The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1898-07-29
SIMPSONS REPORT.
The Navy Department Makes Public the
Admirars Account of the Destruc-
ton of CerVera's Fleet.

WASHINGTON, July 27.-The navy de-
partment Tuesday made public the re-
ports of Adm. Sampson, Commodore
Schley, Capt. Clark, of the Oregon,
Capt Evans, of the Iowa, on the bat
tie of July 3, which resulted in the de-
struction of Cervera's squadron. The
reports are quite lengthy and the de-
tails of the naval battle are about
the same as heretofore published by
the newspapers.
Simpsons flagship. the New York, was four
m lies east of her blockading station and about
seven miles from the harbor entrance. She
had started for Siboney where Sampson in
tended to land accompanied by several of his
staff and go to the front to consult with Gen.
Shafter When the Spanish squadron APP
peared at the mouth of the harbor the remain
ing vessels were in or near their usual block
aiding positions distributed in a semi-circle
about the harbOr entrance.
The men of our ships in front of the port
were at Sunday quarters for inspection"
The signal was made simultaneously from sew
eral vessels ''Enemy's ships escaping" and
general quarters was sounded. The men
was opened probably within eight minutes by
the vessels whose guns commanded the en-
trance. The New York" turned about and
steamed for the escaping fleet, flying the sig
nal Close in toward harbor entrance and at
tack vessels and gradually increasing speed
until toward the end of the chase she was
making 164 knots and was rapidly closing on
| the "Cristobal Colon
| She was not at any time within the range of
the heavy Spanish ships, and her only part in
the firing to receive the undivided fire
| from the forts in passing the harbor entrance
| and to fire few shots at one of the destroyers
| thought at the moment to be attempting to es-
! cape from the Gloucester.
The skilful handling and gallant fighting of
| the Gloucester excited the admiration of every
| one who witnessed it, and merits the COM
mendation of the navy department She is a
fast and entirely unprotected auxiliary YES
| sel--the yacht CorSair- and has a good battery
Of light r. f. guns
The rescuing of prisoners including the
| wounded from the burning Spanish vessels
says Sampson, was the occasion of some OF
the mo st daring and gallant conduct of the
day. The ships were burning fore and aft
thei r guns and reserve ammunition were ex-
ploding, and itw not known at what moment
the fl re would reach the main magazines In
addition to this heavy surf was running lust
inside of the Spanish ships. But no risk de-
TERED our officers and men until their work of
humanity Was complete.
The Cristobal Colon was not injured by our
firing and probably is not much injured by
Bleaching, though she ran ashore at high speed.
The beach was steep that she came off by
the working of the sea. But her sea valves
ed nd
sure, after her surrender and despite all efforts
she sank When it became evident that
she could not be kept af1oat, she was pushed
by the New York bodily upon the beach
the - New York stern being placed against
her for this purpose-the ship being handled
by Capt Chadwick with adm iral Judgment
and sank in ShOal water and may be saved
Had this not been done she would have gone
down in deepwater and would have been to a
certainty, a total loss
When all the work was done so we'll saws
the report, it is difficult to discriminate in
praise. The object of the blockade of Ger
veraS squadron was fully accomplished each
individual bore well his part in 1.-THE COM
modore in command of the second division, the
captains of ships, their officers and men
Commodore Schley. in his report to
Adm. Sampson, says:
Il have never in my life served with a drawer,
better or worthier crew than that of the Brook
Ign. During the combat, lasting from 9:S5 un-
til 1:l5 p. m, much of the time under fire.
they never tagged for moment and were ap-
parently undisturbed by the storm of projec-
tiles passing ahead, astcrn and over the ship.
Il congratulate you most sincerely upon this
great victory to the squadron under you COM
mand, and am glad that had an opportunity
to contribute in the least to victory that
seems big enough for all Of use