The Princeton union., 1898-07-07

I With a rush fully equal to that of the
Spanish flagship, the Almirante Oquep-
do came
Throbbing Toward the Open Sea-
Behind her came the Vizcaya, also
at full speed, while the rear was
brought up by the two torpedo boat
destroyers, the FurOr and Pluton. This
stirring scene, SO dramatic and so un-
expected, quickly put the captain of
every American vessel on his mettle.
'.Gervera's trying to escaped" was the
cry that resounded through the fleet.
Every American vessel quickly weigh
anchor. The engines were started, and
one by one the great American warships
made ready for battle. Every man scam
pered to his gun and the captains, know
ing that Admiral Sampson had gone
along THE coast, eagerly watched - the
Brooklyn, Commodore Schley's flagship.
In a few moments the ResOute was
speeding to the eastward after the New
York, but the advance of the Spanish
fleet was so rapid that our men could not
wait for Admiral Sampson to get back.
Just as the Cristobal Colon was poking
her nose out into the open sea Commo-
dore Schley sent the Brooklyn madly
rushing to the westward to head off Ger
vera's flagship. He ordered the Massa-
chusetts and Oregon to follow after, at
the same time ordering the Indiana. Iowa
and Texas to intercept the other vessels
of the escaping fleet. Then began one of
the greatest sea fights in history.
Complete story of the Battle.
Admiral Sampson this morning set out
to dislodge the Spanish from their works
at Aguadores. where the Michigan troops
were repulsed 'on the line Of the railway
Saturday morning while they were
narchings westward to seize the MORO
uoo 10xxy nm "a
fleet had driven the Spanish from the
guns. 1@E
Our torpedo boats were not with the
fleet, and when Admiral Sampson left
the Moro the battleships and the cruiser
Brooklyn were grouped off the harhor
mouth.
It is not known whether Admiral Ger
vera had blown up the Merrimac or
passed it in single column. His ship. the
Cristobal Colon, glided out of the harbor
and shot to the westward, her two fun
nels and high black bulwarks showing
plainly against the green Of the. hills.
her pennant and the Spanish red and yell
low ensign lashing above, 'r
In a few seconds the American fleet was
in motion, the Indiana, which was clos
est, heading straight in shore to get close
range The Spaniard opened fire with an
11-inch Hontoria and mighty fountains
of water rose above the battleship and
bow. ~-. -
The Indiana replied with her 13-lnch
guns and a moment later let go every
thing she could bring to bear. One OF
the first shells fell on the Spanish cru1s-
ers decks. Ceryera was going past, and
the Indiana rounded to give him a broad
side, and then as the Iowa and the Texas
opened on him, the doomed admiral
turned to the harbor mouth, where the
Ainirante Ocuendo was Just coming into
view. '.' = -.. .r.,> =. % f.
At first one could scarcely believe his
eyes, but when the OQuendo appeared
and steamed swiftly westward into the
smoke and lightning. where Cervera's
flag still flew, it flashed upon US that
there was to be 1..z. T. ,.- b. =.
History-A1alking Indeed.
It was a sublime spectacle Of desper-
ate admiral, who had decided to give bat
tie against overwhelming odds in the open
water rather than remain and blow up
his own ships in the harbor OF the oe-
leaguered city. Cervera's flag was hid
den for a time as he flew westward, his
port broadside emitting flashes and
tongues Of flame, which marked his prog
ress. For the next five minutes ne ran
gauntlet such as no ship had ever run IN
history, and when his consorts We're burn
ing, and he surrendered MS snip: ne sun I'LL
had a gun or two capable of action.
The Indiana fell on the Oquendo, paying
no heed to the Moro battery. whose gun
ners tried hard to protect the cruiser, as
she moved to the westward. Inc Iowa
let Ceryera go on into the hands Of the
Oregon, Massachusetts and Brooklyn and
then turned with the Texas to pound the
Oquendo.
Then every American ship was in action
and smoke shrouded the coast ana bieW
away lazily, revealing geysers ABOUT the
ships where the Spanish shells from the
cruisers and the MORO tore the water.
A ship emerged from the harbor. It
was the Vizcaya, coming at full speed,
smoke curling over her bow as she took
her, course to the westward ana brought
her bow guns into play.
= Behind her came Spain's Two much
dreaded torpedo boat destroyers, perhaps
200 yards apart. The Iowa steamed Tor
time forward with the Oquendo and the
Indiana did the same with the Vizcaya,
hut as the fight thus moved westward, 1t
became clear that the Americans were
willing that the Spanish ships should run
far enough from MORO to lose the aid of
the guns there, and in twenty minutes
this was done. This was
s"s171s. A Bit of Strategy s5{
which was developed under fire and
which was accepted at once by all the
An erican ships without orders. In fact,
the smoke often made it impossible to
see the signals which Commodore Schley
was making from the Brooklyn, SO tre-.
mendeus was the firing all along the
1tEe. 5s85s s 8ss