The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-10-29

gives strange mixture Of entries con-
corning the ordinary life Of thu vessel and
the operations Of the American feet out
beyond the hsadlands On May 81, the
Colon seemingly had narrow escape
from serious injury during the lombard
ment of that day, the log recording that
IAN enemy's shell exploded near the
stern making dents in the side and crack
ing some bowls in the round house."
III, hearts of the Spaniards were glad
densd On this day by what they thought
were evidences of injury inflicted on the
American ships by their fire. The log
says: "When the ships retired it was in
disorder and in eur Judgment confirmed
the fact that two of them required con-
voying by the Brooklyn"
On the first of June, the Colon moved
to the inner RIB r. Two days later came
the news of the sinking of the Merriinac.
The first tidings Of the doings of Hobson
and his brave band were conveyed to the
Colon by the following message signa,led
from the fl 6 hip: MERCHANT vessel which
entered the mouth Of the harbor4 was
sunk while passing Nisparo bay. She
was struck BY two torpsdoes. one from
The .ut,n and the other from an observa-
ton mine We oaptursd one officer and
seven Anne rican sailors" The log for days
after this bears evidence of the careful
watch kept by the Americans on the
mouth Of the harbor, such entries as
"enemy's searchlights illiumined mouth
Of the arbor all night" icing of frequent
occurrence. Orders to get up steam and
prepare to move were numerous and it is
evident that the admiral WAS prepared to
take advantage of any chanos that offered
to make his escape from the harbor. 1t
is INTEREST," ng to note that the Colon Sc
cured the small boat of the Merry max"
and repaired 1T.
FORCES LANDED.
On the seventh OF June, "a men were sent
to the Mercedes at the mouth Of the har.
Dor and 1t WAS then that the crew Of the
Colon learned Of the death Of Commander
e. Costa of that vessel and fyefof his
mensand the wounding OF twelve Others.
The log shows that the Spaniardso had
enough to eat such as 1t was for on June
IL fiye tons Of rice and other provisions
were taken on board. 1t is interesting to
note that as the month Of Juno wore on
the log gives evidence Of the need of rein
forcements to the forces on shore for two
companies were landed from the Colon
aud there are frequent references to sup
plies of food, clothing and ammunition
sent to them. On June II there was exer
else in landing artillery, and exercise
which was apparently preparation for the
work of the landing party for on June
"a tho land force left the ship in two
launches under command OF Ensigns
Gossi and Sagrara. The next day Lieu
tenant Emilio Butron was "lent for duty
in the Estrella battery" and day later
fifty fixed charges were sent ashore for
the pieces with the landing force. Then
In the last days OF the month come the
tidings of the advance of the American
army on the doomed city, as the news
reached the sailors on the ships swinging
at anchor out in the .harbor. On June
" musketry firing was heard in the
direction of the city and. the Oquendo
reported that infantry firing had been
seen in the direction of Dos Caminos del
Cobre. On the 23th cannon and musketry
firing were heard In the direction of