The record-union., 1898-07-27

flagship, continued westward in pur-
suit of the Colon, which had run in
close inshore, evidently seeking some
good spot to beach if she should fail to
elude her pursuers.
This pursuit continued with increas-
ing speed in the Brooklyn, Oregon and
other ships, and soon the Brooklyn and
the Oregon were within long range of
the Colon, and the Oregon opened fire
with her 13-inch guns, landing shell
close to the Colon. A moment after
ward the Brooklyn opened fire with 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 es-
cape cut off, and the destruction await
ing his ship, fired lee gun and struck
| her flag at 1:15 p. m. and ran ashore at
| a point some fifty miles west of Santi-
ago harbor. Your flagship was coming
| up rapidly at the time, as was also the
| Texas and Vixen.
"A little later, after your arrival, the
Cristobal Colon, which had struck to
the Brooklyn and the Oregon, was
turned over to you as one of the tro-
phies of this great victory of the squad
| ron 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.
Your orders to me We're to take the
| Oregon and go eastward to meet her.
and this was done by the Brooklyn
with the result that the vessel reported
as enemy was discovered to be the
Austrian cruiser Infanta Maria Teresa,
seeking the commander in chief
Il would mention for your considera-
ton that the Brooklyn occupied the
most westward blockading position
| with the Vixen, and being more di-
rectly in the route taken by the Span
| ish squadron, was exposed for some
minutes, possibly 10, to the gun fire of
| three of the Spanish ships and the west
battery at a range of 1000 yards from
the ships and about 5000 yards from
the batteries, but the vessels of the en-
| tire squadron,s closing in rapidly, soon
/ diverted this fire and did magnificent
work at close range. / have never be-
| fore 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
| 1T high privilege to commend to you
for such action as you may deem proper
| the gallantry and dashing courage, the
prompt decision and the Skillful hand
| ling of their respective vessels, of Cap
| tain Philip, Captain Evans, Captain
| Clark and especially of my chief of
staff, Captain Cook, who was directly
under my personal observation, and
whose coolness, promptness and cour-
| age were of the highest order. The
| dense smoke of the combat shut out
from view the Indiana and Gloucester,
| but as these vessels werei closer to- your
| flagship no doubt their part in the con-
| fiict was under your immediate obser-
| vation
| Lieutenant Sharp, commanding the
| Vixen, acted with conspicuous courage.
! 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
enemy's shot passed beyond his vessel.
4 beg to invite special attention to
/ the conduct of my Flag Lieutenant
James H. Sears, and Ensign Edward
McCauley, Jr. aide, who were con-
stantly at my side during the engage
ment, and who exposed themselves
| fearlessly in discharge Of their duties;
and also to the splendid behavior Of my
Secretary, Lieutenant B. Wells, Jr.,
who commanded and directed the fight
! ing of the fourth division with splendid
1 effect.
| Il would commend the highly meri-
| torious conduct and courage in the en-
gagement of Lieutenant Commander n.
/ F. Mason, the executive officer, whose
4 presence everywhere over the ship dur
| ing its continuance did much to secure
| the good results of this ships part in
| the victory.
/ The Navigator, Lieutenant A c.
Hodgson, and the division officers, Lieu
tenant t. u. Griffin, Lieutenant W. r.
Rush, Lieutenant Edward Simpson,
| Lieutenant j. G.. Doyle, Ensign Charles
! Webster and the Junior divisional Off
GERS We're most steady and conspicu-
Gus in every detail Of duty contribut-
| ing TO the accurate firing of this ship
in her part in the great victory of your
! forces.
| 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, Boatswain VIM
l.. Hill, Carpenter G. H. Warford and
=
! where exposed, in watching for dam
| age, reports of which were promptly
conveyed to- me.
i have never in my life served with a
| Drawer, better or worthier crew than
| that Of the Brooklyn. During the COM
| bat, lasting from 9:35 until lis D. M.
| much Of the time under fire, they never
| tagged for a moment and We're appar-
| emily undisturbed by the storm Of pro-
| jectiles 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 1900 to 100 prisoners, with the
! loss Of several hundred killed estimated
| at GOO men.
The casualties on board this ship
We're: G. II. 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, and she bears in all forty -one
| scars as a result of her participation
| in the great victory of your force on
July 3, 1898. The speed cone hall
liards were shot away, and nearly all
the signal halliards. The ensign at the
main was so shattered that in hauling
1t down at the close of the action 1t fell
in pieces.
| Il congratulate You most sincerely