The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-02

was evidently coming up fast. AT
about 1855 o'clock a. m, the ViZcaya
was seen to be on fire, and the Colon
passed inside Of her with increased
speed, took the lead and gradually
forged ahead. The Vizcaya soon after
ran on the beach, ablaZe with fire. We
signalled the Oregon to cease firing on
the Vizcaya, as her flag was down.
Firing Immediately ceased and we
both continued the chase of the Colon,
now o $4,000 yards away. The
ranges ran from 1900 to 5000 yards
with the Vizcaya as she kept in and
out from the coast. We steered straight
for a distant point ear Cape Cruz,
while the Colon kept close to the land.
She could not have come out without
crossing our bows n we were tead-
lily gaining on her. We were getting
more steam all the time and now a
four and One-half boilers on and the
remaining one and a half nearly ready.
After running for about fifty miles
west from the entrance the Color ran
into a blight of land, beached, fired a
gun to leeWard and hauled down her
flag. The Oregon and the Brooklyn
had just previously begun to fire upon
the Colon and were landing shells close
to her. l was sent on board by Com
modore Schley to receive the surren-
der. The captain spoke English and
received me pleasantly, though nat
urally much depressed. He surrender
ed Internationally. He was polite,
shook hands and said that his case was
hopeless, n that he saw that we
were too much for him.. I was on board
about fifteen minutes. AS we came
from the Colon the flagship New York
came in with the Texas. l reported on
board the flagship to Rear Admiral
Sampson. l stated to him that 1 be-
lieved the Colon could be gotten off the
beach,.
During the entire action I was in
constant communication with you, SO
that 1 was enabled to promptly execute
your orders and instructions.
GOODNESS AND BRAVERY OF THE
MEN.
The officers and crew behaved with
great and unexceptional GOODNESS and
bravery, so that it is difficult to dis
eliminate. They were encouraged in
their best efforts by your enthusiasm,
and your cheering words: Fire steady,
boys, n give it to them"
Captain Cook then mentions many
officers for conspicuous acts of cool
ness and bravery.
We had but two personal casualties,
George H. Ellis, chief yoeman, killed,
and j. Burns, fireman., first-class,
wounded. The ship was struck twenty
: Cln1eS Dy WnOIe SnOC and many times
by pieces of bursting shell and from
| small shot of machine guns. No seri-
Gus injury was done to the ship, and
all repairs a be temporarily done by
the ships force, excepting to the 5-inch
elevating gear. The smokestacks were
hit in several places; the signal hal
lizards, rigging and flags were cut in
many places. The flag at the main
was destroyed, being much cut by she
n flying pieces of shell. The 8-inch
guns worked satisfactorily; some
trouble and delay was caused by jam
ming of locks. h turrets worked
well. The 5-inch battery gave great
trouble with the e%levating gear. At
the end several were rendered useless
for battle. Two are bulged at the muz-
zle. This ship should have new elevat-
ing gear for 5-inch guns as soon as
practicable. We fired 100 rounds Of
S-inch, 473 of 5-inch, 1000 of %6-pounder
and 200 Of 1-pounder ammunition.
Very respectfully,
F. A. COOK,
Captain, U. S. NJ, Commanding.
To the Commander-in-Chief Second
Squadron, U. S. Naval Force, North
Atlantic Squadron.