The part about the _Good Hope's_ after-funnel split asunder, and a column of flame, sparks, and debris was blown up to a height of about two hundred feet. She never fired her guns again. Total destruction must have followed. Sir Christopher Cradock and nine hundred brave sailors went down in the stormy deep. The other ships raced past her in the darkness. The _Monmouth_ was in great distress. She left the line after a while, and turned back, steaming with difficulty to northwest. She had ceased firing. The vessels had been travelling at a rate which varied from seven to seventeen knots. The _Glasgow_, now left alone, eased her speed in order to avoid shells intended for the _Monmouth_. The Germans dropped slowly back. The _Scharnhorst_ and the _Gneisenau_ now concentrated their salvos upon the _Glasgow_. The range was about 4,500 yards. A shell struck the second funnel: five others hit her side at the waterline, but fortunately not in dangerous places. Luce, her captain, since the flagship was no more, was senior officer. He brought his vessel round and moved rapidly back. [Sidenote: _Monmouth_ in distress.] [Sidenote: Enemy is signalling in Morse.] [Sidenote: _Glasgow_ draws away.] [Sidenote: The _Monmouth_ finally capsizes.] The _Monmouth_ had now fallen away to a north-easterly course. Luce stood by signalling. Could she steer north-west? She was making water badly forward, Captain Brandt answered, and he wanted to get stern to sea. The enemy were following, Luce signalled again. There was no reply. The _Glasgow_ steamed nearer. The _Monmouth_ was in a sinking condition. Her bows were under water, and the men were assembled at the stern. The sea was running very high. Rain and mist had come on, though a moon was now rising. The enemy had altered course, and were approaching in line abreast about 6,000 yards away. A light kept twinkling at regular intervals from one of the ships. They were signalling in Morse, and evidently were forming plans of action. Firing was still proceeding intermittently. It was about half-past eight. Captain Luce could see nothing for it but to abandon the _Monmouth_ to her fate. To rescue her crew, under such conditions, was impossible, while to stand by and endeavour to defend her would be folly. The _Glasgow_ was not armoured, and could not contend with armoured vessels. Of the two guns she possessed capable of piercing the enemy's armour, one had been put out of action ten minutes after the start. If she stayed and fought to the end, 370 good lives, in addition to the sufficiently heavy toll of 1,600 in the _Good Hope_ and the _Monmouth_, would be needlessly sacrificed. The _Canopus_, moreover, must be warned. She was coming up from the south to sure destruction. She could hardly be expected successfully to combat the whole German squadron. Nevertheless, it must have been with heavy hearts that the men of the _Glasgow_ turned away to seek safety in flight.