The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-07-09
EVANS DESCRIBES THE FIGHT
ENEMY'S SHIPS BE.1 UTIFULLY SPACED AS THEY LEFT HARBOR.

Impossible for the BattIeship Iowa to
 Ram Any of Them Owing to Their
 Superior speed-spanish Torpedo Sent
 Within a Few Feet of Her Head-A Terrific Fight While It Lasted.
 Copyright, 1898, The Associated Press.l
 Off Santiago de Cuba, July ', per The Associated Press dispatch boat Daunt- less, via Port Antonio, Jamaica, July s, by way of Kingston, Jamaica, July 5, 3:30 p. m.-The battleship Iowa was the first ship to see the Spanish fleet coming out of the harbor. Somebody on the bridge shouted: What's that black thing coming In the harbor?" A moment later the Iowa's crew was at general quarters. The signal was hoist ed that the enemy's ships were com ing out. A gun was fired to attract the attention of the fleet at 9:33 a. m. Fighting Bob' Evans, the commander of the Iowa, was sitting in his cabin, talking to his son, cadet on the Massachusetts, who, luckily, had been left behind in picket launch when the Massachusetts went to Guantanamo to coal at dawn. Captain Evans account of the battle, as told in the cabin of the Iowa to a correspondent of The Associated Press is intensely interest," ing. He said:
 At the time general quarters was sounded, the engine bell rang full speed ahead and I put the helm to starboard and the Iowa crossed the bows of the Infanta Maria Teresa, the first ship out. As the Spanish admiral swung to the westward the twelve-inch shells from the forward turret of the Iowa seemed to strike him fair in the bow and the fight was a spectacle. AS the squad ron came out in column, the ships beautifully spaced as to distance and gradually increasing their speed to thirteen knots, it was superb. The Iowa kept up a steady fire from her heavy guns. In the meantime the Ore gon, Indiana, Brooklyn and Texas were doing excellent work with their heavy guns.
 T a very short space of time the enemy's ships were all clear of the har- Dor mouth and it became evidently impossible for the Iowa to ram either the first or the second ship on account of their speed. The range was 2Oo0 yards from the leading ship. The 's ba1y ;ot to the starboard and the entire star board broadside was poured into the Infanta Maria Teresa. The helm was then quickly shifted to port and the ship headed across the stern of the Teresa in an effort to head off the AL mirante Oquendo. All the time the en- zines were driving at full speed ahead. A perfect torrent of shells from the enemy passed over the smokstacks and superstructure, but none struck the ship.
 The Cristobal Colon being much faster than the rest of the Spanish ships, passed rapidly to the front in an effort to escape. In passing the Iowa the Colon placed two six-inch shells fairly in our starboard bow One passed through the dispensary, wreck ing the latter and bursting on the berth deck, doing considerable damage. The other passed through the side at the water line with the rotterdam, where it still remains. As 1t was now obviously impossible to ram any of the Spanish ships on account of their su- perior speed, the Iowa's helm was put to the starboard and she ran a course parallel with the enemy. Being then abreast of the Almirante Oauendo, at a distance of HOO yards, the Iowa's en- tire battery, including the rapid fire guns, was opened on the Oquendo. The punishment was terrific. Many twelve and eight inch shells were seen to ex- plode inside of her and smoke came out through her matches. Two 12-inch shells from the Iowa pierced the Almi- rante Oouendo at the same moment, one forward and the other aft. The Oquendo seemed to stop her engines for moment and lost headway but she immediately resumed her speed and gradually drew ahead of the Iowa and came under the terrific fire of the Ore- gon and Texas.
 At this moment the alarm of "tor- pedo boats" was sounded and two tor pedo boat destroyers were discovered on the Iowa's starboard quarter at a distance of 4,000 yards. Fire was at once opened on them with the after battery and 12-inch shell cut the stern of one destroyer squarely off As this shell struck. a small torpedo boat fired back at the battleship, sending shell within a few feet of my head. I said to Executive Officer Rogers That little chap has got lot of cnaek.' Rogers shouted back He shoots very well all the same We'll up among the advancing cruisers splitting shots at one and then at another was the little Gloucester, shooting first at a cruiser and then at a torpedo boat and hitting head wherever she saw It. The The marvel was that she was not de- stroyed by the rain of shells.
 ''In the meantime the Vizcaya was slowly drawing abeam of the Iowa, and for the space of fifteen minutes it was give and take between the two ships. The Vizcaya fired rapidly but wildly, not one shot striking the Iowa. while the shells from the Iowa were tearing great rents in the sides of the Vizcaya. As the latter passed ahead of the Iowa she came under the murderous fire of the Oregon. At this time the Infanta ha ia and r., n,,,a,,