The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-08-03

of the Brooklyn's and Oregon's guns.
Her commander, seeing all chances of
escape cut off, and destruction await
ing his ship, fred lee gun and struck
her flag at L: Is P. M. and ran ashore at
a point some fifty miles west of Santa
go harbor. Your flagship was coming
up rapidly at the time, as was also the
Texas and Vixen. A little later after
our arrival, the Cristobal Colon, which
had struck to the Brooklyn and Oregon
was turned over to you as one of the
trophies of this great victory of the
squadron under your command.
BRooKLYN's SHOT LANDED AHEAD OF
THE COLON.
During my official visit little later
Commander Eaton of the Resolute, ap-
peared and reported to you the pres
ence of Spanish battleship near Alta
ros. Your orders to me were to take
the Oregon and go eastward to meet
her, and this was done by the Brook
Ign, with the result that the vessel re-
ported as an enemy was discovered to
be the Austrian cruiser Infanta Maria
Teresa, seeking the commander.in-
chief.
l would mention for your considera-
ton that the Brooklyn occupied the
most westward blockading position
with the Vixen, and, being more di-
rectly in the route taken by the Span
ish squadron, was exposed for some
minutes, possibly ten, to the gun fire
of three of the Spanish ships and the
west battery at range of 800 yards
from the ships and about 5000 yards
from the batteries, but the vessels of
the entire squadron, closing in rapidly
soon diverted this fire and did magni-
6cent work at close range.
WARM HEARTED WORDS FOR COM
MANDERs.
l have never before witnessed such
deadly and fatally accurate shooting as
was done by the ships of your COM
mand as they closed in on the Spanish
squadron, and deem it high privi-
lege to commend to you for such ac-
ton as you may deem proper the gal
lantry and dashing courage, the prompt
decision and skilful handling of their
respective vessels of Capt. Philip, Capt.
Evans, Capt. Clark, and especially of
my chief of staff, Capt. Cook, who was
directly under my personal observa-
ton, and whose GOODNESS, promptness
and courage were of the highest order.
The dense smoke of the combat shut
out from my view the Indiana and the
Gloucester, but as these vessels were
closer to your flagship, no doubt their
part in the conflict was under your i'm
mediate observation.
Here follow mention in detail of the
name and rank of the officers of the
Brooklyn, from the captain down
through all the grades, who did their
duty so well.
have never in my life served with a
Drawer, better or worthier crew than
that of the Brooklyn. During the COM
bat, lasting from $50 to 1:l5 P. M,
much Of the time under fire, they
never tagged for moment and were
apparently undisturbed by the storm Of
prOjectiles passing ahead, astern and
over the ships.
The result of the engagement was
the destruction of the Spanish squad
ron and the capture of the Admiral
and some 300 to 1850 prisoners, with
the loss of several hundred killed, es-
timated by Admiral Cervera at 600
men. The casualties on board this
ship we're: G. H. Ellis, Chief Yeoman,
killed; J. Burns, fireman, frst-class,
severely wounded. The marks and
scars show that the ship was struck
about twenty-five times and she bears
in all forty.one scars as the result of
her participation in the great victory of
your force on July 8. 1893. The speed
cone halyards were shot away and near
ly all the signal halyards. The ensign
at the main was 30 shattered that in
hauling it down at the close of the &C
ton it fell in pieces. congratulate
you most sincerely upon this great vic.
tory to the squadron under your COM
mand, and l am glad that had an OPP
portunity to contribute in the least to
a uictory that seems big enough for all
of us.
CERvERA MADE THE BROOKLYN A
MARK.
Since reaching this place and hold.
ing conversation with several OF the
captains, viz, Capt. Eulate, OF the Viz
caya, and the second in command Of
the Colon, Commander Controrar,
have learned that the Spanish AID
miral's scheme was to concentrate al
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