The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-13

where she went ashore. The Brooklyn
did not stop. but went on the chase af-
ter the Cristobal Colon, the Oregon
closing rapidly up and following her
The other vessels at this time were
from six to eight miles behind and Ad-
miraI SIMPSONS flagship, the New
York, was not in sight. At HOS the
Brooklyn slightly injured by the hail
of Spanish shells, stopped firing and the
chase began. The men came upon deck
and began to cheer, never needing the
whistle of the Spanish shells. They
cheered for Schley and Clark and the
Oregon, and the Oregon's men returned
the cheer.
Up to the mast head forward went
pennant. Remember the Maine" read
the signal officer. Tell them we
have said Schley and there was a
roar as the answer went up. The chase
was in full force at 1l:55, the men out
on the decks watching with great in
terest and as happy as larks. The
Colon, at a distance of five miles hug
ged the shore, but Schley ordered the
Oregon to follow her and then, with the
Brooklyn he made a straight course for
Cape Cruz around which she would
have to steer on long detour to get
away.
All three ships were pumping along
at great speed, the smoke pouring out
of their tunnels. In an hour the Brook
Ign had gained appreciably and so had
the Oregon, and Captain Clark of the
latter ship signalled over "A strange
ship looking like an Italian in the dis
lance he alluded 10 the IdCI JneL the
Cr1StObal Colon was bought from ltaIy-
Schley. sitting on the edge of the for
ward eight inch turret, swinging his legs
ana happy, SAID: -IeII the oregon she can
try one of those 13-inch railroad trains on
There was a terrible roar as the big
shell went by the Brooklyn, a moment or
suspense and watching and then hearty
cheer as the big thing struck the water
close astern of the Colon, four miles away.
Another was tried. which reached the
mark, and there were more cheers; Then
the Brooklyn opened her forward and
starbOard 8-inch guns and one shell was
seen to go through the Colon at the TOP
of her armOred belt.
AT :O5 p. m. both the Brooklyn and the
oregon We're pounding away at the Colon,
and in another ten minutes, after return
ing the fire in a desultory sort of way
and rapidly losing ground. she turned to
ward shore. At 1:15 she hauled down her
nag. With yells OF delight the men pour
ed out OF the turrets OF the Two shlps
and when a bomb went up at the main
and did not stop for ten minutes.
At this time the only ships in sight
the 1eXaS, ABOUT seven miIeS away. Inc
New York was not in sight. AS the big
Of the New York could be seen coming
over the horizon from the east, but she
was lowered from the Brooklyn and Cap
tain Cook went aboard to receive the sur
Tender. me rear ad az IN charge sa5 "a
tionauy to Commodore SchIey. We We're
While Captain Cooks boat was coming
alongside the Spanish captiVeS shouted
ed Brave SpaniardO"' (Sic). While
Captain Cook was returning to the Brook
Ign, the New York, with Admiral Samp-
Brooklyn and the prize, and ordered Cap
tain Cook to send the prisoners on board
the New York.
Commodore Schley, seeing this, mega
phOned over, Z request the honor of
ceiving the surrender of the officers of the
CristObal Colon"
No answer was vouchsafed him from
the New York and the ship that had not
fired a shot took the honor. Commodore
Schley then raised the pennant "A glOri-
GUS victory has been wOn-details later"
The answer from the New Y ork was, Re
port your casualties.
The Brooklyn was hit 26 times, but only
one man, C. H. Ellis, was killed, and only
one man, J. H. Burns, q, fireman, wound
ed.
The Colon went ashore at the place
where the Nirginius expedition tried to
land and was captured years ago. The
chase had lasted four hours and the
had saved the United States fleet from the
stain of allowing the Spanish vessels to
escape-the Oregon and Brooklyn by their
splendid chase and great gunnery, the
Texas by her determined work the first
two ships and the Gloucester by her
marvellous attack on the deStrOyers.
The Almirante OquendO at 1880 o'clock
in the evening turned over her side
and is now being beaten to pieces by the
waves. Her crew sCuttled her before
hauling down her flag. The paymaSter
divided up the money on board and all
the Spanish sailors were well supplied.