noon
Twelve cars were derailed , and more than a hundred and twenty people , mostly women and children , killed . While people were repeating this news to one another with white faces and trembling lips , the Spanish squadron was taking position and preparing to attack . The English squadron moved outside the Spanish ships , and stood off and on under easy steam . At precisely noon the white flag was lowered from the mast-head of the Spanish flag-ship and the Spanish flags were hoisted by all of the vessels . Immediately afterwards the `` Numancia '' delivered her broadside full upon the Coney Island battery . Instantly the flag from the general 's station was flung out , the signal-gun was discharged , and from all the sea-coast batteries the firing began . The position chosen by the attacking vessels was about one and a half miles to the south of Plumb Inlet .