The Dickinson press., 1898-07-23

with GlaG OF Gn6 SpAul0ruS, anu, aIG0E
getting in good range, began q running
fight.
! The Texas, still heading in shore,
kept up q hot exchange Of shots with
the foremost ships, which gradually
drew away to the westward under the
shadow of the hills. The third Of the
| Spanish vessels, the vizcaYe OF Infanta
Maria Teresa, was caught by the Texas
In good fighting range, and it was she
| that engaged the chief attention Of the
first battleship commissioned in the
J American navy-the old hoodoo, but
J now the old hero. The Texas steamed,
| west with her adversary, and as she
could not catch her with speed she did
with her shells. Captain John W.
Philip directed operations from the
bridge until the fire got SO hot that he.
ordered the ship to be run from the
coming tower, and the bridge contin-
gent moved down to the passage sur.
rounding the tower. This was a provi-
Dental move, for a moment later q,
shell from one Of the Spanish cruisers
tore through the pilothouse. It would
have killed the wheelman and perhaps
everybody on the bridge had they re-
manned there. !.
Captain Philip directed every move
throughout the heat Of the fight. For
half an hour the shells whistled all
about the ship, but only one other
| struck it. This tore a hole through the
aah hoist amidships and exploded inside
tho smokestack. No one was injured.
The din5of the guns was so terrific that
orders had to be yelled close to the
messengers ears, and at times the
smoke was SO thick that absolutely
nothing could be seen. Once or twice
the 10 inch gums in the turrets were
swung across the chip and fred. The
o~oncussion shook the great vessel as
though she had been struck by great
ball, and everything movable was splin-
tered. The men neal the guns were
thrown fiat on their faces. Oneof them,
a seaman named Scarm, vas tumbled
down a hatch into the forward handling
room. His leg was broken.
Meanwhile the Oregon had come in
On the III She passed the Texas and
chaseG after Commodore Sohley, OF the
Brooklyn, to head off the foremost Of
the Spanish ships. The Iowa also turned
her course westward and kept up q hot
fire on the running enemy. At 1910
O'Clock the third Of the Spanish ships,
the one that had been exchanging COM
pliments with the Texas, was seen to
be on fire, and q mighty cheer went up
from our ships. The Spaniard headed
for the shore, and the Texas turned her
attention to the one following. The
Brooklyn. and Oregon, after q few part
Ing ahots, also left her contemptuously
and made all steam and shell after the
foremost two Of the Spanish ships, the
Almirante OQuendo and the Cristobal
Colon.
.1uaa ahen the two torpedo boat de-
stroyers Pluton and Furor were discov-
cred. They had come out after the
cruisers without being seen and were
boldly heading west down the coast.
tsAll email guns on the torpedo boats
was the order on the Texas, and in an
instant . hail Of shot was pouring all
about them. A FOUNDER from the
starboard battery Of the Texas, under
Ensign elise, struck the foremost tor
pedo: boat fairly In the boiler. A rend-
ing sound was heard above the roar. Of
battle. A great spout Of black smoke
shot mp from that destroyer, and she was
out Of commission. The Iowa, which
was coming up fast, threw . few com.
p~limentary shots at tie second torpedo
boat destroyer and passed on. The little
Gloucester; formerly J. Pierpont Nor
gan,s yacht Corsair, then sailed in and
Anished the second boat.
Gun tor gun and shot for shot the
summing fight was kept up between The
Spanish cruisers and the four American
vessels. AT 1890 o'clock tho Infant,
Maria; Teresa and Vizcaya weresalmos
on the beach and were evidently In dis
tresa AZ the Texas was firing anthem
. white flag was run mp on the ON
nearest her.
Cease firing. q called Captain Philip
"a EEFrC-~ [E&lJ -.Is-E[5Sr- : .t 100 - W--.SA --&