The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-07-20
THE OREGON'S FIGHT.
Cervera's Cruisers at Santiago
Were Smashed by the Rec
ord Breaking Battleshlp.

w GIS 0l11doAASNN ~
ord Breaking Battleship.
The annexed letter, written by Cal
ifornian aboard the battle-ship Oregon
IS q graphic and correct account of the
. engagement at Santiago In which the
crack Spanish cruisers were shattered
and sunk. The fact is very clearly pre-
scented that the destruction of the
Spanish fleet was largely due to the
speed and fighting abilities of the Ore
gon:
ON BOARD BATTLE SHIP OREGON,
LYING OFF SANTIAGO DE CUBA.
1iIne Dear Mother: l received letter
from YOU and was very glad to hear from
you and to know that all were Wen at
home. We are having some very eXcltlns
times with the Spanlards. Some OF the
main features l will try TO describe TO
you. although you may have already reao
OF our doings in the newspapers
l will try to tell you of the lombard
ment and Of the battle that followed, as L
saw it with my own eyes.
Early morning, July l, the hagshlp New
York Sfgnaled us to take our position off
the batteries and to be ready to lombard
the fort al o'clock (Which we did. There
being some hitch in the movement OF the
army on shore we only threw few shells
into the town and then retreated. On the
I'd OF July we bCmbarded the forts with a
vengeance, silencing all OF the batteries
the Oregon being the closest in and dolns
the best. work as usual.
The Sd of July, Sunday, everything was
cleaned UP and We had on our clean
clothes for Sunday inspection, never sus-
pecting that anything would happen. II
was about 9:2S a. m when our signal
Quartermaster told the officer OF the deck
that the Spanish fleet was coming out.
Everybody laughed at him, but sure
enough there they came, big and stately,
one OF the grandest sights that man
he firc+ fn
out was the big cruiser, the ViZcaya, with
the Spanish admiral's flag flying. Fol-
lowing her in quick succession came the
CristObal Colon, the newest and latest
ship Spain had then the Maria Teresa
and the Almirante Oquendo, and last, buu
net least, three big torpedo boat destroy
ers. We were in for ii.
The ships that took part in the battls
on our side were the Oregon, Iowa, In
diana. Brooklyn and Texas, the rest OF
the fleet being down to the coaLng sta
ton. and consequently wasn't in it. We
fired the first shot and the last at the
enemy.
The Spanish fleet, after getting clear Of
the entrance of the harbor, let go a broad
side at US. and the shells were going over
us like hail but none of them struck US,
and then they started up the coast, going
in the direction of Havana Their object
was to get away, and three of them at
least would have succeeded had II not
been for US (the Oregon, there being only
one ship, the Brooklyn, besides ourselves
that could catch them. The first ships to
meet their doom We're the torpedo boats,
one of which we sunk. and the other went
up in smoke and flames. We were fast
drawing ahead of our own feet and catch
ing up to the rear Spaniard, the Almi-
rante OQuendo. We let go a broadside at
her and a 13-inch shell weighing 100
pounds tore through her quarterback,
tearing her to pieces and setting her
ahre. Then she turned tail and headed
for the beach. We did not stop.
The Spaniard right ahead of US was
turning her broadside to US to give US q
Taking fire. She did not succeed, for We
kept up a regular fire at her and she being
only 400 yards away from us we literally
shot her to pieces. She was soon afire
fore and aft and starting for the beach.
That was the last of the Maria Teresa.
The next one ahead of us doing the best
she could to get away was the ViZcaya,
with Admiral Cervera aboard. BY this
time we were away out of signal dis
ship which kept up with US was the
Brooklyn, and she was practically doing
no firing. We were directly off the Wis
caya before we fired a shot at her, and
when we turned loose the shock must
have been terrific to her, for a 13-inch
shell went into her stern and came out
her bow. and God knows how many
smaller ones struck her
She struck her colors, headed for tbs
beach and blew up shortly after.
There was still one ship ahead Of US the
Cristobal Colon, the crack ship of Spain
and she gave us a long chase. The Brook
Ign could have caught her, but she seemed
afraid to tackle her. She gave us a three
hours chase before we came within any
kind of shooting distance. When we did
so we let go our forward 13-inch turreu
guns. One struck on each side of her, and
I guess must have scared the dagoes to
death.
Our captain gave orders to let go the g.
inch, which we did, and one of them
struck her aft and went clean through
her. Shortly after she struck her colors
and headed for the beach
When we came up to her the
Brooklyn sent boat over to her and
Commodore schley said to the Span
ish captain, "Well, we have got you
at last"
ooh, no." said the Spanish cap
tain, as he pointed at our Captain
Clark; "there is the man who sunk
the Spanish navy and captured me-
We were busy transferring prisoners
till late in the night. The Colon turned
over on her side during the night, and We
left her In the morning.
There were 400 Spaniards killed in tn,
fight and 1900 prisoners taken. The prize
money I get will pay for the lot in Berke.
ley.
This is all I have to say, EXCEPT that
never felt better in my life. l remain
your loving son, JOHN LUSEY.