The record-union., 1898-07-29
the Colon surrendered were making
nearly sixteen


nearly sixteen.
The OquendO, soon after the falling
out of the Teresa, dropped astern, and,
Colon continued on under fire from the
Brooklyn and Oregon. The other yes
sells of our fleet were we'll astern and
out of range. The Texas was evident
ly coming up fast.
"At about 1858 a. m. the Vizcaya
was seen to be on fire, and the Colon
passed inside of her with increased
speed, took the lead and forged ahead.
The Vizcaya soon after ran on the
beach ablaze with fire.
I'VE signaled the Oregon to cease fir
ing on the Vizcaya. as her flag was
down. Firing Immediately ceased, and
we both continued the chase of the Co
lon, now about 5000 yards away. The
ranges ran from 1,500 to 1900 yards
with the ViZcaya, as she kept in and
out from the coast. We steered for a
distant point near Cape Cruz, While the
Colon kept close 10 the land. She could
not have come out without crossing our
bows, and we were steadily gaining on
her. We We're getting more steam all
the time, and now had four and one
half boilers on and the remaining one
and one-half nearly ready.
after running for about fifty miles
west from the entrance the Colon ran
into land, beached, fired a gun to lee
ward and hauled down her flag. The
Oregon and Brooklyn had just pre-
Viously begun to fire upon the Colon,
and We're landing shells close to her.
was sent on board by Commodore
Schley to receive the surrender. The
Captain spoke English and received me
though naturally much de-
pressed. He surrendered uncondition-
ally. He was polite, shook hands and
said that his case was hopeless, and
that he saw we We're too much for
him. l was on board about fifteen
minutes. AS we came from the Colon
the flagship New York came on with
the Texas. l reported on board the
flagship to Rear Admiral Sampson. The
officers and crew behaved with great
and unexceptional GOODNESS and
bravery, so that it is difficult to dis
criminate. They We're encouraged in
their best efforts by your enthusiasm
and your CHEEKY words. Fire steady,
boys, and give it to them
WAINWRIGHT REPORT.
WASHINGTON, July 2S.-Lieuten-
ant Commander Wainwright of the
Gloucester submits the following:
~. S. S. Gloucester off Santiago de
Cuba, July 6.-Sir: / have the honor
to report that at the battle of Santiago
on July Sd the officers and crew of the
We're uninjured and the yes
sci was not injured in hull or machin-
cry, the battery only requiring some
slight overhauling.
II inclose herewith a copy of the re-
port Of the executive officer, made in
with paragraph 90, page
10. Naval Regulations, which report L
believe to be correct in all particulars.
I also inclose copies of the reports or
the several officers, which may prove
for future reference.
1T was the plain duty of the
to look after the destroyers
and she was held back, gaining steam,
until they appeared at the entrance.
The Indiana poured in a hot fire from
all her secondary batteries upon the
destroyers, but Captain Taylor's sig
nal, 'Gunboats close in, gave security
that we would not be fired upon by
our own ships. The leading destroyer
was injured. Our course was converg-
ing necessarily, but as soon as she
slackened her speed we headed directly
for the vessels, firing both port and
starboard batteries, as the occasion OF
fered
''All the officers and nearly all of the
men deserve my highest praise FOR
their conduct during the action. The
escape Of the Gloucester was due main
~ to the accuracy and rapidity of her
fire. The efficiency Of this fire, as we'll
as that of the ship generally, was large
y due to the intelligent and unremlttlnS
Efforts of the executive officer, Lieuten-
ant Harry P. Huse. The result is more
to his credit when it is remembered
that a large proportion of the officers
and men were unframed when
he Gloucester was commissioned.
the action he was on the
bridge and carried out my orders with
great calmness. That we were able to
lose in with the destroyers-and until |
We did so they We're not seriously in
ured-Was largely due to the skill of
Passed Assistant Engineer George w. |
McElroy The blower was put on and |
he speed increased to seventeen knots !
without causing tube to leak or 6 |
)rass to heat. Lieutenant Wood, Lieu |
enant George H. Norman, Jr., and En-
ign John T. Edison not only controlled |
he fire of the guns in their divisions |
md prevented waste of ammunition, but |
hey also did some excellent shooting. |
themselves. Acting Assistant Surgeon |
Burgess took charge of one of the guns |
md fired it himself occasionally. Act |
ng Assistant Paymaster Alexander |
Brown had charge of the two Colt |
guns. firing one himself, and they did |
excellent work. Assistant Engineer A. |
VI. Proctor carried my orders from the |
bridge and occasionally fired a gun
When 1 found it was not being served |
luite satisfactorily All were cool and |
Ictive at time when they could have
,ut little hope of escaping uninjured
"Lieutenants Wood and Norman. En-