The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-07-27
COMMODORE SCHLEY'S STORY

OF the RonndipE Up Of the colon-Th'
Deadly and Accurate Shooting Of th'
American wRFshiPS.
WASHINGTON, D. G., July 2s-com'
modore schley's report describes IL
practically the way Admiral Sampson
does the attempt Of the Spanish squad
ron to escape, and the immediate gen
eral engagement at ranges beginning al
LOO yards and varying to 5000 yards
until the vlzcaVa was destroyed. He
then says:
The Oregon having proved vastly tas-
ter than the other battleships, she and
the Brooklyn, together with the Texas
and another vessel which proved TO be
YOUR flagship. continued westward In
pursult Of the Colon, which had run
Close inshore, evidently seeking some
good spot to beach IL she should fall 70
eiude her pursuers,
The pursuit continued with increasing
speed in the Brooklyn, Oregon ana oth-
er ships. and soon the Brooklyn and the
Oregon were within long range Oh Ine
Colon, when the Oregon opened are
with her thlrteen-ineh guns, landing
sheIl close to the Colon. A moment az
terwards the Brooklyn opened fire with
her eIght-inch guns, landing smell
Just ahead OF her. Several other snells
were fired at the Colon. now In range OF
the Brooklyn and Oregon. Her COM
mander seeing all chances OF escape cut
on and destruction awaiting his snip,
fred lee gun and struck her nag az
1:i5 D. m. and ran ashore at a point
some fifty miles west OF Santiago mar
Dor. Your flagship was coming up rap.
IdIE at the same time, as was also the
Texas and Vixen. A little later, gLter
your arrival, the Crlstobal Colon, which
had stuck to the Brooklyn and che Ore
gon, was turned over to you as one OF
the trophies Of this great victory OF the
squadron under your command.
Tho BrooIslyn's Action.
would mention for your considera-
ton that the Brooklyn occupied the
most westward blockading position
with the Vixen and being more directly
in the route taken by the Spanish
SQUADRON was exposed for some min
utes, possibly ten, to the gun FIRE OF
three Spanish ships and the west bat
terry at a range Of 1000 yards from the
shIps and about 1900 yards from the
batteries, but the vessels OF the entire
souadron, closing in rapidly, soon d.
yerted this FIRE and did magnificent
work at close range. have never De-
fore witnessed such deadly and fatally
accurate shooting as was done by the
shIps OF your command as they closed
in on the Spanish squadron, and deem
IL a high privilege TO commend TO you
for such action as you may deem pro-
per the gallantrR and dashing courage
the prompt decision and the skilltul
handling OF their respective vessels oil
Captain Phillip. Captain Evans, Cap
tain Clark and especially Of my CHIEF
OF stan, Captain Cook, who was direct.
ly under my personal observation and
whose GOODNESS, promptness and courage
were of the highest order, The dense
smoke OF the combat shut out from my
view the Indiana and the Gloucester
but MS these vessels were closer to youl
flagship no doubt their part in the con-
dict was under your immediate ooser-
walton.
PraI,s for the Crew.
After commencing the gallantry OF a
number OF officers, Commodore schley
continues: II have never in my liz
served with a drawer. better or worth
Ter crew than that OF the Brooklyn
During the combat. lasting from 1886 a
m. until 1a5 p. M, much of the time
under fire, they never tagged for q
moment and were apparently undis'
turbed by the storm OF proiectlles pass
ing ahead, astern and over the ship.
The result OF the engagement was thu
destruction OF THE Spanish squadron
and the capture OF the admiral ant
some thirteen TO Rfteen hundred prison
ora. with the loss OF several hundred
killed, estimated by Admiral Cervera a
The casualties on board this shlI
were: g. II. Ellis, chief yeomar, Kill
cd. /. Burns, fireman nrst class, Sc
yocely wounded. The marks and scar!
show that the ship was struck abou
twenty-five times, and she bears In al
forty-one scars as the result OF her par
ticlpatlon In the great victory OF you
force on July 3, 1898. The speed cont
halllards were shot away, and nearly nj
the slgnnl halllnrds. The ensign at thi
main mast was 30 snatteIcu Nhat II
hauling It down at the close OF the &C
ton It fell in pieces.
I congratulate you most sincerely up
on this great victory to the squadron
under your command, and am glat
that had an opportunity to contribute
In the least TO n victory that seems bll
enough for all OF us.
Fire Concentrated on Brooklyn.
Since reaching this place and holdlni
conversation with several of the cap
talns, viz: Captain Eulate. OF the Viz
caya, aud the second IN command o
the Colon. commander Contrerls. i hav
learned that the Spanish admiral
scheme was to concentrate all FIRE for {
while on tho Brooklyn, and the Vizcnyt
was to ram her, In hopes that II thel
could destroy her the chances OF cFcap
would be increased as It was supposed
sho was the swlftest ship Of you
squadron. THIS explains the heavy fit
mentioned and the VlScaya'S netlon Il