Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-07-14

Santiago de Cuba. July 7.-Capt.
Evans of the Iowa, in his story Of tho
bnttle with Cervera'H fleet, says his
ship firsd GIL 70 inch. as eighs-inch, 270
four inch, LOGO six-pound and J20
one. pound shots.
The officers of the Vizcaya saia they
simply could not hold their crews at
the guns, on account Of tho rapid FIRE
poured upon them. The decks were
flooded with water from the fire hose
and blood from the wounded made this
a dark rod. Fragments Of bodies
fioated in this along ths gundeck.
Every instant the crack of exploding
SHELLS told OF new havoc. Ons OF this
12 inch shells from tho Iowa exploded
torpedo in the Vizcaya's bow. blow
ing 81 men against the deck above, who
dropped dead and mangled into the fro
which at once started below.
The torpedoboat Ericsson was sent
by the flagship to the help of the Iowa
10 the rescue of tho Vizcaya's crew.
Her men saw q terrible sight.
FRrenTFur. CARNAGE.
The flames leaning out from the huge
shot holes in the Yizcaya'e sides licked
up the decks, sizzling the flesh of the
wounded, who were lying there shriak.
ing for help. Between the frequent
explosions there came awful cries ana
groans from the men pianed in below.
This carnage was ohirhy due to the
rapility OF the Americans fire. Cor
poral Smith OF the Iowa fred 1876
aimed shots In 80 minutes from four
inch gun. Two shells struck within 10
feet OF Smith and started small fire.
but the corporal went on pumping shots
into the enemy, only stopping to say
they've got IL in for this gun, air."
From two six.pounders 440 shots
were fired 10 so minutes. Up in the
| tops the marines banged away with
| one Founders. too excited to step back
to duck as the shells whistled over
| them. One gunner of secondary bat
terry under 12-inch gun was blinded
| by smoke and saltpstre from the turret,
and his crew were driven off, but plac-
| ing wet handkerchief over his face,
| with holes cut fur his eyes he stuck to
| bis gun. Finally, az the six-pounders
| were 80 close to the eiRht-inch turret
as to make it impossible to stay there
with safety, the men were ordered away
before the big gun was fired. but they
! refused to leave. When the sight-inuh
| gun was fired the concussion blew Two
mea Of the smaller guns' crew 10 feet
from their guns and threw them to the
deck ne deaf as posts Bauk they went
again, however. and were again blown
away and finally had to be dragged
away from their stations. Such bravery
and such logged determination under
the heavy fire were of frequent OCCUR
renee on all the ships engaged.
BUT THEY WE'RE NOT CAUGHT.
During hiH stay on the Iowa, Ad-
miral Csryera endeared himself to all.
After Blanco's order was issued, be
wanted to come out on the night Of
July I'd, but Gen. Linares said, Watt
till to morrow morning. You will catch
them at divine service then. /"
The Spaniards say that no torpedo.
boats ever came out to attack Admiral
| Simpsons fleet. The pluton and
Terror, they say, kept guard evsry
night inside the harbor. .-s
This Indiana was hit only twice.
She fired no armor piercing shells OK
cept from the smokeless powdcr ak.
Founders. The Oregon was hit thrcs
times, twice by fragments of shells.
The Iowa was struck nine times.