Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-07-14

Hist was rapidly closing upon thcm
pouring a sickening fire into their fragile
hulls.
The Gloucester joined in this splendid
assault, n SO effective was the rain of
rapid-fire projectiles that both torpedo
boats swung their helms hard aport, ran
TOT the shore and buried what was left of
them among the pitlless rocks of the
coast.
BY 1915 we We're In fun cry after tho
other Spanish ships. then about four miles
ahead and busy with hot replies to the de-
termined assault OF the Oregon, Texas and
Brooklyn. Bending every energy to over
take the Colon, which was then five miles
away and perhaps two miles ahead in a
direct line a mile and a half further in
shore. We picked up
The Flying Vixcaya,
The game must have see med up to her
then, for with a quick turn to starboard
she ran shoreward. and we saw in an
instant that she was flaming fore and aft.
A beautiful Spanish flag flying from her
gaff and another higher still from her
maintop mast head, showed her to be the
flagship of the second in She
Jagged heavily in the water. No longer
did she carry a bone in her teeth ar.i
her foaming wake was gone. When we
drew near we saw something had gone
amiss with her, for just as we swung
with a touch of our helm TO give her a
finishing broadside the beautiful flags
drifted from truck and gaff end and the
white flag of surrender went up, and the
cheers of our ship went with it.
We stepped our engines when close
aboard. and hoisted ont our boats 10 save
her people. We received on board 80
of her crew, the Hist took another hum
dred and that was all that was left of
them, for the other hapless sailors were
lying dead and Wounded on her burning
decks, Tbs c~onfiagration aboard ship
was astounding; ana even now, when
the opportunity for calm reflection has
come, 1t is impossible to explain where 50
much infiamable after could have been
collected on board an armored vessel
Through the air ports ami gun ports of
~ CAA AAAP HNN~ 49,
with a blood-red light upon the light
woodwork of the bridge and upper deck,
and long tongues of fame licked the tow
ering masts. over the ship a cloud of
rosy light lowered, and when. after a
time, the explosions of the free powder
were added. great volumes OF smoke shut
out the sky. Several explosions of terri
BILE force followed, but Notwithstanding
this. and while the flames were still
uuiyering through every outlet and en-
circling the hull, our boats were busy
with the rescue of the unfortunate
wounded and those more lucky survivors
who had sought the water on the shore
as their only refuge from a dreadful
death.
When the Spanish captain of the Viz
caya. that courteous Eulate. of whom
We heard so much when his ship was in
the harbor OF New York, was lifted over
the side and carried aft, he presented his
sword to Capt. Evans; but Evans,
Gentle as He Is Brave,
declined to receive 1t. and. waving IL
back with a friendly gesture. ne grasped
the hand Of the Spanisr I'd and welcomed
his brother officer to the hospitality of
the ship.
Much affected by his reception. Capt.
Eulate asked permission TO meet the
Icwa's officers, and TO each he gave 4
warm grip of his hand and a friendly
word of gratitude before he was carried
below.
The Oregon and Brooklyn joined in the
attack, but were a little too far out 10
get into the best Of 1t. and their efforts
were directed more to head on ana eaten
the Colon thar to join in the genera
action. There was a wisdom In TINS ap-
proved of all good sailors, for they kne"
what work was cut out for them ana IN
what good hands the other ships were
left.
The Glorious Texas. no longer the
.hoodoo'' of the fleet. gave its prlncipai
attention to the Vizcaya, and one OF heI
i2-inch shells. smashing through the hre
room of the Spaniard. caused her "
make that quick turn to the shore winch
AZ first we did not understand.
Tha New York was SO far TO the east
llt ANNV
ward that she had a Ion chase ana a
stern chase, before she got into the
action. and she passed US just after 'he
yizcaya surrendered
She made a splendid marine picture %
she rushed eagerly by In not chase
after the Colon, and as she shot past we
yave Sampson cheer after cheer. ana
cbaar after cheer came back to US from
az gallant a crew as ever served q gun UT
fed a roaring furnace.
Some of the Spanish crew had s"uni =
the beach. but finding the hostile shores
commanded by alert parties or Cuoa"
soldiers. they fought in a mad enoea'o'
TO get aboard the ships boats rather ina"
surrender 10 an enemy whom they knew
IN he pitiless. Every officer and man On
the Iowa rave clothes of some sort 70 the
rescued sailors, and their reception must
have taught them that the oespiseu
Yankee was not the inhuman brute ihei
officers had pictured.
The paymaster's stores OF the snip
wara drawn on lavishly TO clothe the
snanish officers and men, and wheh'
after a while, they were dried n Tea.
!, was interesting to note the reiief ah
ssar,ad 70 feel now that their long sus-
urAAL IVA over