Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-07-14
SCHLEY GETS CREDIT
The Ofiloial Reports Tells How the
Battle Was Fought
SCHLEY ALWAYS At The FRONT.
Aao Was la Command and Directed tho
Great Naval Fight The BROOKE
iyn Was IN the Thick
Of tho Battle.

OF Santiago, Cuba, July u2.-Fol-
lowing 10 the official account OF the
engagement ut the Spanish squadron,
as seen from the United States steam
or Vixen.
At 0:45 o. M. the quartermaster on
duty reported that tug was coming
out OF the harbor. Examination
proved the vessel to be Spanish
cruiser nying large Spanish flag and
a smaller flag at the masthead, which
was thought TO be the admiral's flag,
as II was on the leading ship.
The Vixen at this time was lying
about two miles oil shore and four
miles 10 the westward OF Moro cas-
tie, and from this they were never
out of sight of the chase and was
within two miles OF the destruction
OF three armored cruisers,
Word was at once sent to the COM
mandiug officer, and add hands were
ordered to quarters. Full speed was
ordered, and the helm was put TO port
to stand further off shore and leave
the Brooklyn's fire line unobstructed,
The Brooklyn had hoistcd signal
that the enemy was attempting to es.
cape, and the Vixen, noticing that
the leading ship was turning to the
westward, signalled that the enemy
was attempting to escape in that di'
rection.
The feet at this time had resumed
its station and the vessels began rap
idly to close in toward the south Of
the harbor, concentrating terrific
long range fire upon the enemy.
There was no doubt that the enemy
was coming out. There was severa
Nnxious moments before 1t could bt
determined whether the Spanish ad
miral would order his squadron to
dispense and attempt to breal
through the blockading feet, oil
would keep his ships together. ThI
leading vessel had changed her cours,
TO the west, when a second vessel APP
peared, followed shortly by the Girls
'toibal Colon. The Colon was easily
identified because her mast was be.
tween her two smokestacks. The
other ships could not so easily be
identified, as the Vizcaya, the Amir
ante 0quendo and Infanta Maria Te'
resa had the same appearance.
Meanwhile, the fleet approached the
mouth Of the harbor, and when tn,
fourth vessel appeared and turned t.
The west it became evident that AID.
miral Cervera had reconnoitered the
field and selected the west as the
weakest part Of the blockade, because
the eastern current had drifted the
heaviest ships to the east of their
customary positions. The western
portion of the blockading circle was
defended by the Vixen and the Brook,
lyn. The Brooklyn headed north, APP
parently intending to intercept the
head of the enemys column. As the
leading ships of the enemy's column
appeared the western battery opened
a heavy fire, apparently directed at
the eastern and central ships of the
blockading squadron. At 10 a, m. the
Brooklyn was nearest and engaged
the two leading ships, which we're
close together, with an interval OF
three-fourths OF mile between the
second ship and the Cristobal Colon.
At 10:45 the Brooklyn turned with q
port helm, making complete turn
to east, SO that she was again head
ing west The enemy's leading ships
were on her starboard quarter. ana
the fourth vessel was coming up
astern rapidly. At this time the Vix-
en- was west of the leading ship and
was steaming on parallel course.
For the next fifteen minutes the
Brooklyn received and returned the
fire of the two leading ships and an
sional shot from the CrstoDal Co.
len.
At 1O;3O the chase was well fo1 med,
the positions being as follows: The
enemy's ships In column, between Ca
banas and Guayacbon, the Brooklyn
steering a parallel course mile dis.
tant, with the Oregon two miles
southeast The other American ves-
sells were obscured by the smoke.
At 1888 the Colon and the leading
chips of the enemy were close to-
gether, just clear of the Brooklyn's
bow, as viewed from the Vixen the
Cristobal Colon gaining speed and
closing up. 1t was apparent, that the
leading vessel was disabled and ON
fire, as she dropped rapidly astern.
She apparently headed for the shore
off Juan Gonzales.
The Oregon, forging ahead capital.
ly, engaged the fourth ship. AS she
passed, two smaller Spanish vessels,
probably the Furor and the Ptuton,
to the westward of Cabanas, engaged
the Iowa and the Texas, though an.
Parently on fire. But the leading yes
aels were too far to the west to be
identified accurately. The Indiana
wes in sight little to the west OF |
MORO castle.
Az 1894 the Cristobal Colon was