Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-07-09
Fighting BOB"
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shells fairly in our starboard bow.
one passed through the dispensary,
wrecking the latter and bursting on
4 the bcrthdeck, doing considerable
j damage. The other passed through
the side at the water line with the
cofrerdam. where 1t still remains.
"As 1t was now obviously Impossible to
ram any OF the Spanish ships, on account
of their superior speed, the Iowa's helm
| was nus tn the starboard and she ran on
a course parallel with the enemy. Being
then east OF the Almirante Oqucndo NJ 2
distance of 100 yards. the Iowa's cntire
battery, including the rapid-fire guns
was opened on the Oquen1o The punish
ment was terrific. Two Pinch shells
from the Iowa pierced the Almirante
odlcndo at the same moment one for
ward ana the other aft. The Oduendo
seemed to stop her engines for a momen'
and lost headway. but she Immediately
resumed her speed anu gradually drew
ahead OF the Iowa ana came under the
| terrific fire of the Oregon ana Texas.
SAT this moment two torpedo boat de-
stroyers were discovered on the lowa's
starboard quarter at distance OF 400
yards Fire was at once opened on them
with the after battery, and a Finch shell
cut the stern OF one destroyer squarely
or. As this shell struck, a small TORPEDO
| boat fred back at the battleship, sending
| a small shell within a few feet of my
head | said 10 Executive officer Rogers
| That little chap has got lot Of cheek.
| Rogers shouted back: Tie shoots yer!
well, all the same.
We'll up among the advancing cruisers
! splitting shots ar one AMI then at an
bother, was the little Gloucester shooting
first at n cruiser and then at torpedo
boat and hitting a head wherever she
saw H. The marvel was that she was
not destroyed by the rain Of shells.
in the meantime the Vizcaya was
slowly drawing abeam Of the Iowa and |
ana take between the two ships. The |
Vizcaya fired rapidly but wildly not on,
shot striking the Iowa. while the shells
from the Iowa were ter.ng great rents in
the sides Of the Vlzcaya,
ms the latter passed ahead of tn.
Iowa. she came under the murderous |
fire Of the Oregon. At this time tbs |
Infanta Maria Teresa and the Ami |
rante OquendO leading the enemy's col |
umn were headed for the beach in !
| namcs The Texas Oregon and Iowa
| numerically pounded them They |
ceased to reply TO the fire and after |
| few minutes the Spanish cruisers wert |
n mass Of flames and on the rocks, witt |
| their culors down. the Teresa dying & |
/ white nag at the fore. The crews O
| the eremy's ships stripped themselve' |
ana began jumping overheard and on.
of the smaller magazines began 10 ex |
plode
Meantime the Brooklyn and III
| Crstohal Colon were exchanging com
pIiments in lively fashion at apparent
| ly long range; ana the oregon, With
| her locomotive speed. was hanging WEI
on thn Colon, also paying attention t.
he Nizcaya.
AS it WAS apparent that the Iowa
could not possibly catch the Cristoba
Colon ana that Inc oregon and Brook
iyn undoubtedly would ana. as III
fast New York vas also on her trail. }
decided that the calls OF humanity
| should be answered and attention gver
to the 1900 or i5N0 Spanish officers ana
| III. II ~ no Uti StIutk lNtlI ttlpIS 10 lltt
American squadron commanded by Ad-
miral Sampson.
Il therefore headed for the wreck Of
| I, NJ Nizcaya. now burning furiously
fore and aft. When | was in as far a
| he depth of water would permit /
lowered all my boats and sent them a,
once Il the assistance of the unfortu
mate men who We're being drowned by
| l.,rr.
mcda,t'y put stop To this, but could
not put n stop to the mutilation OF
many bodies BY the sharks inside the
reef.
My boat crews worked manfully and
succeeded ia saving many of the wounded
from the burning ship.
zone man. who will be recommended
for promotion, clambered up the side of
| the Niz,aya and saved three men from
burning Ia death. The boats were COM
ing alongside in a steady string and strong
ana willing hands were helping the LAGER
ated Spanish officers and sailors onto the
Iowa's quarterback All the Spanards
| were absolutely without clothes. Some
had their legs torn off by fragments of
shells. Others were mutilated in every
conceivable way