The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-03
WHAT "BOB" EVANS SAID.
Spaniards Didn't Hit Anything but
Mater-An Eyewitness's Account.

WHAT "BOB" EVANS SAID.
spaniards Didn't Hit Anything but
Water-An Eyewitness Account.
NEW YORK, June 2-The Sun this morn
ing ''scooped" it's competitors by printing
detailed report of the engagement at San
tiago de Cuba under date of ION board the
dispatch boat Simpson, off Santiago May
81" The Suns correspondent says: THE
first battle in which American ships have
met a frst-class Spanish war Ship backed
by modern batteries, manned by expert
French and German gunners, has been
fought, and the honors are all with the
Americans. Three of the best ships in our
navy, the Iowa, Massachusetts and New
Orleans, were selected for the fight. For
hfty-fve minutes this afternoon they en-
gagged the Cristobal Colon, the flagship of
Admiral Cervera's squadron, and the strong
batteries at the narrow entrance of the har-
Dor of Santiago de Cuba, and the Spanish
flagship was certainly badly damaged. None
of the American vessels was hit. To use
the characteristic words Of Fighting Bob
Evans the commander of the Iowa, shouted
by him from the bridge of that vessel to
the correspondent of the Sun just at the
close of the battle: The Spaniards did not
hit d-n thing but the water, and that
was not a great difficulty
AT noon to-day Commodore Schley trans
fecred his flag from the cruiser Brooklyn to
the battle ship Massachusetts Two hours
later the Massa chusetts, the latter followed
by the New Orleans and the Iowa in the or
der named, cables length f600 feet) apart
started across the entrance of the harbor
They stood well off shore, being about 1900
yards from the Morro Two miles away lay
the Texas and Brooklyn and the smaller
vessels of the blockadipg fleet, everybody
aboard of them envying the luck of those
on the Massachusetts, New Orleans and
Iowa. AS the Massachusetts passed the en-
trance she opened fire on the Cristobal
Colon, the Spanish flagship, which was lying
moored across the entrance, with her broad
side to the Americans The Massachusetts
used her forward eight-iuch gun on the port
side for the first shot, Following with her
thlrteen-inch rifles. The conclusion as the
latter were discharged CAUSED the waters to
Vibrate and the ship to tfemble
The Cristobal Colon md four batteries
two on the east side of the entrance one on
the west side and one on Smith cay which
is in the center of the channel about half
a mile north OF the Moro, replied to the
Americans fire. The batteries used ten and
twelve-inch Krupp guns, while the Ameri-
can war ships fired from their thirteen
twelve, eight and six-inch guns The fire
on both sides was we'll sustained, and the
reverbarations were thrown back from the
mountains until it appeared as though there
was no moment of silence between the dis
charges of the great guns. AT first both
sides showed bad judgment in getting the
range, which was about 1000 yards most of
the shots going wild. The Americans passed
fxryfnn HafN
speed On the second round the Americans
showed very decided improvement in their
craftsmanship They now had the range of
the batteries and the MORO and nearly
every shot landed in the spot intended. The
ancient Moro, towering above the sea, was
struck time and again, each shell as it ex-
ploded tearing great rents in the walls and
sending skyward masses of masonry that
fell back into the fort with loud crashes
Lower down along the shore where the
other batteries were located the damage
from the American fire seemed to be equally
great. AS the ships came back on their Sec
ond passage before the entrance the Span
ish artillerymen showed a surprising ac-
curacy of aim. Several of their shells burst
over the Iowa and three fell dangerously
near the New Orleans. One dropped and ex-
ploded just in front of the Massachusetts.
but did no damage. The Americans con-
sidered this wonderful shooting for the enc
my, whose craftsmanship heretofore has ex-
cited nothing but derision aboard the
United States war ships
THE fire from the Americans as thew
came back was not only better directed, but
appeared to be much heavier. After the
cannonading had lasted thirty minutes the
firing from three of the Spanish batteries.
80
on Smith cay, was silenced the fortifica-
tions having been practically demolished.
Five minutes later the ships ceased firing
For twenty minutes longer the Cristobal
Colon and the battery on the western shore
kept up weak fire, but their shots were
harmless. The battle lasted for fifty-fve
minutes One of the shots from the Iowa
which struck the Cristobal Colon apparently
set her on fire, as smoke was seen ascend
ing from her that did not come from her
guns. If she was on fire the flames were
quickly extinguished.
1.-The Colon fred the last shot, and this
fact, it is supposed will lead the Spaniards
after their customary manner, to claim that
the Americans were driven off. When the
battle was ended by the signal cease firing
which was displayed on the Massachusetts,
Commodore Schley left the battle ship and
returned to the Brooklyn.
1.-The Suns dispatch boat went to all the
ships that had taken part in the engage
ment and found that nobody had been hurt,
and that the ships had sustained no damage.
OF course, it is impossible to state the Span
ish loss, but, judging from the effect of the
American fire on the Notifications, it must
have been heavy. Admiral SIMPSONS
squadron, including the battle ship Oregon,
is expected to arrive off Santiago Thurs
day.
SAW SEVENTEEN SHIPS