The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-08-03


could destroy her the chance OF escape
would be increased, as it was supposed
she was the swiftest ship of your squad
ron. This explains the heavy fire
| mentioned in the Vizcaya's action in
the earlier moments of the engagement.
The execution of this purpose was
promptly defeated by the fact that all
the ships of the squadron advanced
into close range and opened an irri-
sistible, furious and terrific fire upon
the enemy's squadron as it was com.
ing out of the harbor. am glad to
say that the injury supposed to be be-
low the water. line was due to water
valve being opened from some I'M
known cause and flooding the compart-
ment. The injury to the belt is found
be only slight and the leak small.
1 cannot close this report without
mentioning in high terms of praise the
splendid conduct and support of Capt.
G. E. Clark of the Oregon. Her speed
was wonderful and her fire splendidly
destructive.
CAPTAIN EVANS REPORT.
"Fought like American seamen, then
tender as women"
"Fighting Bob" Evans, commanding
the battleship Iowa sets forth in crisp
terms the incidents of the battle and
the glorious part his crew took in the
engagement. Concluding he says: "I
cannot express my admiration for my
magnificent crew. So long as the enc
my showed his flag they fought like
American seamen, but when the flag
came down they were as gentle and
topdor au m orioan wNp,av,
THE OREGON.
Captain Clark of the battleship Ore
gon puts every officer of his ship, by
name and rank, on the roll of honor.
He reports referring to the beginning
of the battle: For short time there
was an almost continuous flight of pro-
jectiles over this ship, but when our
line was fairly engaged, and the Iowa
had made a swift advance as if to ram
or close, the enemy's fire became de.
fective in train as well as range. The
ship was only struck three times, and
at least two of Them were by fragments
of shells. We had no casualties.
AS soon as it was evident that the
enemy's ships were trying to break
through and escape to the westward
we went ahead at full speed with the
determination of carrying out to the ut
most your order: "If the enemy tries to
escape the ships must close and engage
as soon as possible and endeavor to
sink his vessels or force them to run
ashore"
We soon passed all the ships except
the Brooklyn, bearing the broad pen
nant OF Commodore Schley. At first
we only used our main battery, but
when it was discovered that the enc
my's torpedo boats were following their
ships we used our rapid-fire guns as
well as the 6s upon them with telling
effect. AS we ranged up near the
sternmost ship che headed for the
beach, evidently on fire. We raked
her as we passed, pushing on for the
next ahead, using our starboard guns
as they were brought to bear, and be-
fore we had her fairly abeam she too
was making for the beach.
The two remaining vessels were now
some distance ahead, but our speed
had increased to sixteen knots, and our
fire, added to that of the Brooklyn,
soon sent another, the Vizcaya, to the
shore in flames. Only the Cristobal
Colon was left, and for time it seemed
as if she might escape, but when we
opened with our forward turret guns,
and the Brooklyn followed, she began
to edge in toward the coast and her
capture or destruction was assured.
As she struck the beach her flag came
| down and the Brooklyn signalled
"Cease firing" followed it with "Con-
CALCULATIONS for the grand victory,
thanks for your splendid assistance"
The Brooklyn sent boat to her, and
when the Admiral came up with the
New York, Texas and Vixen she was
taken possession of. A prize crew
was put on board from this ship, under
Lieutenant Commander Cogswell, the
executive officer, but before II P. NJ,
the ship, which had been filling in
spite of all efforts to stop leaks, was
abandoned, and just as the crew left
she went over on her side.
the bearing and conduct of all on
board this ship. When they found the
Oregon had pushed to the front and
was hurrying to succession of con-
flicts with the enemy's vessels, if they
could be overtaken and would engage,
their enthusiasm was intense.
AS these vessels were 30 much more
heavily armored than the Brooklyn
they might have concentrated upon
and overpowered her, and consequent
ly am persuaded that but for the way
the officers and men of the Oregon
steamed and sieered the ship and
fought and supplied her batteries the
Colon, and perhaps the Vizcaya, would
have escaped. Therefore l feel that
they rendered meritorious service to
the country, and while cannot MEL
/! ton the name of each officer and man
individually I am going to append
list of officers, with the stations that
they occupied, hoping that they may be
of service to them should the claims Of
others for advancement above them