The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-06
Copyrighted. 1898, by the Associated Press.

Copyrighted 1898, by the Associated PresA
OFF SANTIAGO, Monday, July AFTER Z
chase of sixty miles to the westward, the Brooklyn,
closely followed by the Oregon, overhauled the Girls
tobal Colon after she had ashore and hauled
down her flag. The captain of the Brooklyn went
board of her, and the commander of the Spanish
mored cruiser came forward to surrender and was
taken on board the New York, which came an hour
after the Brooklyn and Oregon had completed the
capture Of the Crisobal Colon. The latter was not
seriously damaged though she was struck several
times by shots from the Brooklyn and Oregon.
During the chase clever maneuver of Commo-
dore Schleys in heading due west to Cape Caney,
while the Cristoba Colon had taken more southerly
direction with much greater distance to cover
dered the Spaniard's escape impossible.
There seems to be no doubt that the Cristobal Co
lon and perhaps the three other Spanish armored
cruisers, would have escaped had it not been for tho
prompt action of Commodore Schey. The Brooklyn,
his flagship, alone was in position TO attack the
Spanish vessels they left the harbor and the COM
modore steamed directly toward them and engaged
all four cruisers nicting great damage upon them.
The Oregon was the first to join the Brooklyn, and
afterward the Iowa. Indiana Texas and Vixen closed
around the Spaniards, all pouring in deadly fire,
but from the beginning to the end of the fight the
Brooklyn, Oregon and Gloucester took the most i'm.
portant part in the destruction of the enemy.
One man. George Fl. Ellis was killed on board the
Brooklyn. His head was blown off by she'll One
other man. j. Burns was injured on board of her.
The Brooklyn was struck half dozen times, bnt
no injury was done to any of the other American
ships.
Cervera Makes Fatal Mistake.
Admiral Cervera held a consultation with his
officers before sailing out of the harbor of Santiago
de Cuba and by small majority the was agreed
upon. The minority said that destruction was sure,
many of the iremen had mutnied and the best
men in the feet were out by serving the guns
in the shore batteries.
Early ON the morning of the sortie careful obser.
vatons were taken Of the Admiral Cervera de.
cded upon taking the westward course with Manzan-
illo Cienfuegos, or II possible Havana, the port to
be reached. He would have gone east but for the
sighting of large transport feet off Siboney, and
the that convoy of war vessels was still
with the troops
As matter Of fact. there was no war vessel larger
than a converted yacht. except the New York, that
could have DISTRACTED Admiral Cerveras escape east.
Ward. Naval men here that the Spanish YES
sells could have doubled or sunk the New York and
escaped. had the eastward course been chosen.
1t was feared for time by many that some of
the sailors ana Ofneefs who swan ashore from the
Vzcaya, the Almirante Oquendo and the Maria Te-
resa killed BY the insurgents who were seen in
the chaparral the beach This could not be YER
flied at this writing, accurate estimate Of the
loss to the Spanish fleet was obtainable
1t is claimed that shell killed 100 men ON the
Vizcaya, raking the vessel fore and aft.
Schley Conducted the Fight.
WASHINGTON, July 5.-The navy department.
had no additional details on the annihilation of the
Spanish fleet, and it said that the dispatches
from Sampson and Watson giving the facts were not
likely 10 be followed with more minute details ex.
cept through the mail. In the absence of both samp-
son aud Watson, the direction Of the fight would have
fallen TO Commodore Schley, and being in the heat
of the engagement the flagship Brooklyn. it seems
probable that he gave the signals by which the Amer
lean ships unanswered and selected their various
points Of attack. The department officials feel the
sentiments Of gratitude for all the officers par.
tcpatng in the great battle il felt that each Of