New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-11

ships and an occasional sAOt from the CriSto-
bal Colcn.
At 1890 O'Clock the chase well formed,
The positions being as follows: The enemys
ships IN column between Cabanas and Guaya-
ca bon. the Brooklyn steering a parallel course
2 mile distant. with the oregon two miles south
east. The other American vessels were obscured
by the smoke.
At 1898 the Colon and the leading ships Of
the enemy were close together. just clear OF the
Brookyr's bow, as viewed from the Vixen. the
CristObai Colon gaining speed and closing up.
1t was apparent that the leading vessel was dis
abled and on fire. as she dropped rapidly astcrn.
she apparently headed for the shore off Juan
Gonzales.
THE OREGON FORCES AHEAD.
The Oregon forging ahead capitally. engaged
the fourth ship as she passed Two smaller Span
ish vessels. probably the Furor and The Pluton.
TO the westward Of Cabanas. engaged the iowa
and the Texas. though apparently on fire. But
the leading vessels too far to the ives. to
Ne identified accurately. The Indiana was in
sight little to the west o. Moro Castle.
At 1884 o'clock the Cristobal Colon was still
gaining and was reserving her fire At this
moment the only American vessels seen from
the Vixen the Brooklyn. the Oregon. the
Texas and the Iowa. six miles behind the
oregon. The Indiana was four miles astern OF
the Iowa
At 1927 the Cristohal Colon ard other Span
ISL ships resumed the heavy fire The second
vessel was five miles from the Vixen. The ore
gon gaining rapidly on the Crstobal Colon.
which was using snlokelcss powder. The enc
my's fire was very high. and many OF their shots
passed the Brooklyn. falling close TO the
Vixen. a piece OF a shell tearing the flag at
her manmast.
THE BROOKLYN'S DEADLY FIRE.
At 1O47 the Brooklyn forged ahead and the
oregon fired her forward 13-nch gun at the
leading Spanish vessel. At 1o:41 the Texas. in
front Of the Iowa. was gaining rapidly. AT this
time the Brooklyn's fire steady and deadly.
her shells striking or bursting alongside OF the
Spaniards
At 40 the Texas reached Juan Gonzales.
and the Indiana apparently off Cabanas.
At 1880 the Vixen approached heading north
northwest The Texas was gaining rapidly and
the Iowa appeared to he off Juan Gonzales. and
the Gloucester appeared of Guayacabon. hotly
engaging the enemy's ships At 1014 another
Spanish vessel was on fire. and heading for the
beach with heavy list to port. This was the
Vizcaya. making for the reef Mt Acerraderos At
II :O1 the viscaya ported her helm and headed
east. apparently seeking the entrance to Acerra
dores. The Texas and the Vixen directed their
fire on the Vizcaya until 11:07 when. as the
coors were down. ceased. At II 90 there
came a burst OF fame and smoke from the Viz
caya's stern. and all the ships reserved their
fire while passing the doomed vessel. which was
hard Acerraderos reef
At 1:l6 the Brooklyn. the Oregon. the Texas.
the Iowa and the Indiana--the last named ten
miles from the Crlstoba Colon-werc IN sight OF
the Vixen. 1t believed on the Vixen that
the vessel at Acerraderos the Spanish flag
ship At 11:25 the Iowa had stopped. The
after end OF the Nizcaya was a sheet OF fame.
and from II :26 to 40 there were many ex-
plosions on board the Vizcaya. apparently
caused by the ignition Of loose charges about the
guns. They resembled huge chrysanthemums
with ribbons Of smoke as the burning powder
grains fell from the ends OF the petals.
CHASING THE CRIsTOBAL COLON
At 40 O'Clock the chase resolved itself into
the Cristobal Colon which was close ashore and
seven miles from the Vixen. with the Oregon
one point on the sterboard bow, distant mile
and half; the Brooklyn one point On the star
board bow. distant three miles; the Texas on
the starboard quarter. distant mile the
Iowa two points the starboard side. distant
eight miles and the New York one point on the
starboard quarter. distant ten miles The two
last vessels we're apparently of Boca del Rio.
hut were too far distan. to be certainly identl-
fed In the thin haze and smoke from the leading
ships. No other vessels were in sight. The
smoke from the ship destroyed at Juan Con
"a es ard TO the eastward could be seen. but the
vessels hull was Invisible.
At noon the relative positions Of the Ameri-
can ships practically the same When the
Vixen was abreast Of Sevllla. thirteen miles
west of Santiago. the Texas bore three points
on the starboard quarter. little less than a
mile off, and the Oregon and the Brooklyn one
point on the starboard and port bow. distant
four and FIVE miles respectively: while the Girls
tobal Colon bore two points on the starboard
bow. distant fully ten miles
According 10 the official pilot the Vixen
| distance was taken from the officers and ofi-
| c!al pilot. At 12:DJ O'Clock the NewYOrk was
| IN line with the burning Vzcaya at distance
| OF nine miles. At 1918 o'clock the Texas was
| on the starhoard quarter. the NewYork two
| points on the starboard quarter, gaining; the
oregon a half point on the starboard bow. the
| brooklyn one point on the port bow. and the
| Cristobal Colon one point on the starboard bow.
| still miles away. At 1920 o'clock the Oregon
fred a shot which fell short. The Cristobal
Colon was then hull down from the Vixen. Dur
! ing the next half-hour the occasional shots from
| the oregon and the Brooklyn struck near the
| chase.
! At 1850 the Texas was one point forward Off
! the starboard beam and was steadily gaining.
| At l:l5 O'Clock the Oregon and the Brooklyn
| headed In shore about four points.
THE TEXAS ANNOUNCES VICTORY
| At % O'Clock the Texas slgpalled THE en-
| envy has surrendered" This signal Was re-
| ported to the NewYork. but was not acknowl-
edged. The Cristobal Colon was seen through
| glasses aiming close in shore. and. according to
the pilot at Rio TarquIno. 1t was thought on
board the Vixen that a white flag display ed