The American vessels were about six miles from the schooner when the chase began. They steamed after her at full speed, the _Morrill_ leading, until within a mile and a half of the Santa Clara batteries. Commander Smith of the _Vicksburg_ was the first to realise the danger into which the reckless pursuit had led them. He concluded it was time to haul off, and sent a shot across the bow of the schooner. The Spanish skipper instantly brought his vessel about, but while she was still rolling in the trough of the sea with her sails flapping, an 8-inch shrapnel shell came hurtling through the air from the water-battery, a mile and a half away. It passed over the _Morrill_, between the pilot-house and the smoke-stack, and exploded less than fifty feet away on the port quarter. Two more shots followed in quick succession, both shrapnel. One burst close under the starboard quarter, filling the engine-room with the smoke of the exploding shell, and the other, like the first, passed over and exploded just beyond. The Spanish gunners had the range, and their time fuses were accurately set. The crews of both ships were at their guns. Lieutenant Craig, who was in charge of the bow 4-inch rapid-fire gun of the _Morrill_, asked for and obtained permission to return the fire. At the first shot the _Vicksburg_, which was in the wake of the _Morrill_, slightly inshore, sheered off and passed to windward under the _Morrill’s_ stern. In the meantime Captain Smith also put his helm to port, and was none too soon, for as the _Morrill_ stood off a solid 8-inch shot grazed her starboard quarter and kicked up tons of water as it struck a wave one hundred yards beyond. All the guns of the water-battery were now at work. One of them cut the Jacob’s-ladder of the _Vicksburg_ adrift, and another carried away a portion of the rigging. As the vessels steamed away their aft guns were used, but only a few shots were fired. The _Morrill’s_ 6-inch gun was elevated for four thousand yards, and struck the earthwork repeatedly. The _Vicksburg_ discharged only three shots from her 6-pounder. The Spaniards continued to fire shot and shell for twenty minutes, but none of the latter shots came within one hundred yards. Later in the day the _Morrill_ captured the Spanish schooner _Espana_, bound for Havana, and towed the prize to Key West. [Illustration: JOHN D. LONG, SECRETARY OF NAVY.] The _Newport_ added to the list of captures by bringing in the Spanish schooner _Padre de Dios_. _May 7._ The United States despatch-boat _McCulloch_ arrived at Hongkong from Manila, with details of Commodore Dewey’s victory. Secretary Long, after the cablegram forwarded from Hongkong had been received, sent the following despatch: