The age-herald., 1898-07-27

iHg the ships engagemsnt:
 u s. s. Ship Iowa (frst rate), or Sam tlago de Cuba, July 4, 1898.
 sF;-I have the honor to make the fol- lowing report of the engagement of the spanish squadron off the coast of Cuba on the Sd of July:
 l. On the morning of the Sd, when the crew was at quarters for Sunday inspec- ton, the leading vessel of the Spanish squadron was sighted at 9:31 coming out of the harbor of Santiago. Signal 'enemy's snlps coming out was immediately hoisted ana gun fired to attract attention. The cah to quarters was sounded Immediately. the battery made ready for firing and the engines running full speed ahead.
 2 The ships position at this time was the usual blockading station eff the en- trance of the harbor Morro castle bearing apout north and distant about three or four miles. The steam at this time in the boilers was sufficient for a speed of five knots.
 5. After sighting the leading vessel, the Infanta Maria Teresa, Admiral Cervera's 8 nagship, It was observed that she was fol- lowed in succession by the remaining three vessels of the Spanish squadron, the Viz caya, the Cristobal Colon and Almirante Oquendo. Tine. Spanish ships moved at a speed of from to 10 knots, which was steadily increased they cleared the har- bor entrance and stood to the westward. They maintained a distance of about 8C0 yards between vessels. The squadron moved with precision and stations were we'll kept.
 Iowa Opened Fire
 4. Immediately upon sighting the lead ing vessel fire was opened, and the Iowa headed toward the leading Spanish ship. About $40 the first shot was fired from this ship at a distance of about 5000 yards. The course of this vessel was so laid that the range was speedily diminished. number of shots were fired ranges varying between 6O00 and 4,O0O yards. The range was rapidly reduced to 2,500 yards and subsequently, to 2,O00 and to 1,20O yards.
 3. When it was certain that the Maria Teresa would pass ahead of us, the helm was put to starboard and the starboard broadside delivered at a range of 25O1 va ds. The helm was then put to port and the ship headed across the bow of the second ship, and as she drew ahead the helm was agaln put to starboard and she received in turn the full weight of our starboard broadslde at range of about 1,SO0 yards The iowa was again headed off with port helm for the third ship and as she approached the helm was put to starboard until our course was approximately that of the spanish ship In this position at a range or l'4oo wards the fire of the entire battery, ln- cluding rapid-fre guns, was poured lhto the enemy's ship.
 6. AD out lU Q clOCh lile ShSihy e'iPNNN boat destroyers Furor and Fulton were ob- served to have left the harbor and to be following the Spanish squadron. At the time they were observed and in fact most of the time that they were under fire, they were at a distance varying at from 4,ooO to 4, 900 yards. As soon as they ere discovered the secondary battery of the Iowa was turned upon them, while the main battery continued to engage the Vizcaya, Oquendo and Maria Teresa.
 The fire of the main battery of this ship when the range was below 2,5O0 yards was most effective and destructive, and after continuance of this fire for perhap twen- ty minutes 1t was noticed that the Maria Teresa and Oquendo were in flames and were being headed for the beach.
 Their colors ere struck at 1920 a. m and they were beached about eight miles west of Santiago.
 The Iu on Sunk
 I About the same time the fire of this vessel, together with that of the Gloucester and another smaller vessel, proved so de- structive that one of the torpedo boat de- stroyers the Fulton, was sunk, and the Furor was so much damaged that she was run upon the rocks.
 S. After having passed at 10:35 the Oquen- do and Maria Teresa OH fire and ashore, this vessel continued to chase and fire upon the Vizcaya until 10:36, when the signal to cease firing was sounded on board, it hav- ing been discovered that the Vizcaya had struck her colors.
 g. At Il o'clock the Iowa arrived in the vicinity of the Vizcaya, which had been run ashore, and 1t was evident that she could not catch the Colon and that the Brooklyn and New York would Three cutters were hoisted out and sent to the Vizcnya to secure her crew. Our boats sue ceeded in bringing off large number of officers and men of that ships company and in placing many of them on board the torpedo boat Ericsson and the dispatch ves- sel Hist.
 10. About 1:3O the New York passed in chase of the Cristobal Colon, which was endeavoring to escape the Oregon, Brock lyn and Texas.
 Il. We received on board this vessel from the Vizcaya Captain Eulate, commanding officer, and twentythree officers. together with about PAS petty officers and men, of whom thirty-two were wounded. There were also received on board five dead bodies, which were immediately buried with the honors due to their grade.
 Battery Behaved Well
 12. The battery behaved well in all re- spects. The dash-pot of the forward 12- inch gun, damaged in the engagement of the Ed, having been replaced the same day by one of the old daAh-pots, which gave no trouble during thisN engagement
 This ship was struck in the hull on the starboard side during the early part of the engagement by two projectiles of about 6-inch calibre, one striking the hull two or three feet above the actual water line and almost directly on the line of the berth deck, piercing the ship between frames nine and ten, and the other piercing the side and the coffer dam be- tween frames eighteen and nineteen. The first projectile did not pass beyond the interior bulkhead of coffer dam H-43. The hole made by it was large and rag ged, being about sixteen inches in longi- tudinal direction and about seven inches in A vertical direction. It struck with slight inclination aft and perforated the coffer dam buldhead A H-43-45-47. It did not explode and remained in the coffer- dam.
 The second projectile pierced the side or the ship and the cofferdam A-150, the up- ner edge of the hole being immediately helow the top of the cofferdam on the berth deck in compartment A-104. The projectile broke off the hatch plate and combing of the water tank compartment, exploded and perforated the walls of the chain locker The explosion created a small fire, which was promptly extinguished. The hole in the side made by the projectile was about five feet above the water line and about 4u,o or three feet above the berth deck.