The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-13


every energy to overtake the Colon,
which was then five miles away and
two miles ahead in direct line and
mile and half farther iishore, we
picked up the flying vizcaya. The game
must have seemed up to her then, for
with a quick turn to starboard she ran
shoreward, and we saw in an instant
that she was flaming fore and aft. A
beautiful Spanish dag floating from her
gaf and another higher still from her
maintopmast head showed her to be the
flagship of tho second In command.
When we drew near, we saw some
thing had gone amiss with her, for just
as wo swung with touch Of our helm
to give her finishing broadside the
beautiful flags drifted from truck and
gaff end aud the white flag of surrender
went up, and the cheers of our ship
went with it. We stopped our engines
when close aboard and hoistcd out our
boats TO save her people. We received
on board $50 of her crew, the Itist took
another hundred, and that was all that
was left of them, for the other hapless
sailors were lying dead or wounded on
her burning decks. The confagration
aboard this ship was astounding and
even now, when the opportunity for
calm reflection has come, 10 Is impossi-
bic 10 explain wherc SO much infam-
inable material could have been collect
ed OIL board an armored vessel. Through
the air ports and gun ports of the DOOM
od ship quivering fires shone with
blood red light upon tho light wood
work of the bridge and upper deck and
long tongues Of flame licked the tower
ing fnasts. Over The ship cloud Of
rosy light hovered and when, after
time, the explosions Of the FREQ powder
were added great volumes of smoke
shut out the sky. Several explosions OF
terrific force followed, but notwith-
standing this, and while the flames
were still quivering through every out
let and encircling the hull, .our boats
were busy with the rescue of the unfor-
tunate wounded and those more lucky
survivors who had sought the water or
the shore as their only refuge from
dreadful death.
The glorious Texas, no longer the
"hoodoo" of tho fleet, gave its princi-
pal attention to the Vizcaya, and one Of
her l2 inch shells, smashing through
the fircroom Of the Spaniard, caused her
to make that quick turn to tho shore
which at first we did not understand
Tho New York wus so far 10 the east
ward that she had long chase and
stern chase before sho got into the ac-
tion, and she passed MS just after tho
Vizcaya surrendered. She made splen-
did marine picture as she rushed eager
ly by in hot chase after the Colon,
and as she shot past we gavo Sampson
cheer after cheer, and cheer after cheer
came back TO US from as gallant crew
as ever served q gun or fed a roaring
furnace.
Some of the crew swan to the beach,
but finding the hostile shores command
ed by alert parties Of Cuban soldiers
they fought in mad endeavor TO get
on board the ships boats rather than
surrender to an enemy wSom they knew
TO be pitiless. Every officer and man on
the Iowa gave clothes Of some'sort to
the rescued sailors, and their reception
must have taught them that the dcspised
Yankee was not the inhuman brute their
officers had pictured. The paymaster's
stores Of the ship were drawn on Law
ishly to clothe the Spanish officers and
men, and when after awhile they were
dried and fed it was interesting TO note
the relief all seemed TO feel now that
their long suspense Of so many weary
weeks was over and done.
When the Spanish captain of the Viz
caya, that courteous Eulate of whom
we heard so much when his ship was in
the harbor Of New York, was lifted over
the side and half carried aft. he pre-
sentcd his sword to Captain Evans as
the symbol, but Evans, gcntlo as no is
brave, declined to receive it, and wav-
ing it back with friendly gesture he
grasped tho hand If the Spaniard and
welcomed his brother officer to tho hos
pitality of the ship. Much affected by
his reception, Captain Erlate asked per-
mission to meet tho Iowa's officers, and
to each he gave warm grip of his
hand and friendly word Of gratitude
before he was carried below.
AT one time tho Iowa was engaged
with all tho ships single handed Tho
Spanish officers told us later that their
orders were to concentrate theif fire on
her and every effort must bc made to
disable her, as she was the most danger
Gus antagonist of all awaiting them.
Reckoning mp tho data of this Nom
orablo fight, which it was our good for
tune to trko part in, we find that in
less than % minutes two a their ships
were wrecked; IN less than thrce-quar-
ters of an hour the third surrendered;
in 56 minutes from the time the first
tashing Spasiard was sighted all hands
werc pipcd down, the guns werc secured
and our boats were I'm the water to save
what was, left Of the Vizcaya's crew.
At ) o'clock in the afternoon of that
memorable Sunday the Iowa arrived off
tho entrance 20 Santiago. the Gloucester
keeping company with us after speak:
ing the Indiana and exchanging cheers
that made the wellsin ring When
alongside the Indiana, Captain Evans
hailed his brotbcr-in .lnw Ciptajn Tav-