The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-27

/ -
Mass, for advice about their health.
ended. and two-thirds Of their people
| killed.
DESTROYERS DESTROYED
The FurOr was boachcd and sunk in
| the surf. the Pluton sank 30 deep water
few minutes later The destroyers
probably suffered much injury from the
| fire. OF the secondary batteries of the
Iowa. Indiana and Texas. yet ] think
/ very considerable factor ia their speedy
| destruction was the fire al close range
of the Gloucestor's battery. After res
cuinc the survivors Of the destroyers the
! Gloucester did excellent service ln land
| ing and securing the crew OF the Infanta
/ Maria Teresa
S-The method Of escape attempted by
the Spaniards. AN steering I'm the same
direction and in formation removed all
tactical doubt or difficulty and made
plain the duty of every United States
vessel 10 close I'm Immediately engage
and pursue.
THEY SUFFERED HEAVILY.
As already stated the first rush Of the
Spanish squadron carried it past num-
Der of the blockading ships which could
not Immediately work up 90 their best
speed. but they suffered heavily in pass
ing. and the lnfanta Maria Teresa and
the Oquendo were probably set ON fire
by shells fired during the first hiteen
minutes OF the engagement
IN was afterward learned that the In
fsrta Maria Teresa's fire main had been
cut bv one of our first shots and that
She was unable 10 extinguish the fire.
with large volumes OF smoke rising
from their lower decks aft these vessels
gave up both tight and flight and ran ID
ON the beach. the Infanta Maria Teresa
al about 1915 a. NJ. at Nina Nina, SIX
and one haif miles from Santiago h1rDor
entrance and the Almirante Oqucndo al
about 1890 A. NJ at Juan Gonzales, seven
miles from the port.
COLON IN THE LEAD.
O. The Vizcaya was sull under the fire
Of the leading vessels, the Cristo1al Colon
had drawn ahead. leading the chase and
soon passed beyond the range OF the guns
Of the leading American ships the VIZ
caya was soon set on fire ana at ll.Zi
she turned IN shore and was bcached al
Asseraderos. fifteen miles from Santiago.
burning hercoly and with her reserves or
ammunition on deck already beginning TO
explode.
When about ten miles west of Santiago
the Indiana had been sipnalled 10 so
back 90 the harbOr entrance ana az Asser-
adoros the Iowa was signdlled t. resume
blockadng station.
The Iowa assisted by the Ericsson and
the Hist took off the crew Of the VIZ
capa. while the Harvard and the Glou-
ccstcr rescued those of the lnianta Marle
Teresa and the Almirantc Oquendo. rms
rescue of prisoners, including the wound
cd from the burning Spanish vessels. was
the occasion Of some of the most daring
and gallant conduct of the day
The ships were burning fore and AFT.
their guns and reserve ammunition were
exploding and 10 was not known 40 what
moment the fire would reach the main
magazines. I'm addition TO this a heavy
surf was running just inside of the
Spanish ships but no risk deferred our
officers and men until their work of hue
mauity was complete
ALL DOWN BUT ONE
10-Thcre remained now of the Spanish
ships only the Cristobal Colon. but she
was their best and fastest vessel Forced
by the situation TO hug the Cuban coast
her only chance of escape was hy superior
and sustained speed. When the Nizcaya
went ashore the Colon was about six
miles ahead Of the Brooklyn and the
Oregon. but her spur; was finished, and
the American ships s'erc gaining upon
her. -;chInd The Brooklyn and tho Ore
gon came the Texas, Vixen and New
York
To was evident from the bridge Of the
New York that an the American ships
were gradually overhaulinc the chase,
and that she had no chance Of escape.
At 1890 the Brooklyn and oregon opened
fire and got her range. the Oregon's heavy
shells striking beyond her. and at 1880
she gave mp without firing another shot.
hauled down her colors and ran ashore
at Rio Torquino twenty-eight miles from
Santiago Captain Cook went on board
90 receive The surrender
While his boat was alongside 7 came
up IN Che New York received his report
and placed the Oregon in charge of the
wreck. 20 save her II possible. and di-
rected the prisoners TO be transferred 10
tho Resolute. which had followed the
chase Commodore Schlev. whose chief
of staff had sot on board 10 receive the
surrender had directed that an their
personal effects should be retained by the
officers This order I did not modify
DID NOT INJURE THE COLON
The Cristobal Colon was not injured by
our firing and probably is not much in-
jured by Bleaching though she ran ashore
at high speed The beech was so steep |
that She came off by the work |
ing OF the sea. But her sen valves were |
opened and broken treacherousy. ] ann |
sure. after hcr surrender. and dcsDte an !
dent that she could not be kept afoat ]
she was pushed by the New York bodily |
upon the beach (he New York's stem |
being placed against her for this pur- |
pose the ship being handled bv CAPTAIN |
Chadwick with admirable frdrmeun |
and sank I'm shoal water and may ne |
saved Had this not been done she would |
have gone Town in deep water and would |
have been 20 "a certainty a total loss
FINISH OF THE BLOCKADE
IL regard this complete and important |
victory over the Spanish forces az the |
successful finish 90 several weeks ~ ar |
duous and close blockade. so stringent and /
effective during the night that the enemy /
was deferred from making the attempt 10 |
escape at night and deliberately elected |
10 make the attempt In daylight. That
this was the case | was Informed by the |
commanding officer OF the Cristobal |
Colon.
BLOCKADE WAS MAINTAINED.
Admiral Sampson at this point fully |