The record-union., 1898-07-27

| due to a water valve being opened from
some unknown cause and flooding the
compartment. The injury to the belt is
found to be only light. and the loss
| small.
| II beg to inclose a list of the officers
and crew who participated in the COM
bat of July g. 1898.
II cannot close this report without
mentioning in high terms Of praise the
| splendid conduct and support of Cap
tain c. E. Clark Of the Oregon. Her
speed was wonderful. and her accurate
| fire splendidly destructive. Very re-
spectfully, w. S. SCHLEY,
Commodore United States Navy, COM
manding second squadron, North At
| lantic fleet.
ITO the Hon. Commander-in- Chief,
United States naval force North Allan
tic Station"
CAPTAIN CLARKE'S REPORT.
WASHINGTON, July Do Following
is the report of Captain c. E. Clarke of
the Oregon:
~. S. S. Oregon, First Rate. Off
Santiago de Cuba, July 4, 1898.
Sir: l have the honor to report
that at $3.50 a. m. yesterday the Span
/ ish fleet was discovered standing out
of the harbor at Santiago de Cuba.
| They turned to the westward and
! opened fire, to which our ships replied
| vigorously. For a short time there was
an almost continuous flight of project
| lies over our ship, but when our line
was fairly engaged and the Iowa had
made swift advance, as if TO ram or
| close, the enemy's fire became de-
| fective in train as well as range. The
ship was only struck three times, and
at least two of them were by fragments
of shells. We had no casualties.
''As soon as it was evident that the
enemy'S ships We're trying to break
through and escape to the westward we
went ahead at full speed, with the de-
| termination of carrying out to the ut
most your order: If the enemy tries to
escape the ships must close and engage
| as soon as possible, and endeavor to
| sink his vessels or force them to run
| ashore
| I'VE soon passed all of our ships eX-
cept the Brooklyn, bearing the broad
pennant of Commodore Schley. At first
we only used our main battery, but
| when it was discovered that the
| enemy's torpedo boats were following
their ships, we used our rapid fire guns
| as well as the 6-pounders upon them
| with telling effect. AS we ranged up
| near the sternmost Of their ships she
headed for the beach, evidently on fire.
We raked her as we passed, pushing on
for the next ahead, using our starboard
guns as they We're brought to bear, and
before we had her fairly abeam, she,
too, was making for the beach.
THE two remaining vessels were now
| 80. L l,.% \ l,r,,
increased to 16 knots, and our fire, add
ed to that of the Brooklyn, soon sent
another, the Vizcaya, to the shore in
flames. Only the Cristobal Colon was
left, and for a time it seemed as if she
might escape but when we opened fire
with our forward turret guns and the
Brooklyn followed. she began to edge
| in toward the coast, and her capture or
destruction was assured. AS she
struck the beach her flag came down,
and the Brooklyn signaled cease fir
| ing following with congratulations for
the grand victory, thanks for your
| splendid assistance
"The Brooklyn sent boat to her, and
when the Admiral came up with the
| New York and Texas and Vixen she
was taken possession of. A prize crew
was put on board from this ship under
Lieutenant Commander Cogswell, the
executive officer but before II D. m. the
ship, which had been filling, in spite Of
all efforts to stop leaks, was abandoned
and just as the crew left she went over
| on her side.
II cannot speak in too high terms of
the bearing and conduct of all on board
this ship. When they found the Oregon
had pushed to the front and was hur-
rying to a succession of conflicts with
| the enemy's vessels, if they could be
overtaken, and would engage, their en-
thusiaSm was intense.
''As these vessels were so much more
heavily armored than the Brooklyn
they might have concentrated upon and
| overpowered her, and consequently l
am persuaded that, but for the way the
officers and men of the Oregon steamed
and steered the ship, and fought and
supplied the batteries, the Colon and
perhaps the Vizcaya would have es-
capped. Therefore, l feel that they rem
dered meritorious service to the coun-
try, and while / cannot mention the
name of each officer and man individu-
ally, L am going tol append a list of the
officers, with their stations that they
occupied, hoping that they may be of
service to them should claims Of Others
for advancement above them ever be
considered"
Here Captain Clarke gives list of
the officers and their positions in the
fight.
McMorry sells groceries. Agent for
Coronado water and Stockton sarsa-