Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-07-27

Of the entrance, the other ships having
driftcd well to the cast
On the bridge Navigator Hodgson of
the Brooklyn said sharply to the look
out: Isn't that smoke movingY and the
lookout. after a minutes inspection with
the long glass, dropped it cxcitedly and
fairly yelled: There's big ship coming
out of the harhor, sr!' H0dgson, who
is a particularly cool man, looked once
himself and then, graspng the mega
phone, shouted: After bridge, there! Tell
the commodore the cncmy's fleet is com
ing outP
Commodore Schley was sitting under
the awning on the quarter deck. Going
TO the bridge he said: Raise tive signal
TO the feet" and turning to CAPT. Cook,
who stood near. he said: Clear ship for
action" Then he went forward and took
his place on a little platform of W ,od run
ming on the outside of the coming tower,
which had been built for him. lie was
dressed in blue trousers. black alpaca
Jacket and the regulation cap, without
the broad band of gold braid. The men
with n yell went to their guns and the
rapid preliminary orders were given.
Schley, glasses in hand, watched the
first ship turn out, and saw her start for
the west. Still he gave no signal to fire
or move. The Oregon opened with her
13-inch shells, and the Indiana and Texas
followed suit. But the range was n long
one, Still the Brooklyn waited But
down below the coal was being forced into
the furnace, every boiler was being work
ed and every gun made ready to fire.
.Schley wanted 10 know which way they
were all going, or whether they would
scatter In the meantime Ihc Oregon be-
gan 10 turn to he west and the Texas had
moved in closer and was damaging the
leading ship, the Infanta Maria Teresa.
Commodore's Order to Fire.
"They are all coming west, sir" shout-
ed Lieut.. Sears. And just then the west
ern batteries opened up. Full speed
ahead. Open fire." shoute,, the commo-
dore. "Fire deliberately and don't waste
shot" he added; and tho ordcrlies car
ried the word to the turrets. In an in
stant the Brooklyn's eieAt and five-inch
batteries on her port side opened and the
cruiser headed for point in front Of the
first escaping ship, firing at and receiving
the fire from two of them.
Then Commodore Schley saw the first
ship was coming out from the shore,
headed directly for the Brooklyn, with
the evident intention of ramming her. 4
clever manoeuver was here accomplished.
''Hard-a-port with your helm!' shouted
Schiey; and the cruiser began TO go
around, the smoke coming from her fun
nels in huge volumes. Quickly she turn
ed and quickly her big steel ram was
pointing at the first ship. The Infanta
Maria Teresa had to work in shore 10
avoid being rammed. The shells Of the
Texas and Oregon, with the terrible storm
Of shells from the Brooklyn, had dome
their work and the smoke began 10 ap-
peas pouring from her decks.
In the meantime the converted yacht
Gloucester could be seen, with the help
of the Iowa, destroying the two TORPEDO
boat destroycrs that had followed the last
ship out. At 10 o'clock the entire Cape
Verde squadron was outside 4he harbor
and going rapidly westward. The Iowa
and the Indiana could not keep ZIP tie
pace; but the Oregon was coming across
TO the assistance of the Brooklyn. which
at 1905 was engaging the first thf"e
ships, the Infanta Maria Teresa, Ike Cris-
tobal Colon and the Eizcaya. At l0:il
the Spanish ships had all concentrated
their shots on the Brooklyn and she was
in 4 perfect rain Of shells, most of which
went over her.
Standing in this hail Of shells, Commo-
dorc Sehley asked 4 young man named
Ellis, who stood mean with stadimeter:
what is the distance TO the Nize4ya!
The man took the observation. ''Tweaty-
two hundred yards, sir" he said, and
there was whistle followed BY splash
as his head was literally torn from his
shoulders by On cight-inch shell.