Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-07-14

tne brooklyn, OTtROni icNuh ana
Iowa six miles behind the Oregon. The
Indiana was four miles astern Of the
Iowa.
At l0:87 the Cristobal Colon and
other Spanish ships resumed the
heavy Are, The second vessel was Ave
miles from the Vixen, The Oregon
was gaining rapidly on the Crlstobal
Colon, which was using smokeless
powder. The enemy's fire was very
high, and many Of their shots passed
over the Brooklyn, falling close to the
Vixen, a piece OF she'll tearing the
flag at her mainmast,
AT 10.H the Brooklyn forged ahead
caya was q sheet OF fame, and from
I1:2U to ll;4S tnere were many en-
ploslons on board the Spanish cruiser,
apparently caused by the ignition OF
loose charges about the guns,
They resembled huge chryanthe-
NUNS, with ribbons OF smoke, as the
burning powder grains fell from the
ends OF the petals, At HAS the chase
narrowed itself to the Crlstobal CO.
lon, which was close ashore and seven
miles from the Vixen, with the Ore
gon one point on the starboard bow,
distant a mile and half; the Brook
lyn one point on the starboard bow,
dstanct three miles; the Texas on the
starboard quarter, distant one mile;
the Iowa two points on the starboard
side, distant eight miles, and the New
at Aserradores. At 1l:01 the Vlzcaya
ported her helm and headed east, ap-
parently seeking the entrance TO AS
erradores The Texas and Vixen d.
rected their fire on the Nlzcaya until
11.07, when, as the colors went down,
we ceased, AT 1l;09 there came @
burst Of flame and smoke from the
Vizcaya's stern, and all the ships re-
sumed their fire while passing the
doomed vessel, which was hard on AS
erradores reef
At ll;16 the Brooklyn, Oregon,
Texas, Iowa and Indiana, the last
named ten miles from the Cristobal
Colon, were in sight of the Vixen. 1t
was believed on the Vixen that the
vessel at Aserradores was the Span
ish flagship, At 11:25 the Iowa had
stopped. The after end OF the Viz
and the Oregon fired her forward 49,
inch gun at the leading Spanish ves-
sci. At 1O:47 the Texas, in front OF
the Iowa, was gaining rapidly. At
this time the Broollyn's fire was
steady and deadly, her shells striking
or bursting alongside of the Span
iards.
At 10;49 the Texas reached Juan
Gonzales, and the Indiana was appar-
emily off Cabanas. At 1850 the Vixen
approached, heading north-north-
west The Texas was gaining rap
idly, the Iowa appeared to be on Juan
Gonzales, and the yacht appeared Off
Guayocabon, holly engaging the ene-
my's ships. At 1914 another Spanish
vessel was on fire and heading for the
beach with heavy list to port. This
was the Vizcaya making for the reef
York one point on the starboard
quarter, distant ten miles, The last
two vessels were apparently Off Boca
del Rio, but were too far distant to
be certainly identified in the haze and
smoke from the leading ships. No
other vessels were in sight. The
smoke from the ship destroyed at
Juan Gonzales and to the eastward
could be SEEM but the vessels hull
was invisible.
At noon the relative positions of the
American ships was practically the
same. When the Vixen was abreast OF
Sevilla, thirteen miles west OF Santi-
ago, the Texas bore three points on
the starboard quarter a little less
Brooklyn one point on the starboard
than mile off, and the Oregon and
and port bow, distant four and five
miles, respectively, while the Crsto-
bal Colon bore two points on the star
board bow, distant fully ten miles.
According to the official pilot on
the Vixen that vessel was Off Baya-
mta. The estimated distance was
taken from the officers and official
pilot. At 1905 the New York was in
line with the burning Vizcaya at
distance Of nine miles. At 12:45 the
Texas was on the starboard quarter,
the New York two points on the star
board quarter, gaining; the Oregon a
half point on the starboard bow, the
Brooklyn one point on the port bow,
and the Cristobal Colon one point on
the starboard bow, still miles away.
At 1920 the Oregon fired a shot,
which fell short. The Cristobel Colon
was then hull down from the Vixen.
During the next half hour the occa-
sional shots from the Oregon and the
Brooklyn struck near the chase.
At 1880 the Texas was one point
forward off the starboard beam and
was steadily gaining. At LIDS the
Oregon and the Brooklyn headed in
shore about four points. At 1925 the
Texas signalled, "The enemy has sur
rendered" This signal was reported
to the New York, burt was not ac-
knowledged. The Crlstobal Colon was
seen through glasses aiming close In
shore and, according to the pilot, at
Rio Tarquino. 1t was thought on
board the Viyen that white flag was
displayed on the Cristobal Colon, but
this subsequently proved to be escap-
ing steam. At Q o'clock boats from
the Brooklyn and Oregon went 'along-
side the Colon. At 2;25 the Vixen
stopped OF Rio TArquino. near the