The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-27

torpedo boat destroyers were destroyed
early in the action. but the smoke was SO
which vessel or vessels the credit belongs.
This doubtless was better seen from your
flagship
A RUNNING FIGHT.
a. The Vizcaya and Colon, perceiving the
disaster to their consorts. continued at full
speed to the westward to escape, and were
followed and engaged in a running fight
with the Brooklyn, Texas. Iowa and Ore
gon until 1880. when the Vizcaya took fire
from our shells. She put her helm to port
and with heavy list to port stood inshore
and aground at Acerraderos, about
twenty-one miles west of Santiago. on fire
fore and aft, and where she blew up during
the night. Observing that she had struck
her colors, and that several vessels were
nearing to capture and save her crew, sig
nal was made to cease firing. The Oregon
having proved vastly faster than the other
battle ships, she and the Brooklyn, together
with the Texas and another vessel, which
proved to be your flagship, continued west
ward in pursuit of the Colon, which had
run close in shore. evidently seeking some
good spot to beach if she should fail to
elude her Dursuers.
IS This pursuit continued with increas-
ing speed in the Brooklyn, oregon ana
other ships, and soon the Brooklyn ana the
Oregon were within long range OF the
Colon, when the Oregon opened hre with ner
thirteen-inch guns, Landing a smell ciose 70
the Colon. moment afterwards the
Brooklyn opened, d FIRE WITH ed her Of ber sev
eral other shells were fired at the Coon
now in range of the Brooklyn's and ore
Chances of escape cut off and destruction
awaiting his ship, fired lee gun anu
struck her flag at rs p M, ana ran asilore
at a point some fifty miles west or Santiago
harbor Your flagship was coming up rap
idly at the time as was also the Iexas
and Vixen little later after wS yoSSr b ar
struck to the Brooklyn and the oregon
was turned over to you as one of the tro-
plies CT this great victory OF the squaoron
..6 During my official visit little later,
Commander Eaton, of the Resolute, APP
peared and reported to you ' Aftdres Your
orders to me were to take the oregon anu ~
eastward to meet her, ana TINS was uo oie
vessel reported as an enemy was discovered
to be the Austrian cruiser lnfanta MARIA
Teresa, seeking the commencement
PRAISE FOR OTHERS.
az. would mention for your consloera-
ton that the Brooklyn occupied the most
westward blockadng position with the
Vixen. and being more directly in the route
taken by the Spanish squadron was eX-
posed for some minutes, possibly ten, 10
the gunfire of three of the Spanish ships
and the west battery at a range of 15Oo
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. 1 have never before wit
messed such deadly and fatally accurate
shooting as was done by the ships OF your
command, as they closed in on the span
ish squadron, and / deem 1T high prlvl-
lege to commend to you for such action
as you may deem proper the gallantry ana
dashing courage, the prompt decision and
the skillful handling of their respective
vessels of Captain Phinp, Captain Evans,
Captain Clark and especially OF my chlef
of staff, Captain Cook, who was directly
under my personal observation and whose
GOODNESS, promptness and courage were OF
the highest order. The dense smoke of the
combat shut out from my view the Indiana
and the Gloucester, but as these vessels
were closer to your flagship, no doubt their
part in the conflict was under your imme-
date observation.
IS. Lieutenant Sharp. commanding the
Vixen, acted with conspicuous courage; al
though unable to engage the heavier ships
of the enemy with his light guns, never
thelesS was close into the battle line under
heavy fire and many of the enemys shot
passed beyond his vessel.
80. / beg to invite special attention to
the conduct of my flag lieutenant, James
II. Sears, and Ensign Edward McCuley, jr.,
aid, who were constantly at my side dur
ing the engagement and who exposed them
selves fearessly in discharging their duties,
and also to the splendid behavior of my
secretary, Lieutenant B. w. Wells, jr., who
commanded and directed the fighting of the
fourth division with splendid effect.
10. l would commend the highly mer-
ltorlous conduct ana courage in the engage
ment of Lieutenant Commander N. F..
Mason, the executive officer whose pres
ence everywhere over the ship during it's
continuance did much to secure the good
result of this ships part in the victory
III. The navigator. Lieut.. A c. Hodg-
son, and the division officers, Lieut.. T. D.
griffin, Lieut.. w. r. Rush, Lieut. Edward
Simpson, Lieut.. ]. G. Doyle, Ensign Charles
Webster. and the junior divisional officers
We're most steady and conspicuous in every
detail of duty contributing to the accurate
firing of this ship in her part of the great
victory of your forces.
''12. 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 war;
rant officers, Boatswain w. l.. Hill, Carpen-
ter q. II. Warford and Gunner f. T. Apple
gate were everywhere exposed in watching
for damage, reports of which were promptly
conveyed to me.
BRAVE AND WORTHY CREW.
'13. 1 have never in my life served with
a Drawer, better or worthier crew than that
of the Brooklyn. During the combat last
ing from 9:S5 until lis p. M, much of the
time under fire, they never tagged for
moment, and were apparently undlsturbed
by the storm Of projectiles passing ahead,
astern and over the ship.
IA. The result of the engagement was the
destruction of the Spanish squadron and the
capture of the admiral and some thirteen
to fifteen hundred prisoners, with the loss
of several hundred killed, estimated by Ad-
miral Cervera at 600 men.
lis. The casualties on board this ship
were: G.. H. Ellis, chief yeoman, killed;
j. Burns, fireman, first class, severely
wounded. The marks and scars show that
the ship was struck about twenty-five times,
result of her participation in the great naval
victory of your force on July 3, 1898. The
Speed-cone halyards were shot away, and
nearly all the signal halyards. The ensign
at the main was so shattered that in haul
ing it down at the close of the action it fell
in pieces.
"16. 1 congratulate you most sincerely
upon this great victory to the squadron UNI
der your command, and / am glad that
had an opportunity to contribute in the least
to victory that seems big enough for all of
us. 2W
with the report of the commanding ott1cer
and drawing in profile of the ship show
ing the location of hits and scars and also
a memorandum of ammunition expended
and the amount to fill her allowance.
1S. Since reaching this place and hold
ing conversation with several of the cap
tiVeS viz: Captain Eulate, of the Vizcaya,
and the second commander of the Colon,
Commander Contreras, have learned that
the Spanish admirafS scheme was to con-
centrate all fire for while on the Brook
Ign, and the Vizcaya to ram her. in hopes
that If they could destroy her, the chance
of escape would be increased as it was
supposed she was the swiftest ship of your
squadron. This explains the heavy fire men
toned and the ViZcayaS action in the ear