The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-08-03
sampson's Report

CAath Vi tic ONC5oAil oaG O1te- --f----'f
Of the Iowa, on the battle Of July 8,
which resulted In the destruction Of
Cervera's squadron. They are as fol-
lows:
United States Flagship New York,
First Rate.
OFF SANTIAGO, July Is, 1898.
SrR-I have the honor to make the
following report upon the battle with
and the destruction OF the Spanish
squadron, commanded by Admiral
Cervera, of Santiago de Cuba, on Sun
day, July 3, 1898.
2-The enemy's vessels came out Of
the harbor between 9:35 and 1000 a.
m, the head of the column appearing
around Cay Smith at 9.3l and emerg-
ing from the channel five or six min
utes later.
S-The positions of the vessels of my
command off Santiago at that moment
were as follows:
The flagship New York was four
miles east of her blockading station and
about seven miles from the harbor en-
trance. She had started for SibOney,
where l intended to land accompanied
by several of my staff, and go TO the
front to consult with General Shafter.
A discussion of the situation and a
more definite understanding between
us of the operations proposed lad been
rendered necessary by the unexpected
ly strong resistance of the Spanish gar
rison of Santiago. had sent my
chief of staff on shore the day before to
arrange an interview with General
Shafter, who had been suffering heat
prostration. / made arrangements 10
go to his headquarters and my flagship
was in the position mentioned above
when the Spanish squadron appeared
in the channel. The remaining yes
sells were in or near their usual block
aiding positions, distributed in semi
circle about the harbor entrance, count
ing from eastward to the westward in
the following order:
The Indiana about mile and half
from shore, tine O-egon-the New
York's place between the these two
the Iowa, Texas and Brooklyn, the
latter two miles from the shore west of
Santiago. The distance Of the vessels
from the harbor entrance was from two
and one-half to four miles-the latter
being the limit of day blockadiDg dis
tance. The length of the arc formed
by the ships was about eight miles
The Massachusetts had left at a. m
for Guantanamo for coal. Her station
was between the Iowa and Texas. The
auxiIiaries Gloucester and Vixen lay
close to the land and nearer the harbor
entrance than the large vessels, the
| Gloucester to the eastward and the
Vixen to the westward. The torpedo
boat Ericsson was in company with the
flagship and remained with her during
the chase uutil ordered to discontinue,
when she rendered very efficient ser.
vices in reseuing prisoners from the
burning Vizcaya. / enclose diagram
showing approximately the positions
of the vessels as described above.
4-The Spanish vessels came rapidly
out Of the harbor at speed estimated
at from to 10 knots and in the follow
| ing order: Infanta Maria Teresa flag
ship, Vizeaya. Cristobal Colon and the
AImirante Oquendo. The distance be-
tween these ships was about 500 yards,
| which means that from the time the
first one became visible in the upper
reach of the channel until the last one
was out of tie harbor, an interval oi
only Il minutes elapsed. Following
the Oquendo at distance of about l.,
200 yards came the torpedo boat de
stroyer, PlutOn, and after her the Flu
ror. The armorel cruisers, as rapidly
as they could bring their guns to bear
opened vigorous fire upon the block
aiding vessels and emerged from th'
channel shrouded in the smoke from
their guns.
5-The men of our ships in front o
the port were at Sunday quarters 70
inspection. The signal was made sim
ultaneously from several vessels. "Ene
my ships escaping" and general quar-
ters was sounded. The men eheere'
as they spraDg to their guns and fir
was opened probably within eigh
minutes by the vessels whose gun
commanded the entraIIee. TIE ~
York turned about and steamed for tn
escaping fleet, flying the signal "Cios
| i'm towards harbor entrance and attacl
vessels" and gradually inereasin
speed, until toward the end Ofthe chas
she was making l64 knots and wa
i rapidly closing on the Cristc bal Color
She was not at any time within tn
range of the heavy Spanish ships an
her only part in the firing was to n
ceive the undivided fire from the for
| in passing the harbor entrance and
fire a few shots at one of the destroyer
thought at the moment to be attemp
ing TO escape from the Gloucester
6-The Spanish vessels upon elearin
the harbor turned to the westward
column, increasing the speed to the u
power OF their engines. The heav
blockading vessels, which had close
in towards the Moro at the instant I
the enemy's appearance and at the
b-st speed delivered rapid fire We
sustained and destructive, which specs
lily overwhelmed and silenced Il
Spanish fire. The initial speed Of Il
Spaniards carried them rapidly past Il
biockading vessels and the battle d
veloped into q chase in which n
Brooklyn and Texas had at the sta
! the advantage of position. The Brool
] lyn maintained this lead. The Orego
steaming with amazing speed from Il
/ commencement Of the action, took DIR
: place. The Iowa and the IndiaI
: having done good work and not havir
; the speed of the other ships, were
: rected by me, in succession, at abo
the time the Vizeaya was beached,
, drop out Of the chase and resun
: blockading stations. These vessels n
cued many prisoners. The Vixen fin
ing that the rush of tine Spanish shii
. would put her between two fires, rs