At the same time small boats from the plucky yacht that had placed her in this sad plight were busily engaged in rescuing such of her crew as could be reached.
In the mean time both the _Teresa_ and _Oquendo_ had received so frightful a fire from the _Indiana_, _Iowa_, and _Texas_, that within six miles of Santiago Harbor the former, enveloped in flames, and no longer capable of defending herself, was also headed for the beach, where the gallant little _Gloucester_ soon afterwards came to her assistance and rescued hundreds of her perishing crew, including brave old Admiral Cervera.
A few minutes later the _Almirante Oquendo_, with colors lowered and flames pouring from her open ports, also turned slowly inshore, and was beached within half a mile of the Spanish flag-ship.

It was only forty minutes since the fight began; but in that short space four of the Spanish squadron had been destroyed, without loss of life to the Americans, and but slight damage to their ships.

With the burning _Teresa_ and _Oquendo_ stayed the battle-ship _Indiana_, her men working in eager emulation with those of the _Gloucester_ to save the lives of their recent enemies.
The next victim to succumb beneath the terrible American fire was the superb _Vizcaya_, which, pounded to death by the _Brooklyn_, _Oregon_, and _Texas_, was run on the beach at Aserraderos, seventeen miles west of Santiago Bay, a few minutes after eleven o'clock.

Like her unfortunate consorts, she also was a mass of flame, and had no sooner struck than scores of her people leaped overboard to escape being roasted alive.

Among these swimmers a body of Cuban troops poured a cowardly fire from the beach; but Captain Evans of the _Iowa_ quickly put a stop to that, and stood by the blazing wreck so long as there was a Spaniard left to be rescued from flame or flood.
Of all Cervera's powerful squadron only a single ship was now left, the swift _Cristobal Colon_, which, by keeping behind the others, had as yet come to little harm.