Overheating may have caused severe damage?

Hi I know very very little about cars and I'd appreciate any help about the following situation. I drive a 94 Ford Escort. Last night the car would not start for me on a number of occasions. After 15 mins or so if would however. I presumed it was battery trouble. The problem got worse. I came to a traffic lights and stopped, because the car had no momentum it just cut out. I couldn't start it again this time for 20 mins. Then it cut out again, this time however I couldn't get it started. There was not a wimper from the starter - nothing, however the lights and radio continued to work.

I noticed that the temperature guage was through the roof but saying that I didn't smell anything or feel any heat. When I checked out the engine it gave the appearence as if someone had sprayed it with a rusty coloured paint. When I tried to pour water in the radiator it leaked. As I said I know nothing about cars but I thing the 'gasket' is damaged. Also there were some acid decay around the battery.

Over the last week or so I have had a problem with the clutch. What happens is the car starts off too slow in 1st gear. This problem ahas got steadily worse. So I have been struggling with that - perhaps that has something to do with the current problem.

Also for a good few months the accelorator has been out of control intermittently. For example it sometiems races ahead, so I could be at a yield sign in neutral or first gear and the engine would be roaring, also the accelorator would 'go by itslef' when driving. So this problem may also be doing damage.

So baiscally after the background I've giving you in layman's terms - I'd like to know what needs to be done? i.e. is the engine fininshed, is the cost factor too high, also what actually happened to the car, where the other problems I mentioned related to what happened last night and finally what in fact causes these other problems?

Thanks for your time!

Really Appreciated!

Tony

First get the leak fixed. Then see what happens. The rusty spray on your engine sounds like rusty coolant which means it's way overdo for an antifreeze change. This is a wild guess but the racing engine you heard could have been the cooling fan running at high speed. May have sounded like the engine. Fix the leak and see what happens.