New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-29
THE WIEN ~ THE FIGHT.
LIEUTENANT sIARPs STORY or AN At
TACK on THE V1ZCAYA
Guantanamo. cuba. July :, /,

Guantanamo cuba July :. 1895.
Sir: I have the honor 70 make tho following re-
port ~ TO the part taken by the United states
steamer Vixen. in the engagement With The Span
,sh Noef under the command Of Admiral Cervcra,
during tho morning and afternoon Of Sunday,
July isf'
Uc'wccn s37 and as a the Vixen was az
point about four miles - the westward Of MORO.
and ~ distance - about one and one-hali miles
south u tho shore iine A. ahou, 80 O'Clock It
vas reported 30 me- that an explosion had taken
pialc % the entrance OF Santiago Haroor went
on dock md almos, lmmedlltc.y sighted tho lead
uc vessel ~ the Spanish feet standing out ~ the
.r.ran-c some u no vessels ~ our Heet were
closing In toward Moro and hrlns
The vixen vas headed toward tho Moro. The en-
eincS were ordered ahead a. full speed ard the
helm Pat hard s-port. the object being 20 cross
ahead ~. the leading Spanish vessel. ana thus not
oh.,ruct tne gun rre Of fleet. the shells
from which soon began to fall about the position
had Just ,eNt
Tho leading Spanish vesse. opened Are on this
vessel With her starboard bow guns ne projecties
from which passed over us. nil being aimed TOO
high. ! estimate the number Of shots hrcd AZ Us
40 this tine to have been between I've ard ten.
A. the Vixen gathered healvay her head came
20 about south by east opening the Brooklyn up
about two polats on port bow. Steadled her
and steamed about this course until We had
reached 4 position about n NIL" to The south. and
west ~ the Brooklyn. vh!,h now turning with
port helm and firing her guns as they bore or the
encny's vessels Al 30 o'clock ho!sted signal 40
yJ2 The course was then ordered changed 20 west
southwest the intention being TO steer parallel
course 10 that OF the Spanish feet By some mis-
take tho quaricrmaster steadicd the helm south
west by south which was soon discovered bu, not
until the Vixen hal increased her distance on
shore ty perhaps another half-mLe The course
wcst-southwest was again ordered and when
stead!cd on q estimated distance Of
about i've miles from the shore From about lol5
O'Clock the courses and times Of changing were a.
follows At iol5. changed course to west onc-half
south. a. 70 S. TO northwest by north AZ H. west
northwest NJ II 05. west by north. at mo north
west by west At Il Is. by north at ll:So,
By south. N -, west by north.
All these courses were by the steering compass
and the speed was estimated at from twelve to
thirteen ana half knots per hour Times noted
are by deck clock which five minutes fast Of
watch time used in the notes inclosed
Seeing that the Spanish vessels were out Of range
or our guns while We we'll within range OF
theirs. reserved our nre
FIRING on THE VIZCAYA
About llr5 having approached within range OF
the Vlzcaya we opened FIRE with s;arboard
battcry at elevation OF 500, yards for the
6-poundcr guns and extreme elevation for the
i-pounders Continued tho fire for six minutes.
when seeing that the ensign OF the Nizcaya
not flying at lie ordered cease firing. Expended
twenty seven 6poundors. armor- piercing shells.
ana eighteen l-pounde: common shells
After passing Asserlderro the course was held
a: from west by north to west BY south heading
for tho point on the western horizon. Average
speed about twelve thirteen and one-half knots:
average number OF revolutions. 10 per minute:
average steam pressure l22l5 pounds
The Brooklyn and thc oregon bore on the port and
starbDard bows respectively. and were gradually
dropping the Vixen astern as was the Cristobdl
Colon which was running closer nshore Abou
Y - the oregon opened fire on the Colon. as did
also the Brooklyn. feeling their way up 10 the
range Vhich apparently obtained after the
fourth or nfth shot About In the oregon and the
I;rooklvn headed inshorc about four points. About
D the Texas holstcd sig nal. Enemy has surren-
dcrCd.'
This signal was repeated to the Ncw-York by the
Vixen At 230 the Vixen stopped OFF Rio Tarquino
in the vicinity OF the oregon and the Brooklyn. The
Cristobal Colon close IN shore. bows the
bc1ch her coors down. lying on the deck at the
foot OF her stan
during the chase by my orders upon the suggestion
Of Lieutenant Harlow. These notes were written
by Assistant Paymaster Doherty, the incidents and
times were givrn fy Lientenant HsrlGw whose those
The times taken after 1879 are accurate those
taken before that time were estimated and may be
"A few minutes.
Enclosed is u sketch showing positions Of vessels
al various times II Is from chart taken from
tbs CristObal Colon after the surrender ana is en-
larged four times. All courses are true.
In conclusion ! wish 20 call 10 your attention the
coolness strict attention 20 duty or ooth ofncer3
and men. Very respectfully. -
ALEXANDER SHARP. JRr
Lieutenant Commanding.
To the Comma ndcr-n Chief. T. 5. Naval Forces,