The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1898-07-15
FIGHTING Bl)B'S STORY.
Tells Of His Chase After the crIs-
tobal Colon and the Other
S. Vessels.

OF Santiago de Cuba, July 7.-fYia
Port Antonio and Kingston, Jamaica,
July q I'm describing the great naval
battle of Santiago Fighting Bob Eyans
said: The CristobaI Colon, being much
faster than the rest OF the Spanish ships
passed rapidly to the front in the effort
to escape. In passing the Iowa, the
Colon placed two six-inch shells fairly in
our starboard bow. One passed through
the cofferdam and dispensary, wrecking
the latter and bursting on the berth deck,
doing considerable damage. The other
passed through the side Of the water line
within the cofferdam, where it still re-
mains. Il 2s.
AS it was now obviously impossible to
ram any of the Spanish ships on account
OF their superior speed, the Iowa's helm
was put to the starboard as she ran on
course parallel with the enemy. Being
then abreast of the Almirante Oquendo
at q distance of HOO yards. the iowa's
entire battery including the rapid-fire
guns was opened on the Oquendo. The
punishment was terrific. Many II and
o-ihch shells were seen to explode inside
@. her and smoke came out through her
matches. Twelye-inch shells from the
Iowa pierced the Almirante Oquendo ut
the same moment. one forward and the
other aft. The Oquendo seemed to stop
ner engines for moment and lost head
way, but she Immediately resumed her
speed and gradually drew ahead of the
Iowa and came under the terrific fire of
the Oregon and Texas"
Rescuing the Wounded.
To the Iowa fell the bulk of the task
or rescuing those of the Spanish sailors
who survived the battle. Capt. Evans
said: My boats crews worked manfully
and succeeded in saving many of the
wounded from the burning ship. One
man q who will be recommended for promo
ton clambored up the sides of the Viz
caya and saved three men from burning
to death. The smaller magazines of the
Vizcaya We're exploding with magnificent
cloud effects. The boats We're coming
alongside in steady string, and willing
hands were helping the laccrated Spanish
officers and sailors on the Iowa's quarter
deck. All the Spaniards were absolutely
without clothes. Some had their legs torn
mutilated in every conceivable way AS I
knew the crews of the first two ships
wrecked had not been visited by any of
our vessels l ran down to them. I found
the Gloucester with Admiral Cervera and
a number of his officers aboard and also a
large number wounded, some in fright
fully mangled condition.
''The bottoms of the small boats held
two or three inches of blood. In many
Five poor chaps died on the way to the
ship. They were afterward buried with
military honors from the Iowa.
'Some examples of hcroism, or more
properly, devotion to discipline and duty,
could never be surpassed. One man on
the lost Vizcaya had his left arm almost
shot off just below the shoulder The
piece of skin. But he climbed unassisted
over the side and saluted as if on a visit
of ceremony. Imediately after him came
strong-hearted sailor, whose left leg
had been shot off above the knee. He was
hoisted on board the Iowa with a tackle
but never whimper came from him.
Gradually the mangled bodies and naked
we'll men accumulated until it would
have been almost difficult to recognize the
Blood on the Iowa's Deck.
'Blood was all over her usually white
quarterback. and 272 naked men were
being supplied with water and food by
those who few minutes before had been
using rapid-fre battery on them. Final
~ came the boats with Capt. Eulate
VI Tic fILCdNd. lOr whom q
chair was lowered over the side. as he
was evidently wounded. The captains
guard of marines was drawn up on the
quarterback to salute him and stood
waiting to welcome him. As the chair
was placed on the deck the marines pre-
sented arms. Capt. Eula1e slowly raised
himself in the chair saIuted me with
grave dignity. unbuckled his swordbelt
and holding the .hilt of the sword be-
fore him, kissed it reverently with tears
in his eyes and then surrendered it to me.
OF course, declined to receive his
sword. and as the crew of the Iowa saw
this they cheered like wild men. As |
started to take Capt. Eulate into the cab
in to let the doctors examine his wounds.
the magazines on board the Vizcaya ex-
ploded with a tremendous burst of flame.
Capt. Eulate extending his hands. said:
'Adios, Vizcaya. There goes my beauti-
full ship, captain And so We passed on
to the cabin. where the doctors dressed
his three wounds.
Gin the meantime thirty officers of the
Vizcaya had been picked up beside 272 of
her crew. Our wardroom and steerage
officers gave up their staterooms and fur
nished food, clothing and tobacco to those
naked officers from the Vizcaya. The
paymaster issued uniforms to the naked
sailors, and each was given all the cornel
beef, coffee and bareback he could eat.
1"ThQ war nn,f assumed aDOthar .spoot -