The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-09

to the Infanta Maria Teresa. The helm
was then quickly shifted to port, and the
shin headed across the stern of the
mfanta Maria Teresa, in an effort to
head off the Oquendo. All the time the
engines were driving at full speed ahead.
A perfect torrent of shells from the
enemy passed over the smokestacks of
the ship, but none struck her.
''The Cristobal Colon being much
faster than the rest of the Spanish ships,
passed rapidly to the front in an effort
to escape. In passing the Iowa the
Colon placed two G-inch shells fairly
into our starboard bow. One passed
through the cofferdam and dispensary.
wrecking the latter and bursting on the
berth deck doing considerable damage.
The other passed through the side at
the water line with the coffcrdnm, where
it still remains.
"As it was now obviously impossible
to ram any of the Spanish ships ON ac-
count of the superior speed, the Iowa 5
helm was put to the starboard and she
ran on Il course parallel with the enemy.
Being then abreast of the Almlrante
Oquendo at IL distance of LOO yards.
the Iowa's entire battery. including the
rapid fire guns, was opened on the
Oquendo. The punishment was terrific.
Many II and S-inch shells were seen to
explode inside of her, and smoke came
out through her hatches. Two 12-inch
shells from the Iowa pierced the Amir
ante Oquendo at the same moment, one
forward and the other aft. The Oquen-
do seemed to stop her engines for Il
moment and lost ..eadway, but she inn
mediately resumed her speed and grad
ually drew ahead of the Iowa and came
under the terrific fire of the Oregon and
Texas.
AT this moment the alarm Of torpedo
boats was sounded and two torpedo
boat destroyers were discovered on the
starboard quarter at IL distance of 1,UOO
Yards. Fire was at once opened on them
with the after battery, and II inch shell
cut the stern of one destroyer squarely
off. AS the shell struck, Il small torpedo
boat fred back at the battleship, sending
a shell within few feet of my head.
said to executive officer Rogers: That
little shap has got lot of cheek. Rog-
ers shouted back 'she shoots very well,
all the same
well up among the advancing cruis-
another, was the little Gloucester, shoot
ing first ut Il cruiser and then nj IL tor
pedo boat and hitting head wherever
she saw one. The marvel was that
she was not destroyed by the ram of
shells. In the meantime the Nizcaya
was slowly drawing abeam of the Iowa,
and for the space of fifteen minutes
it was give and take between the two
He l. s4f
wildly, not one shot taking effect on the
Iowa, while the shells from the Iowa
were tearing great rents in the sides
of the Vizcaya. AS the latter passed off
from the Iowa she came under the muir
derous fire of the Oregon. At this time,
the Infanta Maria Teresa and the Almi-
rante Oquendo. leading the enemy's col
umn were seen to be heading for the
beach and in flames. The Texas, Ore
gon and Iowa pounded them unmerci-
fully. They ceased TO reply to the fire.
and in ii few moments the Spanish
cruisers were mass of flames, and on
the rocks with their colors down, the Te-
resa flying IA white flag at the fore.
THE crews of the enemy's ships strip
ped themselves and began jumping over
board One of the smaller magazines
exploded.
Meantime the Brooklyn and the Girls
tobal Colon were exchanging compli-
ments in lively fashion at apparently
long range, and the Oregon, with her
locomotive speed was hanging well on
the Colon, also paying attention to the
Nizcaya. The Teresa and the Oquendo
were in flames on the beach just twenty
minutes after the first shot was fired.
Fifty minutes after the first shot was
fired. the Nizcaya put her helm to port,
with IL great burst of flame from the
after part of the ship, headed slowly for
the rock Acceraderos, where she found
her last resting place. AS it was appar-
ent that the Iowa could not possibly
catch the Cristobal Colon, and that the
Oregon and Brooklyn undoubtedly would,
and as the fast New York was also on
her trail. / decided that the calls of hH-
manity should be answered and attention
given to the twelve or fifteen hundred
Spanish officers and men who had struck
their colors to the American squadron,
commanded by Admiral Sampson.
therefore headed for the wreck of the
Vizcaya, now burning furiously fore
and aft When | was in rs far as the
ucDlu VI lHt water NUUltl dNllllt. IbN
cred all my boats and sent them at once
to the assistance of the unfortunate
men, who were being drowned by dozens
or roasted on the decks. | soon discover
ed that the Cubans from the shore were
shooting on the men who were strug
Cling in the water after having sur
rendered to us. | Immediately put Il
stop to this. but ] could not put stop
to the mutilation of many bodies by
the sharks inside the reef
These creatures had become excited by
the blood from the wounds mixing in
the water
My boats crews worked manfully and
in saving many of the wound
ID from the burning ship. One man who
will be recommended for promotion
clambored up the side of the Nizcaya
and saved three men from burning to-
death. The smaller magazines of the
iZcaya were exploding with magnificent
cloud effects. The boats were coming
alongside in Il steady string, and willing
lands were helping the lacerated Spanish
officers and sailors on to the lowa's
quarter deck. All the Spaniards were
absolutely without clothes. Some had
heir legs torn off by fragments of shells. |
others were mutiated in every conceiv-
lbIe way. AS | knew the crews of the |
first two ships wrecked had not. been visi- |