The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-08

commission then and there Up came the
Iowa with rush and threw few shots at
the second destroyer, but passed on for
larger game Then the gallant little Glou-
eeSter, which is nothing put Pierpont Nor
CAMS converted yacht. the Corsair. sailed
right into that Spanish terror of the sea
and had her finished in short order.
But gun for gun. shot for shot the four
big American vessels and the four finest
ships in SPANS navy kept up the fight. BY
1888 o'clock-one hour from the time Lieut..
Bristol saw that cloud of smoke-the two
cruisers, which were last to leave the har-
bor were smoking ruins, going on the beach
TO keep from sinking. Up went white flag
on the one nearest us. and Cease firing!
was Captain Philips immediate order.
moment later both Spanish cruisers were
beached and bright flashes of fame COM
ing through the smoke which enyelop,e ped
them told of the destructive force OF boiler
or magazine explosions.
AFTER THE FLAGSHIP.
We could see the ships boats crowded TO
their gunwales pulling for the shore. The
Iowa. which had received some pretty hard
knocks in the fight remained to that
these two ships were really done for. while
the Brooklyn, Texas and Oregon pushed on
to end or capture the other two, which were
racing for life along the coast to the west
ward, well in shore AT 1850 o'clock Adj
miral Cervera's flagship, the Oquendo, sud-
denly turned for the shore. the Oregon and
Brooklyn pounding her abeam, while we
were blazing away aStern.
On went the Brooklyn and oregon after the
Cristobal Colon, which really looked as II
she were going to get away, as she was
making great speed. We were left to give
the Oquendo the coup de grace 1t didn't
take us long. The Spanish admiral snip
was already burning, and al n:O5 down
came the yellow ana red flag at her stern,
and we swung in abeam. Then. in a mo-
ment there was mighty explosion on the
Oquendo, and our boys. set up cheer
Don't cheer, boys? shouted Captain
So we left her TO her late TO go plugging
on after Colon, which, in her desperation
was blowing through the water al a pace
that put the Brooklyn to her best efforts;
The Oregon was making wonderful speed
for a battle ship and we just settled down
to make the effort of our lives. Never since
our trial trip have done so well. We
all feared that the Cristobal Colon would
leave us all except the Brooklyn, and Com
modore SchleyS ship was not supposed to
be fair fighting match for the big Span
ish cruiser. We couldn't afford to have 1t
said that even one of the Spanish ships got
away. so these moments of the chase were
thrilling ores.
CHASING THE COLON.
Straight into the west we headed, blazing
and banging as we went, in the greatest
marine race of modern times. The Brooklyn
headed out toward point, in the endeav-
or to cut off the Spaniard there, while the
Oregon held to a middle course. not much
over a mile from the cruiser and we ham
mered away from the Colons wake The
desperate Don Rugged the shore, firing now
and again at us and giving the Brooklyn
and Oregon her best fire. We held up as
tonishingly we'll under our forced draught
and no ore need ever sheer at the speed
of the old Texas again. But run as she
might the Spaniard had no chance. The
Brooklyn gradually forged ahead of her and
got between her and the place where she
that point For over two hours She had led
US lively chase, but her time had come.
The Oregon held ler abeam and the Texas
aStern. There was no way of escape.
AT 1:l5 in the afternoon the gallant Colon
gave 1t up and turned her bow for the
beach, AT 1:20 down-came her flag, though
not one of our ships was then within mile
of her. but we all closed in. Brooklyn. Ore
gon and Texas together, stopping our en-
glnes few hundred yards away Commo-
dore Schley boarded the enemy and the sur
render was to him. Just then the New
York, with Admiral Sampson aboard, was
seen coming up, accompanied by the Vixen.
we have won great victory. Details
will be communicated.
Such was the signal Schley set for his
admiral, and the victory certainly was
Schley's. Then in that little cove under the
high hills of the Cuban coast we Americans
the month. The celebration may have been
a little premature, according to the alma
nae, but it was as hearty as any joyousness
ever INDUCED in. Our ships cheered one
another. the captains exchanged loud COM
pliments through their mega phones and the
oregon turned out her band to send the mu-
Sic of The Star-spangled Banner over the
lines of Spaniards drawn up to be surren-
dered
Commodore Schley, coming alongside the
Texas in his gig after his visit to the sur
rendered Colon, called out cheerily to Capt.
Philip:
1T was a nice fight Jack, wasn't it,"
Three roaring cheers and a resounding
tiger" went up from the Texas veterans
as a greeting to their old commander Then
Captain Philip called all hands to the guar,
thanks to God for the VICTORIAN almost
bloodless victory on our side.
PHILIP OFFERS PRAYER.
Il want to make public acknowledgment
here that / believe in God, the Father AL
mighty" said the captain reverently. II
want all you officers and men to lift your
hats and from your hearts offer silent
thanks to the Almighty"
Every hat went off and there was mo-
ment or two OF silence, and then the over
strained nerves were relieved again by
three mighty cheers for the heroic captain
Later in the day came report that another
Spanish war ship had been seem but the
supposed Spaniard turned out TO be the
Austrian cruiser Maria Teresa
Then up steamed the Resolute to take off
the Colon's prisoners. There were $50 of
these prisoners. and eight men were miss
Fourth of July offering to the American
people and the American navy. Beached
bow on with sandy shore and her stern
afioat, she did not seem greatly damaged
by shots. One thirteen-inch shell and one
eight-inch had hit her full and fair. but the
damage was not sufficient to cause her to
sirk
The Spanards baked us, however. After
they had found themselves safe they had
opened every sea valve and every port,
throwing the valves overheard and smash
ing thu headlights. They had even thrown
away the breech plugs of their guns. In the
evening the surrendered cruiser floated off
the beach. drfted five hundred yards to the
westward and swung bow out. The New
York took hold of her and showed her stern
on to the beach again. But the water was
up to the gun deck, and at II o'clock at
night she gave lurch, turned over on her
starboard side with her port guns pointing
straight at the sky. And so we left her in
only four fathoms of water. but hardly In
position to be saved. And ended an ever
glorious day.
At police roll call last night the patrol
men were ordered to begin the enforcement
of the ordinance which prohibits people
throwing rubbish into improved streets.