The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-27
WHAT SAMPSON SAYS
Official Report on the De-
StruCtion of Cervera.
DESCRIBES THE BLOCKADE
SchIey's Report Accompanies
That of the Admiral.

Washington. July 2e.-The official re-
Do, CT AGmT1:aI Sampson up III the en-
gagement In which Cervera's feet was
destroyed has been received at the navy
department and given to the press. Inc
portion referring to the actual progress
OF the engagement is substantially mat
Ter which has been fully detailed hith-
erto by the ASSOC aIed Press. The con-
GLIDING portion. relating largely TO the
conduct Of the blockade before the battle
and to the results and effects Of the fam
Gus conflict, containing much minute in
formation hith:rtO unpublished. IS as
follows:
u regard this complete and important
victory over the Spanish forces as the
successful finish of several weeks Of ar
duous and close blockade, so stringent
and effective during the night that the
enemy was deferred from making the at
tempt to escape At night, and deliberately
elected to make the attempt in the day
light. This was the case, 1 was informed
by the commanding officer of the Crlsto-
bal Colon.
manner in which this was accomplished.
The harbor Of Santiago is naturally easy
TO blockade-there being but one entrance
and that a narrow one, and the deep Wa
tor extending close up 10 the shore line,
presenting no difficulties Of navigation
outside of the entrance. At the time OF
my arrival before the port-June 1.-The
moon was at its fun and there was suftl-
cient light during the night TO enable
any movement outside of the entrance TO
be detected. But with the waning Of the
moon and the coming Of dark nights
there was opportunity for the enemy 70
escape. or for his torpedo boats to make
an attack upon the blOckading vessels. 1t
was ascertained with fair conclusiveness
that the Merrimac, so calamity taken
into the channel on June 3, did not OBJ
struct It. / therefore maintained the
blockade as follows: To the batteships
was assigned the duty, in turn. of light
ing the channel Moving up to the port,
at a distance of from one to two miles
from the Morro-dependent uon the condi-
ton of the atmosphere-they threw a
searchlight beam directly up the channel
and held ii steadily there This lighted
up the entire breadth of the channel for
half a mile inside the entrance so brill
iantly that the movements of small boats
could be detected.
why the batteries never opened fire
upon the searchlights of the ships was
always a matter of surprise to me; but
they never did Stationed close to the
entrance of the port were three picket
launches, and at a little distance farther
out three small picket vessels-converted
yachts-and, when they were available,
one or two of our torpedo boats. With
this arrangement ther5 was at least a
certainty that nothing could &c out Of
the harbor undecided. After the arrival
of the army, when the situation forced
upon the Spanish admiral a decision, our
vigilance increased. The night-blockading
distance was reduced TO two miles for
ell vessels and a battleshp was placed
alongside the searchHght ship, with her
broadside trained upon the channel in
readiness TO fire the instant a Spanish
ship should appear.
The commanding officers merit the
greatest praise for the perfect manner
IN which they entered into this plan and
put it into execution. The Massachusetts
which, according to routine. was sent
that morning to coal at Guantanamo. like
the others, had spent weary nights upon
this work, and deserved a better fate
than to be absent that morning. I en-
close for the information of the depart
ment copies of orders and memorandum
issued from time to time. relating to the
manner of maintaining the blockade.
When all the work was done so well
it is difficult to discriminate in praise.
The object of the blockade Of Cevvera's
squadron was fully accomplished. and
each individual bore we'll his part in it
the commodore in command on the second
division. the captains of ships their Of
ficers and men. he fire of the battleships
was powerful and destructive. and the
resistance of the Spanish squadron was.
in great part. broken almost before they
had got beyond the range, of their own
forts. The fine speed OF the Oregon en-
ahled her to take front position in the
chase, and the Cristobal Colon did not
give up until the Oregon had thrown
B-inch shell beyond her. This perform
ance adds 10 the already brilliant record
OF this fine battleship and speaks highly
OF the skill and care with which her ad-
miiahie efficiency has been maintained
during a service unprecedented in the
history of Vessels of her class
The Bro7kyn's westerly blockade po-
siticn gave her an advantage in the
chase which she maintained to the end.
and she employed her fine battery with
telling effect. he Texas and the New
York We're gaining on the chase during
the last hour. and had any accident be-
fallen the Brooklyn or the Oregon would
have certainly overhauled the Cristobal
Colon. From the moment the Spanish
snip exhausted her first burst Of snesd
the result was never in doubt. She fell
in fact FAR below what might reasonably
have been expected OF her. Careful
measurements Of time and distance give
her an average speed-from the time she
cleared the harbor mouth until the time
she was run on shore at Rio Tarquino-
OF 49, knots. Neither the New York nor
the Brooklyn stopped 10 couple up their
forward engine, but ran The chase o,,f
with one pair. getting steam. Of course
a. rapidly as possible on all boilers To
stop TO couple up the forward engines
would have meant a delay Of fifteen
minutes, or four miles IN the chase.
Several Of the ships were STRUCK. Tho
Brooklyn more often than the others hl-
very slight material INJURY was done. the
greatest being aboard the Iowa. our loss
was one man killed and one Wounded
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