Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-07-09

Off Santiago "A Graphic
6f 4 Terrific and Remarkable

possible to ram any OF the Spanish
ships on account Of their superior
speed, the Iowa's helm was put TO
the starboard and she ran on
course parallel with the enemy. Be-
ing then abreast of the Animate
OQuendo at a distance of LOO yards
the Iowa's entire battery, including
the rapid-fire guns, was opened OF
Oquendo. The punishment was
terrific. Many II ana S-incn shells
were seen to explode inside of her
and smoke came out through The
matches. Two Pinch shells from
the Iowa pierced the Almirante
OQuendo at the same moment, one
forward and the other aft. The
Oquendo seemed to stop her en-
gines for moment and lost head
way, but she Immediately resumed
her speed and gradually drew
ahead of the Iowa and came under
the terrific fire of the Oregon and
Texas.
Sat this moment the alarm OF
torpedo boats was sounded and
two torpedo boat destroyers were
discovered in the starboard quarter
at distance of 1000 yards. Fire
was at once opened on them with
the after battery and a 12-inch shell
cut the stern of one destroyer
squarely off. AS the shell struck
a small torpedo boat fired back at
the battleship, sending shell with
in few feet of my head. ] said to
Executive Officer Rogers that little
chap has got lot of cheek. Rog-
ers shouted back: She shoots very
we'll all the same
'FWell up among the advancing
cruisers, splitting shots at one and
then anot,lpf, was the little
Gloucester, /hooting first at a cruz
ser and then at a torpedo boat and
hitting a head wherever she saw it.
The marvel was that she was not
DESTROYED by the rain of shells. In
tbs meantime the Vizcaya was
glowly drawing abeam of the Iowa,
+ and for the space of fifteen min
utes 1t was give and take between
the two ships. The Vizcaya fired
rapidly but wildly, not one shot
taking effect on the Iowa, while
the shells from the Iowa were tear
ing great rents in the sides of the
Vizcaya. AS the latter passed
ahead of the Iowa she came under
the murderous fire of the Oregon.
"At this time the Infanta Maria
Teresa and the Almirante Oquendo,
leading the enemy's column, were
seen to be heading for the beach
ana 10 fl pounded them unmercf-
fully. They ceased to reply to the
fire and in a few moments the
Spanish cruisers were mass of
flames and on the rocks with their
colors down, the Teresa flying
white flag at the fore. The crews
of the enemy's ships stripped
themselves and began jumping
overheard and one of the smaller
magazines began to explode.
meantime the Brooklyn and the
Cristobal Colon were exchanging
compliments in lively fashion at
apparently long range, and the
Oregon with her locomotive speed
was hanging we'll on the Colon
also paying attention to the Viz
caya. 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 Vizcaya put her
helm to port with a great burst of
flame from the after part of the
ship and headed slowly for the
rocks at Acceraderos, where she
found her last resting place.
ut was apparent that the Iowa
could not possibly catch the Girls
focal Colon and that the Oregon
and Brooklyn undoubtedly would,
beside the fast New York was also
OII uST tldlu.
IT decided that the calls of human
ity should be answered and atten-
ton given to the twelve or fifteen
hundred Spanish officers and men
who had struck their colors to the
American squadron. I therefore
headed for the wreck of the Vizcaya,
now burning furiously fore and aft.
When i was in as far as the depth
of water would admit, I lowered 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
II soon discovered that the insur-
gent Cubans from the shore were
shooting on men who were struggling
in the water after having surrendered
to us. l Immediately put a stop to
this, but I could not put a stop to
the mutilation of many bodies by the
sharks inside the reefs.
"These creatures had become ex-
cited by the blood from the wounded
mixing in the water.
MY boat crews worked manfully
and succeeded in saving many of the
wounded from the burning ships"