The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-09


tThe range at this time was 2,00O yards
from the leading ship.
"The Iowa's helm was Immediately put
hard to the starboard and the entire star
board broadside was poured into the In
fanta Maria Teresa. The helm was then
quickly shifted to port and the ship head
ed across the stern of the Teresa in an ef-
fort to head off the Oquendo.
IAN the time the engines were driving
at full speed ahead. A. perfect torrent
of shells from the enemy passed over the
smokestacks ana supersructure of the
ship. but none struck her.
1.-THE Cristobal Colon. being much fast
er than the rest of the Spanish ships,
passed rapidly to the front in an effort
to escape.
I'm passing the Iowa the Colon placed two
G-iuch shells fairly in our starboard bow.
One passed through The cofferdam and ais
pensary wrecldng the later and burst
ing on the berth deck. doins considerable
damage, The other passed through
the side at The water line,
in the coTerdam, where it san remains.
"As it was obviously impossible to ram
any of tho Spanish ships on account of
their superior speed, the Iowas helm was
put to the starboard and she ran on
course parallel with the enemy
Being then abreast of the Almiranie
Oauendo, at distance of loo yards, the
Iowa's entire battery, including The rapid
fire guns, was opened on the Oquendo.
The punishment was terrible Many u
and S-inch shells were seen TO explode
inside of her and smoke came out through
her hatches.
Two 12-inch shells from the Iowa pierre
ed the Almirante Oquendo at the same
moment, one forward and the other aft.
The Oquendo seemed to stop her engines
for a moment and lost headWay, but she
Immediately resumed her speed and grad
ually drew ahead of the Iowa and came
under the terrific fire of the Oregon ana
Texas.
cat this moment the alarm of torpedo
boat was sounded, and iwo torpedo boat
destroyer5 were discovered ON the star
| board quarter at distance of 400 yards.
Fire was at once opened on them with
the after battery, and a Finch shell cut
the stern of one destroyer squareiy Off
As The shell struck a small torpedo boat
| fired back at the battleshp sending a
| shell within q few feet OF my head.
| "I said to Executive officer Rogers:
| That little chap has got a lot of cheek.
| "Rogers shouted back: She shoots very
wen, all the same
''Well up among the advancing cruisers,
| splitting shots at one, and then at an
other, was the little Gloucester shooting
| first at a cruiser and then at a torpedo
| boat, and hitting a head wherever she
saw it. The marvel was that she
was not destroyed by the rain of
shells.
I'm the meantime the Vizcaya was slow
| ly drawing abeam of che Iowa, ana for
81, ft oritye
| and take. between the two ships. The
| Vizcaya fired rapidly but wildly. not one
! shot taking effect on the Iowa, while the
| shells from the Iowa were tearing great
| rents in the sides of the Nizcaya.
''As the latter passed ahead of the Iowa
| she came under the murderous fire of the
| Oregon. Al this time the Maria Teresa
and Almrante Oquendo, leading the enc
mys column, were seen TO be heading for
! the beach and in flames
''The Texas, Oregon and Iowa pounded
them numerically. They ceased to reply
| to the fire and in a few moments the
| Spanish cruisers were a mass of flames
! and on the rocks with their colors down,
! the Teresa flying a white flag a the fore.
The crews of the enemys ships stripped
| themselves and began jumping overheard.
/ One of the smaller magazines exploded.
| Meantime the Brooklyn and the Crstobal
| Colon were exchanging compliments in
/ .
! and the oregon. with her locomotive speed
was hanging well on the Colon, also pay
| ing attention to the Vizcoya.
| The Teresa and the OQuendo were in
flames on the beach just twenty minutes
| after the first shot was tred.
Fifty minutes after the first shot was
| fired the Vzcaya put her helm to port
| with a great burst Of flame from the after
part of the snip, and headed slowly for the
! rocks al Acceraderos, where she found her
| last resting place.
| LAS it was apparent that the Iowa could
not possibly catch the Cristobal Colon
! and that the Oregon and Brooklyn un-
/ doubtedly would, and as the fast New
| York was also on her trail, l decided that
| the calls Of humanity should be answered
! and attention given to the twelve or fif-
| teen hundred Spanish officers and men
! who had struck their colors 10 the Ameri-
| can squadron commanded by Admiral
| Sampson.
Il, therefore. headed for the wreck Of
| the Vizcaya, now burning furiously fore
and aft When l was in as far as the
! depth of water would admit, l lowered
| all my boats and sent them at once to
| the assistance of the unfortunate men,
who were being drowned by dozens or
| roasted on the decks.
| Il soon discovered that the insurgent
! Cubans from the shore were shooting on
men who were struggling in the
! wafer 6iter having surrendered 10
/ US. Immediately put stop
TO this, but 1 could moi put a stop TO the
mutfation of many bodies by the sharks
! inside the reef
! These creatures had become excited by
| the blood from the wounded mixing in the
| water. My boats crew worked manfully,
| and succeeded in saving many of the
wounded from the burning ship.
"Onc man who win be recommended for
| promotion, clambered up the side Of the
| Vizcaya md saved three men from burn
| ing to death.
THE smaller magazines Of the Vizcaya
! were exploding with magnificent cloud ef-
| fects
| "The boats were coming alongside in a
! steady string and willing hands were help
! ing the lacerated Spanish officers and sail
ors on TO the Iowa's quarter deck.
"All the Spaniards Were absolutely with
| out clothes
/ Some had their legs torn off by frag-
| ments OF shells. Others were mutllated
| in every conceivable way.