The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-07-09
bob EVANS STORY.
How CerVera's Fleet Was Sunk in
Santiago Bay.

-SAAo Aooo ny tne ASSoClhUeu EFoss. J
on Santiago de- Cuba July z. per Asso-
ciated Press Despatch Boat Dauntless, via
for1 Antonio, Jamaica, July 8, by way
Oh kingston, Jamaica, July 8, $50 p. m.
Fighting Bob Evans account of the
oattie, as told in the cabin Of the Iowa to
correspondent of the Associated Press is
intensely interesting. He said:
At the time general quarters was
sounded, the engine bell rang full speed
ahead and put the helm to starboard
and the Iowa crossed the bows of the In
fanta Maria Teresa, the first ship out. AS
the Spanish Admiral swung to the west
ward the 12-incn shells from the forward
turret of the Iowa seemed to strike him
fair In the bow and the fight was a
spectacle.
1.-The Iowa, from this moment, kept up
a steady fire from her heavy guns, head
ing all the time to keep the Ipfanta
Maria Teresa on her starboard bow and
hoping to ram one of the leading ships.
In the meantime the Oregon, Indiana,
Brooklyn and Texas were doing excellent
work with their heavy guns.
In very short space of time the
enemy's ships were all clear of the harbor
mouth and it became evident that 1t was
impossible for the Iowa to ram either the
frst or the second ship on account of their
speed. The range was 1000 yards from
the leading ship. The Iowa's helm was
and the entire starboard broadside was
poured into the Infanta Maria Teresa.
Tho helm was then quickly shifted to
port and the ship headed across the stern
OF the Teresa in an effort to head off the
Almirante Oquendo. All the time the
engines were driving at full speed ahead.
A perfect torrent Of shells from the enemy
passed over the smokestacks and Super
structures, but none struck the ship. The
Crlstobal Colon, being much faster boat
than the rest of the Spanish ships, passed
rapidly to the front in an effort to escape.
In passing the Iowa the Colon placed
two six inch shells fairly in our starboard
bow. One passed through the dispensary,
wrecking the latter and bursting on the
berth deck doing considerable damage.
The other passed through the side at the
water line at which the Golfer dam is.where
it still remains.
las it was now obviously impossible to
ram any of the Spaniards on account of
their superior speed. the Iowa 8 helm was
put to the starboard and she ran on a
course parallel with the enemy, being
then abreast of the Almirante Oquendo
at distance of 11C0 yards, the lowa's
entire battery, including the ra9id fire
guns. was opened on the Oquendo. The
punishment was terrific. Two twelve
inch shells from the Iowa pierced the A l.
niirante Oquendo at the same moment,
one forward and the other aft. Ths
Qqeundo seemed to stop her engines for a
r.SN ant, ,y,d Loot l,r,, IL.
Madiately resumed her speed and gradual
lysdrew ahead of the Iowa and came
under the terrific fire of the Oregon and
Texas.
cat this moment two torpedo boat de.
stroyers were discovered on the Iowa's
starboard quarter at distance of 1000
yald Fire was at once opened on them
with the after battery and a twelve inch
shell cut the stern of one destroyer square
ly off. AS this shell struck small tor
pedo boat fired back at the battleship,
sending small shell within few feet
OF my head. | said to executive officer
Rogers, That little chap has got lot
OF cheek" Rogers shouted back, "He
shoots very we'll all the same.a - "a
"Well up among the advancing cruis-
ers splitting shots at one and then at an
1rst at cruiser and then at torpedo
boat and hitting head wherever she
saw 1T. The marvel was that she was not
destroyed by the rain of Shells
In the meantime the Vizcaya was
slowly drawing abeam OF the Iowa and
for the space of fifteen minutes it was
give ana take between the two ships.
Inc V1zcaya fired rapidly but wildly,
not one shot striking the Iowa while the
smells from the Iowa were tearing great
rents in the sides of the Vizcaya. A the
latter passed ahead Of the Iowa she came
under the murderous fire of the Oregon.
At this time the Infanta Maria Teresa
and the Almirante Oquendo leading the
enemy's column, were seen to be heading
Tor the beach IN flames. The Texas, Ore
gon and Iowa pounded them unmerciful-
~. They ceased to reply to the fire and
in few minutes the Spanish cruisers
were mass of flames and on the rocks,
with their colors down, the Teresa flying
a white flag at the FORE