The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-07-12

off Santiago de Cuba. July 9.-Nia
Port Antonio. jamaica. July .. ; I. m
Following is the official account Of the
engagement with the Spanish squadron
rs seen from the United States steamer
Vixen:
vt 9:45 Il. III. the quartcrmastcr on
duty reported that a tug was coming
ont Of the harhor. Examination provcC
the vessel To he Il Spanish cruiser flying
Il large Spanish flag and Il smaller iiag
at the masthead. which was thought t.
be the -Admiral's flag, as it was on the
leading ship.
The Vixen at this time WAS lying
about two miles off shore and four miles
to the westward Of MORO Castle. and
from this time to the end was never
! out Of sight Of the base and was within
two miles of the destruction Of the three
arnlorcd cruisers.
Word was at once sent TO the com
handing officer. and Ill hands were call
cd to quarters. Full speed WAS ordered
and tn" helm was put to port to stand
further off shore and leave the Brook
lyn'S fire limo unobstructed. The
brooklyn had hoistcd 4 signal that the
enemy WAS attempting to escape and Tho
Vixen. noticing that the reading ship was
turning To the westward, Signalled that
the enemy WAS attempting TO escape III
that direction. The fleet at this time
had resumed its station and the vessels
began rapidly to close III toward the
mouth Of the harbor, concentrating Il ter
rife long range fire upon the enemy.
There was no doubt that the enemy
was coming out. There were |scvcra
anxious moments before it could be de-
terlnined whether the Spanish Admiral
,-J-JI .,1,, -. ~ - ;-,,u a,1 -
tempt to break through the hlockading
squadron or would keep his ships togcth-
er. The leading vessel had changed hcr
course to the west when Il second vessel
appeared. followed shortly by the Girls
tobaI Colon. The Colon was easily idcn-
tilted because her mast was between her
two smokcstackS The other ships could
not so easily lie identified. as the Viz
caya, the AImirantc Ouuendo and In
fanta Maria Teresa had the same APP
pcarance.
Meanwhile the fleet approached the
mouth OF the harhor and when the
fourth vessel appeared ana turned to the
west it became evident that Admiral
Ccrycra had rcconnoitered the field and
selected the west rs the weakest part
Of the blockade. because the strongest
eastern current had drifted the heaviest
ships to the east Of their customary po-
sitions. The western portion Of the
blockading circle was defended by the
Vixen and the Brooklyn. The Brooklyn
headed north, apparently intending To III
tercept the head OF the cnpmy,S column.
As the leading ships of the euemy's
column appeared the western battery
opened 4 heavy fire, apparently directed
at the eastern and central ships Of the
~blockading squadron. At 10 a. IN. the
Brooklyn was nearest and engaged the
two leading ships. which were close to-
-ether with III interval Of three quar-
tcrs of a mile between the second ship
and the Cristohal Colon.
1t 1905 the Brooklyn turned with Il
aort helm. making Il complete turn to the
east 50 hat she was again heading
west. III nnemy's leading ships were
on her StIrboard quarter and the fourth
vessel was coming up rapidly astorn. Al
this time the Vixen MAS west Of the
leading ship and was steaming on Il par
allel course.
For the next fifteen minutes the
BROOKLYN received and returned the fire
of the two leading ships and an occa-
sional shot from the CriStobaI Colon.
-At 1880 the chase Was well formed,
the positions being as follows: The enc
my's ships III column between Cabanas
and Guayacabo. til" Brooklyn steering
Il parallel course a mile distant, with the
Oregon two miles southeast. The othc.
American vessels were obScured iyy the
smoke.
At 1923. the Colon and other leading
ships of the enemy were close together.
jus clear Of the BrookIyn's bow as
viewed from the Vixen, the CristobaI
Colon gaining speed and closing up. II
J1S anna ROM that tho I,,Ji,,,r -o..I
was disabled and on fire as she dropped
rapidly lstcrn. She apparently headed
for the shore off Juan Gonzales.
The Oregon, forging ahead capitarv
engaged the fourth ship. As She passed
two smaller Spanish vessels. probably
the Juror and Iluton. to the westward
Of Cahanas. engaged the Iowa and the
I"Nas. though apparently on fire. Put
be leading vessels We're too far to the
west to be identified accurately. The IN
diana was in sight a little 10 the vnst
Of MORO Castle.
~ lo:34 the Cristobal Colon was still
gaining and was reserying her fire. 81
this moment the only American vessels
seen from the Vixen were the BROOKLYN.
oregon, Texas and Iowa. six miles be-
hind the Oregon.
ne Indiana was four miles astern Of
the Iowa.
At 1887 the Cristobal Colon and other
SHIPS resumed the heavy fire. The sec
ono vessel was five miles from the Nix-
en-. The Oregon was gaining rap
oly on the Cristobal Colon, which
was using smokeless powder. The enc
mes hre was very high and using smoke
ess powder. The enemies fire was very
nigh and many of their shots passed
over the Brooklyn, falling close to the
|.Nen. a piece Of a shell tearing the flag
at her mainmaSt
At 1O:41 the Brooklyn forged ahead
and the Oregon fired her forward -
inch u at the leading Spanish vessel.
AT 1O:41 the Texas in front Of the low,