The evening times., 1898-07-27
CAPT. cHADwIcK's REPORT.
The Great Battle RS Viewed From
the Fla gsbip New York.

u. s. Flagship New York 1st Rate.
Playa del Este. July 4. 1SS.
Sir: / have the honor to make the fol-
lowing report of the part taken by this
ship in the action of yesterday during
and following the sortie of Admira! Ger
vera's squadron.
2 The ship had started at $50 for the
army landing at Sboney. the command
er-in-chief having an appointment with
the general commanding the army. A
few minutes after the crew had been
called to quarters for Sunday inspection.
firing was heard and a ship was seen
leaving the harbor entrance. The helm
was at once put over. the crew called to
general quarters, signal '.close in towards
harbor entrance and attack vessels
made. orders gwen to spread all fires.
and the ship headed back for the enemy.
whose ships were seen successfully COM
ing out at a high speed. The flagship
Insanta Maria Teresa Was first then
another armored cruiser of the same
class (Which turned out to be the Viz
caya) followed by the Cristobal Colon,
an armored cruiser (Oquendo). and the
torpedo boat destroyers Furor and Plu-
toa.
gagged. and by the time we were OF the
entrance one. the flagship. was already
afire, and was soon ashore; the Indiana
and Gloucester were actively engaged
with the torpedo boats: this ship fired
some finch shells at the one nearer the
port toward which she was headed, and
seemed attempting to return. but she was
already practically out of the fight. the
boiler of the more advanced one had
n = of
condensed Seam. During this time the
batteries, whose line of fire we had
crossed close to. repeatedly fired upon
US, but without effect. No return was
made to this fire. A shell from the west
battery fell within 800 yards of the ship
when We were over four miles to the
ives ward. and We had thought ourselves
entirely out of range, This ship stood
on. leaving the Gloucester. which had
shown herself so capable to look after
the survivors in the torpedo boats. BY
this time a second cruiser was ashore,
and burning (the Almirante Oquendo),
while the third, the Vizcaya. and the
Cris;obal Colon, were still steaming rap
idly westward. The Indiana was now
signaled Q1:26 a m.) to return to her
blockading position, to look after any
| thing which might be there. Very short
ly the Vizcaya turned shoreward, smoke
began to issue from her after part, and
by the time that she was ashore on the
reef of Acerraderos (fifteen miles west
of Santiago) she was ablaze The Iowa
had signaled a little before that she had
surrendered, and stopped off this place.
where she gave much assistance in the
rescue of the Vizcaya's people.
4. This ship stood on in chase of the
Cristobal Colon, with ahead Of US the
Brooklyn. Oregon. Texas and Vixen. the
Oregon being much nearer inshore of the
two headmost ships but not in gnnshot.
We were rapidly increasing our speed.
5. II was evident, however that the
Colon would give US a lengthy chase. and
at noon the crew left quarters and went
to dinner.
6. About 1880 the Oregon opened fire.
and some of her shell were observed to
strike beyond the Colon: this made her
capture foregone conclusion, and short
ly after l o'clock she turned In towards
shore, and soon struck her colors She
had been beached at small inlet known
as Rio Torquino. By the time We ar
rived, a boat was along side her from the
Brooklyn. and Capt. Cook the boarding Of
ficer. came alongside this ship and report
ed. This ship then sent boat to take pos
session, the commanding officer going in
the boat. / was received by the commo-
dore of the squadron, the captain, Capt.
de Navio Don Emilio Moreu. and Capt.
de Navio of the first class Don Jose de
Paroles Chacon. (Which latter had been
civil governor of Santiago, and had only
just been attached to the squadron). /
arranged for the transfer of the crew
and officers. division to each ship pres
ent, and the engineer force to be left
aboard. While aboard. however. the
Resolute arrived and 1t was arranged to
transfer the whole number to her
T. 1 had taken with me the feet sur
geon. an engineer officer. and the car
penter. to examine and make secure
everything necessary. The engineer Of
ficer reported to me that she was max
ing water aft. I had previously had
soundings taken and found eight feet at
the bow and seventy at the stern, so
that but a small portion Of the ship was
ashore. / returned as quickly as possi-
BILE to the flagship to report the stud
ton. The Oregon was signaled to take
charge. and the men were hastened on
board, a number being sent also from
this ship. Our work of closing water
tight doors, etc.. was, however. of no
avail; large number of sea valves had
been treacherousfy opened, and the valves
so broken as TO make It impossible to
close them; the ship thus slowly settled.
At 1880 she came afioat and came out in
to deeper water. The of1cer in charge
Gieut. Commander CogswelD had let go
an anchor. but as-lt was clear that II she
went down in water Of the depth in which
she was she could never be recovered.
this ships stem was placed against her
quarter, and later line being taken
from our. own bow to hers. the Colon was
forced inshore. 1t was by this time
dark, but using q searchlight, We were
enabled gradually to force the ship in on
the beach. the chain being pnid out at
the same time. She thus sanAEn a very