Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-07-09
IA NICE FIGHT, JACK p
Schley's First Remark After the Battle--Men
With Uncovered Heads Return Thanks
for the Victory.

Schley's First Remark After the Battle--Men
With Uncovered Heads Return Thanks
for the Victory.
New York, July ga special
dispatch, describing the destruction
of Cervera's fleet, says:
The victory certainly was Com.
modore 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
little premature. Our ships cheered
one another, the captains INDUCED in
compliments through the mega
phones, 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
deck of the last of the Spanish feet,
and up over the lofty green-tipped
hills of the Cuban mountains.
Commodore Schley, coming along
side the Texas from the Cristobal
Colon in his gig, called out cheerily,
at was a nice fight, Jack, wasn't
it2n
The veterans of the Texas lined
up and gave three hearty cheers and
tiger for their old commander-in.
chief. Captain Philip called all
hands to the quarterback, and, with
barred head, thanked God for the al.
most bloodless victory.
II want TO make public acknowl.
edgement here he said, "that I be-
lieve in God the Father Almighty.
want all you officers and men to
lift your hats and from your hearts
offer silent thsnks to the Almighty,
All hats were off. There was a
moment or two of absolute silence,
and then the overweight feelings
of the ships company relieved them
selves in three hearty cheers for
their beloved commander.
The Brooklyn, later in the after
noon, started east to chase report
that another Spanish warship had
been seen. The vessel turned out
to be the Austrian cruiser Maria
Theresa.
The Resolute came up, and tie
work of transferring the prisoners
from the Cristobal Colon to her was
begun. Five hundred and thirty
men were taken off. Eight were
missing.
Another in resting incident occurred
when the low and red flag of the
Oquend" VAS lowerd. just as the
Texas got abeam of her during the
fight she was shaken by a mighty
explosion.
TIE crew of the Texas started to
cheer ''Don't cheer, because the poor
devils are dying" called Captain
Philip, and the Texas left the Almi.
ante Oquendo to her fate to join in
the chase of the Cristobal Colon.
That ship in desperation was
ploughing the water at rate that
caused the fast Brooklyn trouble.
The Oregon made great speed for
battle-ship, and the Texas made
the effort of her life. Never since
her trialtrip had she made such time.
The Brooklyn might have proved
match to the Cristobal Colon in
speed, but she was not supposed to
be her match in strength.
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 well out from the shore in
order to try to cut off the Cristobal
Colon at a point jutting out into the
sea far ahead. The Oregon kept a
middle course about mile from the
crusier. The desperate Don ran
close along the shore, and now and
then he threw a shell Of defiance.
The old Texas kept well up in the
chase under forced draught for over
two hours.
The feet Spaniards led the
Americans merry chase. but she
had no chance. The BROOKLYN
gradually forged ahead, so that the
escaDe of thn Cristahol Color r,ar