The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-29
CAPT. COOKS REPORT
STILL ANOTHER STORY OF THE
GREAT BATTLE
New Pictures of Familiar Scenes-The
Men, Cheered by Victory, Fired
Steady and Sure

WASHINGTON, July 2S.-The navy de-
partment has made public the reports of
Capt. Cook Of the Brooklyn, Lieut.. Usher,
the Ericsson, and Capt. Col
ton of the Harvard, giving their stories of
the destruction OF the Cervera fleet. The
text of Capt. Cooks report follows:
UNITED STATES FLAGSHIP BROOK
LYN, Guantanamo Bay Anchor, July 7,
1S9S.-Sir: At $3.50 a. m. the enemy were
telegraphed by the Iowa as coming out AT
the same time they were discovered by the
quartermaster on watch, Capt. Anderson,
of this ship and reported to the officer Of
the crew. The executive officer Lieut.
Commander Mason, Immediately gave the
order, Clear ship for action and general
quarters" Signal was made at the same
time: ENEMY coming out; action"
We started with steam on three boilers
at about IL knots speed The head of the
Spanish squadron column was Just outside
the entrance of the harbor of Santiago.
heading about southwest. We opened fire
on the leading ship in five minutes from the
discovery. The port battery was first en-
gagged, as we stood with port helm to head
off the leading ship, and gave them a rak-
Ing fire at about 1900 yards range The
enemy turned to the westward close into
the land. We then wore around to star
board, bringing the starboard battery into
action. The enemy Rugged the shore to the
westward. The Brooklyn, leading, was
followed by the Texas, Iowa, Oregon, III
diana and Gloucester. The Vixen, which
had been to westward of us on the blockade,
ran to the southwark and eastward of us
and for some time kept off our port side,
distant about 1000 yards. At this time the
firing was very fast and the whstling of
shells incessant, and our escape with so
little injury was miraculous, and can only
be attributed to bad workmanship on the
part of the enemy.
The Maria Teresa, which had dropped
astern while we were nearing, under the
heavy fire of our fleet, ran ashore. The
Vizcaya. Oquendo and Colon continued on,
gaining in distance. The Brooklyn was
engaged with the three leading ships OF
the enemy, which were forging ahead, the
Texas, Iowa and Indiana keeping I'D a
heavy fire, but steadily dropping astern.
The Oregon was keeping up steady fire
ana was coming up in the most glorious
ana gallant style, outstripping all others
1t was an inspiring sight to see this bat
tleship, with large white wave before her
and her smokestacks belching forth con-
tinued puffs from her forced draught We
were making fourteen knots at the time
ana the Oregon came up off our starboard
quarter at about 900 yards and maintained
her position. though we soon after in
creased our speed to fifteen knots, and
Just before the Colon surrendered were
making nearly sixteen. The Oquendo soon
after the falling out of the Teresa dropped
astern, and being on fire ran ashore. The
Vizcaya and Colon continued on under fire
from the Brooklyn and Oregon. The other
vessels of our fleet were we'll astern and out
Of range. The Texas was evidently coming
up fast. At about 1888 a. m. the vizcaya
was seen to be on fire and the Colon passed
inside of her with increased speed, took
the lead and forged ahead. The Vizcaya
soon after ran on the beach, ablaze with
fire. We signalled the Oregon to cease
firing on the Vizcaya, as her flag was
down. Firing Immediately ceased. and we
both continued the chase of the Colon, now
about 5000 yards away. The ranges ran
from 1900 to 5000 yards with the Vizcaya as
she kept In and out from the coast. We
steered straight for a distant point near
Cape Cruz, while the Colon kept close to
the land. She could not have come out
without crossing our bows. and we were
steadily gaining on her. We were getting
more steam all the time and now had four
and one-half boilers on and the remaining
one and one-half nearly ready
After running for about fifty miles west
from the entrance, the Colon ran into land,
beached, fired off a gun to leeward and
hauled down her flag. The Oregon and
Brooklyn had just previously begun to fire
upon the Colon and were landing shejlu
close to her. was sent on board by Commo-
dore Schley to receive the surrender. The
Captain spoke English and received mo
pleasantly, though mentally much de-
pressed. He surrendered Internationally
He was polite, shook hands and said that his
case was hopeless and that he saw that we
were too much for him. I was on board
about fifteen minutes. AS we came from the
Colon the flagship New York came on with
the Texas. 1 reported on board the flag
ship to Rear Admiral Sampson. The Off
GERS and crew behaved with great and unex-
ceptionable GOODNESS and bravery, so it is
difficult to discriminate. They were encour-
aged in their best efforts by your enthusi-
asm and your CHEEKY words: "Fire steady,
boys, and give it to them"