New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-12
SCHLEYS GREAT FIGHT.
FROM THE UNITED STATES
CRUISER BROOKLYN.

V! tHc Ouly HpU-COIIDdldNl WHO NlIlrsStu lHc
entire hsht. That non-combatant as the cor
respondent Of The Associated Press. who saw
the engagement from position almost at the
elbow Of Commodore Schey. on the United
States cruiser Brooklyn:
Sunday July g. the fifth Sunday for the
American squadrons before Santiago. dawned
as monotonously rs any day since the Flying
Squadron began watching the mouth Of Santi-
ego Harbor. The monOtony. the lack OF piciur-
esqueness at dayhreak the heat OF the tropical
sun--all were there
over the tops OF the supposedly destroyed
earthworks appeared the muzzles OF the same
old guns. quite ready. despite the Saturday hom-
hardment. to speak their piece " called upon
On the slightly rolling sea the great gray battle
ships Of the American feet swung lazny at a
distance OF from four TO five miles from the
harbor entrance.
The line. which at all times was supposed 20
be half circle inclosing the harbor entrance
as central point. was more than ordinarily
broken up this hot morning. The big battle
ships had drifted to the east considerably. and
the Massachusetts, the New-York. the New-or-
leans and the Newark were not In sight the
New-York having taken Admiral Sampson down
to Altares eight miles east from the blockade.
to make visit to the camp OF the American
Army while the other missing vessels were at
Guantanamo. forty miles 10 the east
VESSELS ON THE BLOCKADE.
The vessels on the blockade were the Iowa.
the Indiana and the oregon. battle-ships the
Brooklyn. Commodore Schley's flagship. and the
small yachts Gloucester and Vixen. The iowa
was swinging a mile further out than the rest
OF the squadron. trying to fx her forward Il
inch turret which was out OF repair. while the
Indiana was doing the same thing 10 her for
ward 13-inch turret. The only available ships
In the squadron. therefore. were the oregon. the
Texas and the Brooklyn although later both
Captain Evans and Captain Taylor come into
the fight
It is a custom on ships. regulated by the rules.
that there shall be general muster Mt least
once each three months. and that the articles or
war shall be read. First call had been sounded
at 0:15 a. m. and the men were assembling on
the decks. The lookout in the masthead OF the
brooklyn had some time before reported smoke
IN the harbor. but as the same thing had been
noticed several times no special attehtloh
was paid TO It. The Brooklyn and the
Vixen were the only ships 70 the west OF the
entrance. the other ships having drifted well
10 the east On the bridge Navigator Hodgson
Of the Brooklyn said sharply to the lookouts'
Isn't that smoke moving
After minutes inspection with the long
glass the lookout dropped 1t exc tedly and fair
ly yelled:
There's a big ship coming out Of the harbor.
sir!
Hodgson. who is particularly cool man.
looked once himself. and then. grhspins the
megaphone. shouted:
THE ENEMYs FLEET COMING OUT
AFTER bridge. there, Tell the Commodore the
enemy's feet is coming out"
Commodore schley was sitting under the avn
ing on the quarterback. Going TO the bridge ne
said:
Raise the signal to the fleet" and. turning 10
Captain Cook. who stood near. he said, Clear
ship for action.
Then he went forward and took his place on
a little platform Of wood running on the out
side OF the conning-tower. which had been built
for him He was dressed in blue trousers
black alpaca Jacket and the regu ION cap
without the broad band o, gold braid.
The men went TO thair guns and the rapid
nrelirinary 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 the
Texas followed sui;. But the range was long
one Still the Brooklyn waited But down be-
low the coal was being forced into the furnace.
every boiler was being worked and every gun
made ready 10 nre. Schley wanted 20 Kho"
which way they were all going or whether they
would scatter. In the mean time the oregon
began 10 turn 10 the west and the Texas had
moved in closer and was damaging the leading
ship. the Infanta Maria Teresa.
"Tbey are all coming west. sir shouted leu
tenant Sears And just then the western bat
teries opened UP.
DON'T WASTE A SHOT"
Emil snccd ahead open IRE" shouted the
Commodore Fire deliberately. and don't waste
a shot" he added and the orderlies carried the
word to the turrets
In an instant the B-ockyns terrific y and
inch batteries on her port side opened. and the
cruiser headed for a point in front OF the hrst
escanino shin firing at and receiving the IRE
from two of them.
Then Commodore Schlcy saw 'hat the hrst
ship was coming out from the shore headed o'-
rectly for the Brooklyn with the evident inteh-
ton o. ramming her. clever man4uVre was
here accomplished.
lizard aport with your helm!" shouted Schey,
and the cruiser began to go around the s''oNe
coming from her tunnels in huge volumes
Quickly she turned. and quickly her big steel
ram was pointing at the first ship. Inc IN
fanta Maria Teresa had to work inshore TO
avoid being rammed The shells OF the Texas
and Oregon. with the terrible storms OF smell
from the Brooklyn. had done their work. ana
the smoke began 10 pour from her decks
In the mean time the converted yacht
Gloucester could be seen. with the help OF the
Iowa destroying the two torpedo-ooat Destroy
ora that had followed the last ship out at I'D
o'clock the entire Spanish squadron was outside
the harbor and going rapidly westward
The Iowa and the Indiana could not Keep up
the pace but the oregon was coming across TO
the assistance Of the Brooklyn which al lo:oo
WAS engaging the first three ships the lhidh'a
Maria Teresa. the Cristobal Colon ana 'he VIZ
oayo At lO:11 the Spanish ships had all con-