Infanta Maria Teresa led the breakout and turned toward USS Brooklyn, Schley's flagship, as Cervera tried to draw the American squadron into a close fight. Heavy shells and concentrated fire cut her fire main, devastated the bridge crew, and set the ship ablaze, while Brooklyn survived more than twenty hits with only two casualties. Cervera signalled the other Spanish ships to continue west while his flagship maintained the diversion. Although his pre-battle language promised death before surrender, his decision to beach the wreck shows an admiral trying to preserve lives once the attack had failed.
Chapter · 1:16:43-1:19:20
Infanta Maria Teresa's sacrificial attack at Santiago
Cervera drove his burning flagship toward USS Brooklyn to draw American fire and open an escape route, then grounded her to save surviving crewmen.