The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-12

ing shots, also ieft her contemptuousiy
and made all steam and shell after the
foremost two OF the Spanish ships, the
Almirante OQuendo and the Cristobal
Colon.
just than the two torpedo boat de-
sfroyers fluton and turor were ulscov-
cred. They had come out after the
cruisers without being seen and were
boldly heading west down the coast.
"All small guns on the torpedo boat@'
was the order on the Texas and in an
instant haiI Of shot was pouring all
about them. A FOUNDER from the
starboard battery of the Texas, under
Ensign Gise, struck the foremost tor
pedo boat fairly in the boiler. A rend-
Ing sound was heard above the roar OF
battle A great spout of black smoke
shot up from that destroyer, and she was
out Of commission. The Iowa, which
was coming up fast. threw few COM
plimentary shots az the second torpedo
boat destroyer and passed on The little
Gloucester, formerly j. Pierpont Nor
gan's yacht Corsair, then sailed in and
finished the second boat.
Gun for gun and shot for shot the
running fight was kept up between the
Spanish cruisers and the four American
vessels. At 1890 o'clock the Infanta
Maria Teresa and Vizcaya wele almost
on the beach and were evidently in dis
tress. AS the Texas was firing at them
white flag was run up on the one
nearest her.
Cease firing, +" called Captain Philip,
and moment later both the Spaniards
were beached. Clouds of black smoke
arose from each, and bright flashes of
flame could be seen shining through the
smoke. Boats were visible putting out
from the cruisers to tho shore. The
Iowa waited TO see that the two war
ships were really out Of the fight, and
il did not take her long TO determine
that they would never fight again. The
Iowa herself had suffered some very
hard knocks.
The Brooklyn, Oregon and Texas
pushed ahead after the Colon and AL
rnirante Oquendo, which were now run
coast. At 1850 o'clock, when Admiral
Ceryera's flagship. the Almirante
Oquendo, suddenly headed inshore, shc
had the Brooklyn and Oregon abeam
and the Texas astern. The Brooklyn and
Oregon pushed on after the Cristobal
Colon, which was making fine time and
which looked as if she might escape,
leaving the Texas to finish the Almi-
rante Oquendo This work did not
take long. The Spanish ship was already
burning. At III :05 o'clock down came q
yellow and red flag at her stern. Just
as the Texas got abeam of her she was
shaken by mighty explosion.
The crew of the Texas started to
cheer Don't cheer, because the poor
devils are dying" called Captain Philip,
and the Texas left tho Almirante Oquen-
do TO her fate to join in the chase of the
Cristobal Colon. That ship in despera-
tion was plowing the waters at rate
that caused the fast Brooklyn trouble.
The Oregon made great speed for bat
tleship and the Texas made the effort
Of her life. Never since her trial trip
had she made such time.
1t would never do to allow even one
of the Spanish ships to get away.
Straight into the west the strongest
chase of modern times took place. The
Brooklyn headed the pursuers. She
stood we'll out from the shore i'm order
TO try to cut off the Cristobal Colon ut
a point jutting out into the sea far
ahead. The Oregon kept middle course
about mile from the cruiser. The des-
10 a nj. al n. rl<
and now and then he threw shell Of
defiance. The old Texas kept well up in
the chase under forced draft for over
two hours. The fleet Spaniard led the
Americans merry chase, but she had
no chance. The Brooklyn gradually
forged ahead, SO that the escape Of the
Cristobal Colon was cut off at the point
above mentioned. The Oregon was
abeam of the Colon then, and the gal
liant don gave it mp.
At :15 O'Clock he headed for the
shore, and five minutes later down came
the Spanish flag. None of our ships was
then within a mile Of her, but her es-
cape was cut off. The Texas, Oregon
and Brooklyn closed in on her and stop.
ped their engines q few hundred yards
away. Commodore Schley left the
Brooklyn in small boat and went
aboard the Cristobal Colon and received
the surrender. Meantime the New York,
with Admiral Sampson on board. and
the Vixen were coming up on the run.
Commodore Schley signaled to Admiral
Sampson: 1--WE have won great vic
tory. Details will be communicated.
The victory certainly was Commodore
Schley's. Then for an hour after the
surrender in that little cove under the
high hills was a general Fourth of July |
celebration, though a little premature
Our ships cheered one another, the cap
tains INDUCED In compliments through
the megaphones, and the Oregon got
out its band, and the strains of the
"Star Spangled Banner" echoed over
the lines of Spaniards drawn up on the |
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