The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-24
1owA's PART IN THE GREAT FIGHT
A Gunner Describes the Shooting
and Surrender of Capt. EuIate.

ana Surrender of Capt. EuIate.
From the New York Sun.
Springfield, o., July 1s.-Ben Dillon,
letter, dated Guantanamo, to his broth
erJn-law. R. w. Moffett, describing the
naval battle off Santiago. He says:
1.-The Spanish fleet, consisting of four
cruisers and two torpedo boats came out
suddenly and took US by surprise COM
pletely their shot and shell bursting in and
all around us. We were not cleared for
action, as we had just put things in place
for the day, and we were at our morning
quarters when the alarm sounded Two
11-inch shells crashed through our bows.
1t got so warm on the quarter deck we
had to leave two stanchions and life lines
up. The Spanish fleet had our range down
fine, and two of them came direct for the
Iowa, followed by the Furor We let go
our star battery of SIS and 12's, which
staggered them, and smoke was seen to
pour out of the forward hatch, which
meant fire soon. The second batteries
were called to their quarters, as we used
only our starboard guns, Mine was No l.
I'VE went with cheer, and soon bed
lam reigned. The firing never ceased for
one instant The conclusion was terrible.
knocking men down and tearing our
clothes off us. Smoke and shell were fly
ing everywhere, but strange to saw not
a soul was injured.
eve turned the enemy from their course
and the word was passed stand by to
rain Matches were battened down and
still the roar kept up in the turret They
trained guns on the torpedo boats, 1000
yards away yelling, shouting and cheer
ing. Our star S-inch guns struck a tor
idcb
like a stone. The Vizcayas colors were
shot away, but they were replaced. Then
our big guns let go. All a once il seemed
they left us gasping and near dead When
the smoke cleared away the Vizcaya was
in confusion, smoke poured out of her,
men were leaping overheard, and a pair
of white trousers We're at her gait. She
had surrendered. So ended the fight Soon
she was a blazing furnace, and our bugle
sounded, Away, all boats to the rescue
Capt Eulate of the Vizcaya came on
board and paced up and down our quar-
ter deck, watching his burning ship, say
ing Viva, Viva, NiZcaya,' the tears run
ming down his face, his head and arms
bloody. He was wounded all over-cut
shot, and burned in twenty different
places. Then suddenly he stopped, took
off his sword, kissed 1t and walked up to
gallant Bob and bowed and handed him
his sword. Bob refused Il and told MIN
life when he saw the Spanish fleet COM
ing out of Santiago harbor.
Capt. Eulate said that the Iowa Grip
pied him so that he had 10 beach his ship.
as one of our 12-inch shells crashed
through his after-torpedo room, killing
over 100 men. Then we kept on and blew
the main steam valve off, disabling his
ship so he could not handle her He and
all his survivors, as they came aboard
the Iowa looked at her with awe. He also
said that our big guns were awful, but
our little ones were worse.
by this time the New York was com
ing down on us, and Capt. Evans called
all hands for three cheers for the admiral,
and they were given with a will Then
some one proposed three cheers for Capt
Evans, and they were given three times
three and many tigers Had IL not been
for excellent seamanship and a cool, calm.
collected commander the Iowa would not
have Jared so well. The way he handled
this ship was a wonder. He worked Ter
for all that was in her and she proved
herself all that was claimed for her aud
more Not a gun went wrong nor an ac-
cident occurred. Capt. Bob whistled
down into the engine room to turn her
over $50 times to the minute, and the en-
ginoer said he couldn't do it. Bod said,
Don't tell me can't; do it, and she turn
ed over more than l0J"