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


broken, treacherously, am sure, after
her surrender, and, despite all efforts,
she sank. When it became evident
that che could not be kept ahoat she
was pushed by the New York bodily
on the beach, the New York's stem be-
ing placed against her for this purpose
the ship being handled by Captain
Chadwick with admirable judgment
and sank in shoal water, and may be
saved.
FINDS IT DIFFICULT TO DISCRIMINATE
IN PRAISE,
When all the work was done 80 well
it is difficult to discriminate in praise.
The object of the blockade of Cervera's
squadron was fully accomplished and
each individual bore we'll his part in it
the commodore in command of the
second division, the captains of ships,
their officers and men.
The fire of the battleships was pow
erful and destructive, and the resis-
lance Of the Spanish squadron was in
great part broken almost before they
had got beyond the range of their own
forts. The fine speed of the Oregon
enabled her to take front position in
the chase, and the Cristobal Colon did
not give up until the Oregon had thrown
thirteen-inch shell beyond her. This
performance adds to the already brill
liant record of this fine battleship and
speaks highly of the skill and care with
which her admirable efficiency has been
maintained during a service unprece-
denied in the history of vessels of her
oil N
aiding position gave her an advantage
in the chase, which she maintained to
the end, and she employed her fine
battery with telling effect. The Texas
and the New York were gaining on the
chase during the last hour, and had
any accident befallen the Brooklyn or
the Oregon, would have speedily over
hauled the Cristobal Colon. From the
moment the Spanish vessel exhausted
her first burst of speed the result was
never in doubt. She fell, in fact, far
below what might reasonably have been
expected of her.
OTHERS.
Several of the ships were struck, the
Brooklyn more often than the others,
but very slight material injury was
done, the greatest being aboard the
Iowa. Our loss was one man killed
and one wounded, both on the Brook
Ign. 1t is difficult 10 explain this i'm
munity from loss of life or injury to
ships in combat with modern vessels
of the best type, but Spanish gunnery
is poor at the best, and the superior
weight and accuracy of our fire speed
lily drove the men from their guns and
silenced their fire. This is borne out
by the statements of the prisoners, and
by observation. The Spanish vessels,
as they dashed out of the harbor, were
covered with the smoke from their own
guns, but this speedily diminished in
volume and soon almost disappeared.
The fire from the rapid-fire batteries of
the battleships appears to have been re-
markably destructive.
An examination of the stranded ves-
sells shows that the Almirante Oquendo
especially had suffered terribly from
this fire. Her sides were everywhere
pierced and her decks were strewn with
the charred remains of those who had
fallen.
COMMODORE sCHLEY's REPORT.
"Victory big enough for all of u.s."
The subjoined interesting extracts
are from this officers report to Admit
raj Sampson:
At 8: 35 A. NJ. Admiral Cervera,
with the Infanta Maria Teresa, Viz
caya. Oquendo, Christobal Colon and
two torpedo-boat destroyers came out
of the harbor of Santiago de Cuba in
column at distance and attempted to
escape to the westward. Signal was
made from the Iowa that the enemy
was coming out, but his movement had
been discovered from this ship at the
same moment. This vessel was the
furthest west, except the Vixen, on
the blockading line; signal was made
to the western division, as prescribed
in your general orders, and there was
immediate and rapid movement inward
by your squadron and general en-
gagement at ranges beginning at l 100
yards and varying to 5000, until the
Vizcaya was destroyed, about 10: 30
A. NJ. The concentration of the fire of
the squadron upon the ships coming out
was most furious and terrific and great
damage was done them.
About twenty or twenty.f five minutes
after the engagement began two YES
sells, thought to be the Maria Teresa
and Oquendo and since verified as such,
took fire from the effective Smelling Of
the squadron and were forced to run
on the beach, some six or seven miles
vest Of the harbor entrance, where
:. LEY burned and blew up later.
The Vizcaya and Colon, perceiving
the disaster to their consorts, continued
at full speed to the westward to escape,
and were followed and engaged in a
running fight with the Brooklyn, Tex
as, Iowa and Oregon until 10: so, when
the Vizcsya took fire from our shells.
She put her helm to port, and with a
heavy list to port stood in shore and
ran aground at Asserraderos, about
twenty miles west of Santiago, on fire
fore and aft, and where she blew up
during the night.
Observing that she had struck her
colors, and that several vessels were
nearing her to capture and save the
crew, signal was made to cease firing.
| The Oregon proving vastly faster than