Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-07-29
FAMOUS VICTORY.
Work of All Of a Character to
Elicit Commentator.
Achievement Big Enough For Everybody to
Share In the Glory.

squadron. written by Admiral Sampson.
Commodore Schley and the other officers
of the American fleet, were given out
by the navy department yesterday. Ad-
miral sampson says in part:
Admiral Sampson says: THE en-
emYs vessels came out of the harbor
between $685. and 10 a. m. the column
appearing around Cay Smith at 9:31.
and emerging from the channel five or
six minutes later The positions of the
vessels Of my command off Santiago at
that moment were as follows. The
flagship New York was four miles east
Of her blOckading station and about
seven miles from the harbou entrance
She had started from Siboney. where
Intended TO land, accompanied by sew
eral Of my staff, and go to the front and
consult with General Shafter. a dis
cussion of the situation and more def
mite understanding between US Of the
operations proposed had been rendered
necessary by the Unexpectedly strong
resistance of the Spanish garrison of
Santiago. l had sent my chief of stan
on shore the day before to arrange an
interview with General Shafter, who
had been suffering from heat prostra-
ton. l made arrangements to go to
his headquarters, and my flagship was
in the position mentioned above when
the Spanish squadron appeared in the
channel The remaining vessels were
in or near their usual blockading po-
sitions, distributed in a semi-circle
about the harbor entrance.
THE men of our ships in front Of the
port were at sunday quarters for in
spection. The signal was made stimuli
taneOusly from several vessels, 'Enemys
ships escaping and general quarters
were sounded. The men cheered as
they sprauc 10 their guns and fire was
opened probably within eight minutes
by the vessels whose guns commanded
the entrance. The New York turned
about and steamed for the escaping
fleet. flying the signal, Close in towards
harbor entrance and attack vessels, and
gradually increasing speed, until to-
wards the end Of the chase she was
making 16 l. knots, ana was rapidly
closing on the Cristobal Colon. she was
not at any time within the range Of the
heavy Spanish ships, and her only part
in the firing was to receive the undivided
fire from the forts In passing the harbor
the destroyers thought at the moment
to be attempting to escape from thu
Gloucester
when about 10 miles west If Santiago
the Indiana had been signalled to g
back to the harbor entrance, and at
Ascarradcros the Iowa was signalled %
Resume blockadng station The Iowa
assisted by the Ericsson and the Hist
8 ~
the Harvard and the Gloucester rescued
those Of the Infanta Maria Teresa and
the Almiral.e OQuendu. This rescue
Of prisoners. including the wounded
from the burning Spanish vessels was
the occasion Of some Of the most daring
and gallant conduct Of the day. TIL
ships We're burning fore and aft, their
guns and reserve ammunition We're ex-
ploding, and it was not known at what
moment fire would reach the magazines.
In addition 10 this a heavy surf was
running inside Of the Spanish ships
but no risk deferred our officers and men
until their work of humanity was com
plete.
Where the Nizcaya went ashore the
Colon was about six miles ahead OF the
Brooklyn and oregon, but her squirt was
finished and the American ships were
now gaining upon her. Behind the
brooklyn and oregon came the Texas,
Vixen and New York. 1t was evident
from the bridge of the New York that all
the American ships were gradually over
hauling the chase, and that she had no
chance Of escape. At 1850 the Brook
lyn and Oregon opened fire and got her
range-the OregOns heavy shells strik-
ing beyond her-and a l:20 she gave UP
without firing another shot, hauled
down her colors and ran ashore at
Torquno, As miles from Santiago. Cap
tain Cook of the Brooklyn went on board
to receive the surrender. While his
boat was alongside l came up in the
New York, received his report ana
placed the oregon in charge Of the wreck
70 save her, if possible, and directed the
prisoners to be transferred TO the Res
olute which had followed the chase,
Commodore Schley, whose chief Of star
had gone on board to receive the sur
render had directed that all their per
sonal effects should be retained by the
officers. This order l did not modify.
The Cristobal Colon was not injured by
our firing and probably is not much
| injured by Bleaching, though she ran
ashore at a high speed. The beach was
so deep that she came off by the work
ing of the sea- but her sea valves were
opened and broken, treacherously l am
sure, after her surrender, and despite
all efforts she sank. When 1t became
evident that she could not be kept afloat,
she was pushed by the New York bodily
upon the beach-the New York's stem
being placed against her for this purpose
the ship being handled by Captain
! Chadwick with admirable judgment and
sank in shoal water and may be saved
Had this not been done she would have
! gone down in deep water ana would have
| been to a certainty a total loss.
II regard this complete and important
victory over the Spanish forces as the
successful finish Of several weeks Of
arduous and close blockade so stringent
and effective during the night that the
enemy was deferred from making the
attempt to escape at night and deliber-
ately elected to make the attempt in
daylight. That this was the case l was
informed by the commanding officer of
the Cristobal Colon.
Il enclose, for the information Of the
department, copies of orders and MEM
orandums issued from time to time re-
lating to the manner of maintaining the
blockade. When all the work was done
so well it is difficult to discriminate in
praise. The object of the blockade OF
Ft.11x