The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-02

washington, July 2S.-The navy de-
partment today made public the fol-
lowing report of Captain Cook, Of the
RrookIvn. on the destruction of Ger
Vera's fleet:
United States Flagship Brooklyn,
At Anchor, Guantanamo Bay,
July Z, 1898.
Sir: At 9 o'clock a. m, July 3rd, I
gave order and arrangements were
made for general muster at $50 o'clock
a. m. At $3.50 o'clock a. m. the enemy
were sighted by h Iowa coming out.
At the same time they were
by the quartermaster on watch, N.
Anderson, of this ship, and reported
to the officer Of the deck. The exc
cutive officer, Lieutenant Commander
Mason, who was on deck about to exc
cute the order for general muster, I'M
mediately gave the order: Clear ship
for action and general quarters" Sig
nal was made at the same time: "En-
envy coming out, action" l went m
mediately forward, stood for the enemy
and gave orders to get steam in all
boilers. We started with steam in
three boilers at about twelve KNOTS
speed.
The head of the Spanish squadron, in
column, was just outside the entrance
of the harbOr of Santiago heading
about southwest. The Spanish squad
ron consisted of the Maria Teresa
(fagship), Vizcaya, Oquendo and Co.
lon, and two torpedo boat destroyers.
We opened fire on the flagship in five
minutes from the discovery.
The mort battery was first engaged
as we stood with port helm to head off
the leading ship, and giving them a
raking fire at about 1900 yards range.
The enemy turned to the westward to
close in to the land. We then wore
around to starboard, bringing the star
board battery into action. The enc
my Rugged the shore to the westward.
The Brooklyn leading, was followed
by the Texas, Iowa, Oregon, Indiana
and Gloucester. The Vixen, which had
been to westward of US on the block
ade. ran to the southwark n east
ward of us and kept for some time off
our port side, distant about 1000 yards,
evidently intending to guard against
torpedo attack Upon this ship; the
shells passing over us fell very thick
about her, some passing over her. At
this time the firing was very fast, and
the whistling of shell incessant, and
our escape with SO little injury was
miraculous, and can only be attrlbut-
ed to bad Workmanship on the part
of the enemy. The Maria Teresa, which
had dropped astern while we were
wearing, under the heavy fire of our
fleet, ran ashore.
The Vizcaya, Oquendo and Colon
continued on, gaining in distance. The
Brooklyn was engaged with the three
leading ships of the enemy, which were
forging head, the Texas, Iowa and In
diana keeping up a heavy fire, but
steadily dropping astern. The Oregon
was keeping up a steady fire and was
coming up in the most glorious n
gallant style, Out-stripping all others.
1t was an inspiring sight to see this
battleship, with a large white wave
before her and her smokestacks belch-
ing forth continued puffs from her
forced draft. We were making four
teen knots at the time and the Oregon
came up off our starboard quarter at
about 600 yards and maintained her
position, though we soon after increas-
ed our speed to fifteen knots, and just
before the Colon surrendered were
making nearly sixteen.
The Oquendo soon dropped astern
and, on fire, ran shore. The Vizcaya
and Colon continued on, under fire
from the Brooklyn and the Oregon.
The other vessels of our fleet were we'll
-oSforn and ont Of ranpa The Texas