The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1898-07-07
TO RUSH IN SHORE.

Colon, Admiral Cervera's flagship.
She had passed the wreck of the
Merrimac and was making for the
sea at full speed,
Before Commodore Schley and
his men could recover from their
surprise other clouds of smoke
came into view beyond the Cristo-
bal Colon. With rush fully equal
to that of the Spanish flagship the
Almirante Oquendo came throbb-
ing toward the open sea. Behind
her came the Vizcaya, also at full
speed, while the rear was brought
up by the two torpedo boat de-
stroyers, the Furor and the Pluton.
This stirring scene, so dramatic
and unexpected, quickly put the
Captain of every American vessel
on his mettle. "Cervera's trying to
escapew was the cry that resound-
ed through the fleet.
Every American VeSSel
QUICKLY WEIGHED ANCHOR.
Tho engines were started and one
by one the great American war
ships made ready for battle. Every
man scampered to his gun and the
Captains knowing that Admiral
Sampson had gone along the coast,
eagerly watched the Brooklyn,
Commodore Schley's flagship.
In few moments the Resolute
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 Commodore Schley sent the
Brooklyn madly rushing to the
eastward to head off Cervera's flag
ship. He ordered the Massachus-
etts and Oregon to follow after; al
the same time ordered the Indiana,
Iowa and Texas to intercept the
other vessels of the escaping fleet
Then began one of the greatest sea
fights in history.
Admiral Sampson set out this
morning TO dislodge the Spanish
fleet from their works at Aguadores
The Michigan troops were repulsed
at that point on the line of the rail
way Saturday morning while they
were marching westward to seize
the MORO battery and blow up the
fort after the fleet had driven the
Spanish from the guns.
Our torpedo boats were not with
the fleet, and when Admiral Samp
son left the MORO the battle ship:
and the cruiser Brooklyn were
grouped off the harbor mouth.
1t is not known whether Admir-
al Cervera had blown up the Merri
mac or passed it in single column
His ship, the Cristobal Colon, glid
ed out of the harbor and
SHOT TO THE EASTWARD,
Her two tunnels and high blacl
bulwarks showing plain against th'
green of the hills, her pennant ant
,, the Spanish red and yellow ensigr
in lashing above.
In few seconds the American
fleet was in motion, the Indiana
i. which was closet, heading straigh
p. in shore to get close range. TIL
Spaniard opened fire with al
eleven-inch Honotoria, and grea
fountains of water rose above tn
battle ship and wet her decks. TIL
she'll fell near her bow.
The Indiana replied with he
. thirteen-inch guns, and a momen
;, later let 60 everything she coul
bring to bear.
One of the first shells fell on tn
Spanish cruisers deck. Cerver
, was going past, and the Indians
. rounded to give him a broadsidt
and then, as the Iowa and tn
Texas opened on him, the doome
Admiral turned to the harbo
mouth, where the Almirante Oquer
. do was just coming into view.
:, AT first one could hardly believ
q his eyes, but when the Oquendo az
peared and
# STEAMED SWIFTLY WESTWARD
r Into the smoke and lightnin
j. where Cervera's flag still flew,
a flashed upon us that here was to b
j. history making indeed.
1t was a sublime spectacle of
desperate Admiral, who had decid
l. ed to give battle against over
IS whelming odds in the open waite
;. rather than remain and blow u
j. his own ships in the harbor of tn
i beleaguered city.
Cervera's flag was hidden for
s time as he fled westward, his POI
8 broadside emitting flashes and ton