The evening times., 1898-07-29

the following are given out:. ---a $500.
United States Steamer Vixen.
Guantanamo, Cuba. July T. 1895.
Sir: have the honor to make the fol-
lowing report. as to the part taken by
the U. 8. s. Vixen. in the engagement
\ witt, the Spanish feet under the. command
Of Admiral cervera,, during the morning
and afternoon Of Sunday, July ;. 1888:
Between 9:35 and 9:45- a. m. the Vixen
was at a point about four miles to the
westward Of MORO. and at a distance OF
about one and half miles south of the
shore line. At about $40 Il was reported
to me that an explosion had taken place
in the entrance of Santiago harbor. I
went on deck and almost Immediately
sighted the leading vessel Of the Spanish
fleet. standing out of the entrance. Some
of the vessels Of our fleet were closing in
toward Morro and firing.
The Vixen was heading toward the
Moro. The engines were ordered ahead
at full speed and the helm put hard-a-
port. the object being to cross ahead Of
the leading Spanish vessel and thus not
obstruc; the gun fire Of our own fleet, the
shells from which soon began to fall
! about the position we had just left.
The leading Spanish vessel opened fire
on this vessel with her starboard bow
guns the projectiles from which passed
over US. all being aimed too high. esti-
mate the number OF shots fired at us at
this time to have been between five and
ten.
AS the Vixen gathered headway her
| head came to about S. by E., opening the
Brooklyn up about two points on our port
bow. Steadied her and steamed on about
| this course until we had reached posi-
ton about a mile to the 3d. and wd. Of
| the Brooklyn, which was now turning
with port helm and firing her guns
they bore on the enemy's vessels. AT $50
hoisted signal No. s52. The course was
then ordered changed to W.S.w.. the in.
tention being TO steer parallel course
| to that of the Spanish fleet. By some
| mistake the Quartermaster steadied the
helm on S.W. by s.. which was soon
discovered. but not until the Vixen had
! increased her distance of shore by per-
J haps another half mile. The course
! W.S.W. was again ordered. and when
| steadied on 1t We were at an estimated
distance of about S miles. from the shore
| From about 10:15 the courses and times
of changing were as folfo&s: AT 1o:l5
| changed course to w.1-2S.; at 1856 to
| NV. by N; at 11:0p. w.N.w.: at Hos.
W. by N: at 1l:1O. NV. by W.; at ILLS,
w. by N; at 1l:30. W. by s.; at 1:50, W.
by N. All these courses were by the
| steering compass. and the speed was es-
timated from IL to u I-e knots per hour.
Times roted are by deck clock. which
was i've minutes fast OF watch time used
| in the notes enclosed.
Seeing that the Spanish vessels were
out of range of our guns. while We were
well within range of theirs, we reserved
| our fire.
! About Hos o'clock having approached
! within range of the Vizcaya. we opened
| fire with our starboard battery at an eIe.
ba
| guns and extreme elevation for the l.
! Founders. Continued the fire for six min
utes, when. seeing that the ensign of the
| Vizcaya was not flying, at u:12 O'Clock
ordered cease firing Expended twenty
| seven 6-pounders A. p shells and eight
cen 1-pounder common shells
| After passing Aserraderos. the course
was held at from west by north to west
by south heading for the point on the
| western horizon. Average speed about
| twelve to thirteen and one-half knots. ay-
| erage number of revolutions los per min
ute. average steam pressure 122 I-e
| pounds.
port and starboard bows. respectively
| and were gradually dropping the Vixen
astern as was the Cristobal Colon. which
was running closer in shore. About 12:a5
| the Oregon opened fire on the Colon as
did also the Brooklyn. feeling their way
up tosthe range. which was apparently
obtained after the fourth or fifth shot.
About 1:20 the Oregon and Brooklyn head
| ed in shore about four points. About I:2s
| the Texas hoisted signal. Enemy has
| surrendered. This signal was repeated
| to the New York by the Vixen. At 2:aO
Vixen stopped of Rio Tarquino. In the
vicinity of the Oregon and Brooklyn The
| Cristobal Colon was close inshore. bows
| on the beach. her colors down. lying on
he a q NJ har Sto
1 have the honor to enclose a COPY of
| notes, taken during the chase by my
| orders upon the suggestion of Lieut.. Har-
| low. These notes were written by Assist
ant Paymaster Doherty, the Incident.
and times were given by Lieut. Harlow.
whose watch was five minutes slow of
deck time. The times taken after 1880
are accurate, those taken before that
time are estimated and may be in error
few minutes.
Enclosed is a sketch showing positions
Of vessels at various times. 1t Is taken
from chart taken from the Cristobal
Colon after the surrender and Is enlarged
four times. All courses are true. In con-
clusion. wish to call to your attention
the cooness and strict attention to duty
Of both officers and men. Very respect
fully. ALEX. SHARP, JR.,
Lieutenant Commanding.
10 tuc SOnIuduuer-ln-Cnlel OnlIeQ states
Naval Forces, North Atlantic Station
IA Enc.-First enclosure notes taken by
Lieut.. Harlow; second enclosure, report
of Lieut. Harlow. executive officer; third
enclosure, tracing Of Vixen's course:
fourth enclosure. list of officers and crew
on board during engagement.]
United States Steamer Resolute,
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, July L., 1S9S
Sir: l have the honor to make the fol-
lowing report of the operations of this
ship on Sunday July 8:
Arriving on Santiago at 8 a. M, I re-
ported in person on board the flagship to
the chief of staff, and from him received
orders to remain in the vicinity until fur
ther orders. While lying to the north
east of the line, just to the eastward of
the Indiana, we sighted the leading ves-
sci Of the Spanish fleet coming out The
same time the Iowa fired a shot
We at once headed the ship to the east
ward. but had not got her steady on her
course before 10-inch shell struck about
forty feet from the starboard side of the
ship abreast the pilot house, and a min
ute later a 3-inch shell struck about sew
enty feet astern the ship. The next five
minutes. number OF projectiles struck
the water beyond and about her.
Making all the speed possible headed
for Altares, in order to communicate with
the commander-in-chief. Before reach
ing Aitares 1 met the flagship New York
coming to the westward, and communi-
Gated to her that the Spanish fleet was
coming out.
Having then received your orders to
proceed to Guantanamo, headed IN that
direction, signaling to the Harvard as
we passed Altares that the Spanish fleet
nr~k