hard after them. Suddenly
the _Almirante Oquendo_ turned toward shore. The _Brooklyn_ and _Oregon_
kept after the _Cristobal Colon_, leaving the _Texas_ to dispose of the
_Almirante Oquendo_. But the latter was in flames and the flag at her
stern was pulled down. The _Texas_ was approaching when the Spanish ship
was torn by a tremendous explosion. The Americans broke into cheers.
Captain Philip threw up his hand and called:

"Don't cheer, boys; the poor fellows are dying!"

It was chivalrous and thoughtful on the part of the American commander
and will never be forgotten.

The _Cristobal Colon_ steamed along the coast with the speed of a race
horse, but the _Brooklyn_, _Texas_ and _Oregon_ seemed to feel the prick
of the spur and ran as never before and as their captains did not
believe them capable of doing. The _Brooklyn_ gradually drew ahead and
the Spaniard, seeing that escape was out of the question, hauled down
his flag. Thus the victory became complete.

The news was just in time to help in the universal rejoicing and
celebration of the Fourth of July. The Spanish fleet on the other side
of the globe had been destroyed and now the second fleet was wiped out.
In the former instance not a life was lost and in the latter only one
man was killed on our side, while the loss of the enemy was severe.
Never was a more decisive victory gained by one nation over another in
the whole history of the world.

All my readers are familiar with the events that immediately followed,
but perhaps they would like to know something concerning the naval
heroes who did so much to contribute to the grand naval victory off
Santiago.

William T. Sampson was born in Palmyra, N.Y., February 9, 1840. He was
the son of an ordinary day laborer and had few early educational
advantages, but he was appointed to the Naval Academy and was graduated
at the head of his class. He was on the frigate _Potomac_, with the rank
of master, when the war broke out, but was too young to secure a command
during the war. He became a lieutenant in July, 1862, and serve