The Portland daily press., 1898-07-26


her S-inch guns, landing a shell just
ahead of her. Several other shells were
fired at the Colon, now in range of the
Brooklyn's and Oregon's guns. Her
commander seeing all chances of escape
cut off and destruction awaiting his ship
fred lee gun and struck her flag at
1.l5 p. H., and ran ashore some so miles
west of Santiago harbor. Your flagship
was coming up rapidly at the time, as
was also the Texas and Vixen. A little
later, alter your arrival, the Cristobal
Colon, which had struck to the Brook
lyn, and the Oregon, was turned over to
you as one of the trophies of this victory
oI the squadron under your command.
| During my official visit little later
Commander Eaton of the Resolute ap-
peared and reported to you the presence
Of a Spanish battleship near Altares.
our orders tn me were to take the Ore
gon and go eastward to meet her, and
this was done by the Brooklyn, with the
result that the vessel reported as an
enemy was discovered to be the Austrian
cruiser Infanta Maria Teresa seeking the
commander in chief.
would mention for your consideration
| 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 minutes. probably ten,
ships and the west battery at range of
LOCO yards from the ships and about
5000 yards from the batteries, but the
vessels of the entire squadron, closing in
rapidly, soon diverted this fire and did
| magnificent work at close range have
never before 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 it high privilege to commend to
you for such action as you may deem
proper, the gallantry and dashing courage,
the prompt decision and the skilful
handling Of their respective vessels. of
Capt. Philip, Capt. Evans, Capt. Clark
and especially of my chief of staff. Capt.
Cook, who was directly under my per-
sonal observation, and whose GOODNESS,
promptness and courage were OF the high
est order. Lieut. Sharp, commanding
| the Vixen, acted with conspicuous oour-
age, and although unable to engage the
heavier ships of the enemy with his light
guns, nevertheless was close in to the
| battle line under heavy fire and many of
the eneiny's shot passed beyond his ves-
sci.
| beg to invite special attention to the
conduct of my flag lieutenant, James FL.
Sears and Ensign Edward NlcCauley,
Jr., aide, who were constantly at my
side during the engagement and who ex-
posed themselves fearlessly in discharg-
ing their duties, and also to the splendid
behavior OF my secretary, Lieut.. B. w.
| Wells, Jr., who commanded and directed
the fighting of the fourth division with
splendid effect, I would commend the
nlgnly mer1tOr1ous conduct and courage
IN the engagement of Lieut.. Commander
N. X. Mason, the executive officer. The
navigator, Lieut.. A. G. Hodgson, and
the division officers, Lieut.. Il. D. Griffin,
Lieut. W. r. Rush. Lieut.. Edward Simp-
son, Lieut.. j.. g. Doyle, Ensign Charles
| Webster and the gun divisional ffioers,
every detail of duty. The officers of the
medical, pay. and engineer and marine
| corps responded to every demand of the
| occasion and were fearless in exposing
themselves The warrant officers, Boats
vain Vim. L. Hill, Carpenter @. III. War
ford and Gunner F. L. Applegate. were
everywhere exposed in watching for
damage, reports of which were promptly
conveyed to me.
have never in my life served with a
| Drawer, better or worthier Grew than that
on the Brooklyn. During the combat,
lasting from LBS a. m. until /. 10 p. IN.
much OF the time under fire, they never
tagged for moment and were apparent
ly undisturbed by the storm of projeotiles
passing ahead, astern and over the ship.
The result of the engagement was the
| destruction OF the Spanish squadron and
the capture of the admiral and some thir-
teen to fifteen hundred prisoners with
the loss OF several hundred killed, esti-
| mated by Admiral Cervera at 600. The
| casualties on board this ship were: g.
81. Ellis, chief yeoman, killed, and j.
Burns, fireman of the first class, severely
wounded. The marks and scars show
that the ship was struck 25 times AMI
| bears in ali Al scars as the result of her
participation in the great victory of our
force on July 8, 1898.
The speed cone halliards were shot
away and nearly all the signal halliards.
The ensign at the close Of action, fell in
pieces I congratulate you most sincerely
upon this great victory to the squadron
under your command and am glad that
had an opportunity to contribute in the
least to the victory that seems big enough
for all of us. have the honor to trans
NIT herewith the report OF the command
Ing officer and drawing in profile of
the ship, showing the location of hits and
scars: also memorandum of the ammu-
milton expended and the amount to fill
her allowance.
Since reaching this place and holding
conversations with several of the captains,
viz: Capt Eulate of the Vizcaya. and
the second in command of the Colon,
Commander Contreras, / have learned
that the Spanish admirals scheme was
to concentrate all fire for awhile on the
Brooklyn, and the Vizcaya TO ram her,
in hopes they would destroy her, the
chance of escape would be increased as it
was supposed she4was the swiftest ship
OF our squadron. This explains the heavy
fire mentioned and the Vizcaya's action
In the earlier monuments of the engage
ment. The execution of this purpose was
promptly defeated by the fact that all the
ships Of the squadron advanced into close
range and opened an irresistably furious
and terrific fire upon the eneny's squad
ron as 1T was coming out Of the harbor.
I am glad to say that the injury sup
posed to be below the water line was due
to water valve being opened from some
unknown cause and flooding the COM
partment. The injury to ths belt is found
to be only slight and the leak small.
beg to enclose list of the officers and
crew who participated in the combat of
July 8, 1898.
I cannot close this report without men
tioning in high terms Of praise the SPLEEN
did conduct and support Of Capt. G. Il.
Clark of the Oregon.