New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-29
MANY RESCrED BY THE HARVARD.
ITS WORK OF SAVING THE CREWS OF THE
OQUENDO AND MARIA TERESA
L. :. s. Harvard.
At Sea. of Altares. Cuba. July l. 1905


AT Sea, of Altares. Cuba July 1. 1895.
Sir: First-On Sunday, the Sd inst. the Harvard
under my command. was at Altares, CUBA, as
charging the military stores brought In the ship
with the troops from Newport News. Va Nearly
all Of the beats and the majority of the officers OF
the ship employed In this work. Some OF the
boats away from the ship discharging their
loads and others alongside loading
Second-At l0:45 a m. the United states steam
ship Resolute passed Atarcs NJ considerable dis
tance standing the eastward. sounding her
whistle vigorously and flying signal which an
nornccd that tho Spanish fleet had ned" With
the utmost dispatch J recalled the boats and Off
10 the ship. hosted the former. sent the steam
launch on shore got under way and stood to the
westward to join you. The ship was cleared for
acton
Tnird-I had previously observed that the fleet
firing. but supposed that II lombard
ment of the MORO and the neighborng batteries
The ships Of the fleet had meantime disappeared 10
the westward none being In sight when | came
out from behind the land. where could command
an uninterrupted view OF the coast west Of Moro
Fourth-I soon came up with the wrecks on
shore Of two Of the smaller vessels and Of the
cruisers OF the Spanish feet and shortly afterward
with the wreck Of a third cruiser all 81 ;hc cruis-
ors burning norcely.
Ffth-I hal meantime passed the Indiana and
one OF our torpedo-boats standing to the eastward
in search OF the missing Spanish cruiser. and In
formed them that a large Spanish battleship or
cruiser was in sight to the eastward of Ba!quirt
They Immediately stood on IN chase, but the sup
posed enemy was asccrtaincd later to be the Aus
TRAN cruiser Maria Theresa.
Slxth-At the most westerly % the three wrecks
OF the Spanish cruisers the Vizcayi. ! found the
ba,tlc-ship Iowa and communicated with her
Learning from Captain Evans that you. in the
Ncw-York. were in chase OF the Cristobs Colon.
ana probably many miles 70 the westward
decided not 10 go further IN that direction
sevcnth-Shortly a:terward the Iowa and the
Harvard stood 10 the eastward and upon reaching
the wrecks Of the Oquen3o and Maria Teresa Cap
tain Evans informed that the officers and
crews Of both vessels shore in great dis
tress and suffering for want OF food. and asked me
If would rescue them-a request with which |. Of
coursc. Instantly compiled and which would have
been unnecessary had I previously known IN"
circumstances concerning them.
REsCUING THE SPANISH CREWS
Eighth took the Harvard In "a near the wrecks
as | deemed 70 be prudent and a. 40 y II lowered
nine Of boats and sent them In 10 the shore TO
rescue tho survivors This work continued until
9i5 p m. when the last boatload of spanish pris-
oncrs came alongside. DCring the greater part Of
the time the steam cutter OF the Indiana rendered
valuable assistance in towing our boats to and from
the shore We had the good fortune 20 rescue
thirty-nve officers and &c without accident 10
them or boats. Notwithstanding the TACT that
the landing vas through he surf and dangerous.
ton both small and large. a. from The surf Tho
boats were handed with skin and Judgment by the
officers In command Of them. who were l"cutenanis
Beale Roberts Davis and Bradshaw. Ersigrs
Turner ana Cunning and Cadets Noa an1 Bun
whose conduct and that - the boats crews was
commenGable
Ninth-Among tho rescued were ,hir,y-cfh, sick
ard wounded At 10 O'Clock steamed on 20 robin
the ships Of Santiago reaching them A. - - r.
with the junior medical officer OF the Indiana and
lieutenant md honts crow - the United states
steamship Gloucester
Tenth-The Spanish officers and men received
every attention that ), Wa possible 20 bcstor upon
them for their com:1r, and welfare som" u them
I came On board wholly nue. ana many WIN on'y
SHIFT or trousers A. soon IS por-'ti" t'''r 'tcr
arrival on board they YER provided with fo1i ara
necessary clothing About three hundred WORKING
/ suits and many shoes ana canvas hats w"f" ISSUED
20 them The sick and wounded were attended hy
our own medr1l stan assisted !y two - 'nc span
lsh rnedca! officers who were among ,hos" rescued
Eleventh. tranrn,l' herewith copy 81 the dc-
tailed report OF Lieutenant Joseph Beale \ y
OF the Harvard who VS. ~ senior officer in
charge II the transportation NJ the Spar'ar!s %
this shin. ana bog leave invite your Intention
10 ,hc terms n which BE- speaks ot he highly com
m, ndable conduct q the officers ana men assoc
ated with him In the successful accomplishment ~
an important and human" duty. ana ono not with
| out exposure 20 dangcr
Twelfth-Thi@ forenoon sixteen o. tho most Sc
vercy wounded men were Transferred 70 the United
States hospital ship Solno" None u Tho Spanish
officers on board this ship 20 seriously wound.
ed ne 10 require transfer 70 that vessel
Thir'oenth-In conclusion beg 10 b" permitted
the privilege in nv own behalf as well as thai %
tho officers and men - the Harvard 20 extend 70
you nnd 70 the people - the United States our
mos, hearty and sincere congratulations upon the
brilliant victory achieved By YOU yesterday. witch
adds another page 10 tho imperishnhle glory ard
rcnown Of the history Of our Navy Very r"-
/ specially { : COTTON.
Captain l. {. y. Commanding
To the Comman1er-in.Chic' L. S. Nava! Force.
North Atlantic station.