The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-12
an OFT TOLD TALE
BUT EVER NEW IN ITS INTERESH
FOR AMERICANS
Another Account Of the Smashing Of
Cervera's Squadron by Our
Battleships

PORTSMOUTH, N. H., July 1.-THE few
officers who came in on the st. Louis and
who participated in the fight with the
Spanish cruisers off Santiago were obliged
to tell the whole story of the memorable
contest. While in the main their accounts
did not differ materially from the press
dispatches. yet they seem to give credit to
the work Of the Oregon.
From an account, as given by one Of
f1cer, 1t appears that on the morning Of
the fight four American warships lay on
the entrance to the harbor. The Oregon
was slightly to the east, then to the west.
ward came the converted yacht Gloucester,
lying between the Oregon and Iowa. To
the westward of the Iowa was the Texas.
while further along, in fact, eight or ten
miles to the west of the harbor was ths
Brooklyn with Commodore Schley on
board
The position of the fleet was in keeping
with the plan mapped out by Admiral
Sampson, and his command had definite
orders in case the Spanish fleet made
dash out of the harbor. While all the ships
had steam up, none of them, with the ex-
ception of the Brooklyn was under way.
The latter had, few minutes previous
away to the westward and when the first
shot was fired from the Iowa, she was 60
ing away from the fleet at about an eight
knot gait.
Just why the Brooklyn was steaming of
to the west at this time is not known, but
although she had not gone far and was
still probably quite near the station de-
signated by Admiral Sampson, her COM
mander, nevertheless, had to swing around
and in doing so he put his helm to STAR
board and made long sweep to port, CO.
ing a mile or more off shore in the ma
neuver.
The first Spaniard that came rushing out
of the harbor's mouth was the Cristobal
Colon, with Admiral Cervera on board
The Vizcaya was second, the Almirante
Oquendo third and the Maria Teresa
fourth, while two torpedo boat destroyers
brought up the rear.
While the Iowa got in the first lick at
the fleet as they came dashing by, the
Oregon was the first American outside the
Brooklyn in motion. She gathered head
way SO fast that she cut in between the
Iowa and the fleet and pumped a good
13-inch shell at the Colon before she had
gone by. The Oregon was, therefore, in
most excellent position to meet the Vizcaya
when she came along, and, without the
help of the Texas, tackled her so f1ercely
that she was on fire in a few minutes and
had headed for the beach.
While the Oregon's whole forward star
board battery was banging at the Vizcaya.
the after guns had swung around and were
pumping shells into the Oquendo, which
also had been tackled by the Iowa. which
in the meantime had disposed of the Te-
resa.
The wreck Of the three Spaniards was
accomplished in about fifteen or twenty
minutes and by this time the Oregon had
attained her maximum speed. With her
forced draught on and every pound Of
steam up. the big Pacific Coast battleshiD
ploughed through the water as she never
did before, except, perhaps, on her speed
trial three years ago.
Leaving the Texas and Iowa to complete
the destruction of the remainder Of the
Spaniards and the rescue of the unfortun-
ate sailors, Captain Clarke headed the
Oregon after the Colon.
The Brooklyn by this time had taken her
wide sweep off shore and was headed in for
the Colon, opening UP on that vessel with
her port broadsides. AS the Colon ran by
the Brooklyn she gave the latter the benefit
of her big guns, and no less than thirty
shots took effect on the Brooklyn's port
side, a number of them passing clear
through the Yankee cruiser.
AS the Colon went by the Brooklyn the
latter turned her starboard guns on the
Spaniard. In the run up the coast, tho
Brooklyn was hit dozen times on her star
board side, while all three of her tall
smokestacks showed the effect Of the
Colon's stern chasers.
The superior speed Of the Brooklyn and
Oregon sealed the fate of the Colon and.
after run of forty miles, Admiral Cervera
ordered the flagship to be headed for tho
shore. The Colon struck about $50 yards
from the beach and as soon as she had
grounded Admiral Cervera ordered every
one to jump overheard and plunged into the
sea himself, followed by all his officers.
The little Gloucester, after destroying
the torpedo boat destroyers, turned after
the Oregon, and made such good time that
she was up even with the, Colon when sho
ran ashore. AS she drew considerably less
water than either the Oregon or Brooklyn
her commander, Lieut.. Commander Vain
wright, was able to run in quite close to
the stranded Spanish ship and the Glouces-
ter's boats were sent out after the SWIM
ming crew. Admiral Cervera was picked
I'D Just outside the surf about ten yards
from shore and, after his long swim, was
thoroughly exhausted.
The Colon had just turned in shore when
the New York came up, after a long and
quick run. The flagship was enabled to
get in dozen good shots before the Colon's
flag came down. so that Admiral Sampson
had a hand to hand fight, although it was
brief one 1t will be seen, therefore, that
the Oregon, while the most eastern of all
the American ships, nevertheless was en-
abled by her superior speed to have hand
in the destruction of all four of the Span.
ish cruisers, and was the only one Of the
fleet that did.
Uouono