The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-27

ward and opened fire, to which our ships re-
piled vigorously. For a short time there
was an almost continuous flight of projec-
tiles over this ship but when our line was
fairly engaged and the Iowa had made a
SWIFT advance as If to ram or Close the
enemys fire became defective in train as
We'll as in range. The ship was only struck
three times and at least two of them were
put fragments of shells. We had no casual
ties.
% AS it was evident that the enemy's
ships were trying to break through and es-
cape TO the westward, we went ahead at
fun speed with the determination of carry
ing out TO the utmost your orders: If the
enemy tries to escape, the ships must close
ana engage as soon as possible and endeaV-
or 10 sink his vessels or force them to run
ashore. We soon passed all of our ships,
except the Brooklyn, bearing the broad
ennant of Commodore Schley. At first we
only used our main battery, but when it
was discovered that the eneny's torpedo
boats We're following their ships, we used
our rapid-fire guns, as we'll as the six
FOUNDERS upon them with telling effect. As
we ranged up near the sternmost of their
ships she headed for the beach, evidently
on fire. We raked her as We passed, push
ing on for the next ahead, using our STAR
board guns as they were brought to bear,
and before we had her fairly abeam, she,
too, was making for the beach. The two
remaining vessels were now some distance
ahead, but our speed had increased to six
teen knots and our fire. added to that of
the Brooklyn, soon sent another, the Viz
caya, to the shore in flames. Only the Cris-
tobal Colon was left, and for time it
seemed as if she might escape, but when we
opened with our forward turret guns and
the Brooklyn followed, she began to edge in
towards the coast and her capture or de-
StructiOn was assured. AS she struck the
beach her flag came down and the Brooklyn
siGnaled, cease firing, following it with,
Congratulations for the grand victory,
I.IaiIns Tor your splendid assistance
''3. The Brooklyn sent boat to her, and
when the admiral came up with the New
York and Texas and Vixen she was taken
possession of. A prize crew was put on
board from this ship under Lieutenant Com
mander Cogswell, the executive officer, but
before II p. m. the ship, which had been
filling in spite of all efforts to stop leaks,
was abandoned, and just as the crew left
she went over on her side.
a. l cannot speak in too high terms of
the bearing and conduct of all on board
this ship. When they found the Oregon had
succession of conflicts with the enemy's YES
sells, if they could be overtaken and would
engage, their enthusiasm was intense.
%. AS these vessels were so much more
heavily armored than the Brooklyn they
might have concentrated upon and over
powered her, and consequently l am per-
suaded that but for the way the officers
the ship and fought and supplied her bat
teries, the Colon and perhaps the .Vizcaya
would have escaped. Therefore / feel that
they rendered meritorious service to the
country and while / cannot mention the
name of each officer and man individually
/ am going to append list of the officers
with their stations that they occupied hop
ing that they may be of service to them
should the claims of others for advance
ment above them ever be considered"
(Here Captain Clark gives a list of the
officers and their positions in the hg'it)