The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1898-09-16
The Battle Off Observation-Disclosures of
eye witness.

OuATIeb L. w eSCOLt lot ueIcuCe.
The Battle Off Observation-Disclosures of
an eye witness.
Mr.. Harry VI. Stewart, of ChurchVille, who
is in the United States Naval service, is q
marine on board OF the battleship Iowa, and
was participator in and an eye witness to
the naval battle off Santiago de Cuba, which
occurred on Sunday, July Sd, 1898. Mr..
Stewards account OF the fight, while agreeing
with those heretofore published, possesses the
merit of being personal narrative, and is in
effect as follows:
"Our fleet was lying on guard at the time,
watching to prevent the escape Of Cervera,
the Iowa being in position which faced the
harbor, with the Brookly Oregon and Texas
near by. The men were standing at quarters,
which is equivalent to a drill in land tactics.
1t was beautiful, clear day, with little or nc
wind. when suddenly Ensign TWining, the
officer of the day, who was standing on the
bridge, sounded an alarm and signaled that
the Spanish fleet, under Admiral Cervera, was
coming out of the Santiago harbor, the In.
fante Maria Theresa, the Admiral's flagship,
leading. AS she came out she fired, planting
two siX-inch shots on the starboard bow of the
Iowa, which was nearest to her. We return
ed the compli ment with our forward starboard
gun. She went on by, closely followed by
We closed in upon them, and for thirty six
minutes poured a steady stream of deadly fire
upon them, the Oregon and Texas drawing
nearer aud firing very effectively The Colon
passed on rapidly, evidently bent more upon
efTecting an escape than engaging our boats.
At this time all o! the American boats were to
the left of the Iowa. The Brooklyn, which
was about four miles off, came up rapidly and
Immediately took part in the engagement.
The efforts of the Colon to escape attracted
the attention of Commodore Schley, and his
flagship, the Brooklyn, being twenty-onc
kuotter, he devoted his ship to giving chase,
aud preventing her escape.
Admiral Sampson was then some distance
off holding communication with General
Shafter. The Indiana was laying to the east
of the harbor with no steam on and was en-
gagged in making repairs to her engine. She
fired few times hut was not able to follow.
Twenty minutes after she left the harbor the
Infanta Maria Theresa was run upon the beach
and destroyed. The Spaniards fought well
and kept their guns manned, but while their
guns out-classed ours, their Workmanship
could not begin to compare with ours.
The fight was over in less than forty
minutes and the comparison OF losses was
wonderful Rut M nm
board Of the Brooklyn, was the entire loss
upon the side Of the United States. The
Admiral lquendo came out the last one but,
was btached and set on fire in less than five
minutes. Two large tifteen-inch shells struck
the Spanish flag chip Iufanta, tearing immense
holes through her boilers, bursting the steam
pipes, scalding men to death and finally set
ting the boat on fire. Over one half of the
crew were killed. In the meantime the NiZcays
was holly engaged, and when the Colon start
ed in her race for freedom, the Osegon, Brook
Ign and Texas Joined In pursuit Of her, leav'
ing the Iowa to virtually battle with the
Vizcaya alone; aud a noble fight 1t was
although 1t did not last more than twelve or
fifteen minutes before our twelve inch shots
penetrated her boiler, set her on fire and the
career Of one OF the grsndest battleships afoat
was terminated upon the Cuban beach.
Our small guns, the four and six inch ones
had the range exactly and in a short time the
Spanish gunners had to keep to their posts OIL
be shot dowE by their own officers. The earn.
age was fearful. Blood and water was flowing
upon her decks several inches deep. Aftel
they had beaGhed her, for want of white flag
her sailors hoisted pair of white sailor
| breeches in token Of surrender.
Capt. Evans, Fighting Bob called al
hands on deck and cheered the men Of hi
burning enemy. All boats were ordered tt
be lowered and orders were given to save the
| wounded, dying and drowning Spaniards, and
| in few minutes all OF our boats were on thei
way to aid the conquered Nizcays. The sail
| oIs were In terrible condition. Mutilated
bleeding and smoke-begrImed, they chung t.
the heated templates of their vessel rather
than drop into the water whore the blood haC
| attracted number Of sharks who were eager
ly awaiting their prey.
We saved two hundred and eighty-twC
| prisoners, many of them desperately wounded
| Admiral CerVera was brought on board OF thu
| Iowa and admitted that the Iowa had 'knocket
him out" Captain Euiate, of the Vizcayi
presented Captain Evans with his sword as
token of surrender, saying Captain here Il
my sword" Evans replied, mo keep it,
and escorted him TO his private cabin. Eulat
was almost overcome With grief. Crying
| like child, he kissed his sword and turning
| toward his vessel he cried captain, there goe
| my beautiful Vizcaya. As the magazine blew
| up, he held out his sword towards the disap
praring batileship, cryingin anguish "Adios
Adros Nv beautiful Vizcaya."
! .,arir" .,t h' b" 'ort 81 i wts, we tir'
ia treG ... "e,. I'd. .,'.I as ca h ne
/ .ur enemy ..,,r gave w,' the eNr,' INST
| beramc moe intense and the cheering tumui
| tons.
| The Rein Nerceles the remaining boat o
Ccrvera's fleet was sunk inside the harbor o
Santiago.
Mr.. Stewart said that the effect upon th'
| nerves OF firing the large guns was almost IN