The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-27
TOLD BY BOB EVANS.
His Official Account of the "Battle of
July 3rd."

D. Evans commanding the Iowa, gives
the following account of his ships ac-
| ton during the engagement of July 8:
L. S. S. Iowa, First Rate, off Santiago
de Cuba, July 4, 1898.-Sir: I have the
honor to make the following report of
the engagement with the Spanish
squadron off Santiago de Cuba on the
3rd of July:
lon the morning of the 3rd while the
crew was at quarters for Sunday in
spectiOn, the leading vessel of the Span
ish squadron was sighted at 9:31 COM
ing out of the harbor of Santiago de
Cuba. Signal "Enemy's ships coming
OUT was Immediately hOisted and a
gun fired to attract attention. The call
to general quarters was sounded i'm
mediately, the battery made ready for
firing, and the engines rung full speed
ahead.
2-The position of this vessel at the
time of sighting the squadron was the
usual blOckading station off the en-
trance of the harbOr; Moro castle bear
ing about north, and distant about
three to four miles. The steam at this
time in the boilers was sufficient for a
speed of five knots.
S-After sighting the leading vessel.
the Infanta Maria Teresa admiral
Cervera's flagship it was observed that
she was followed in succession by the
remaining three vessels of the Spanish
squadron, the Vizcaya, Cristobal Colon
ships moved at a speed of about to 10
knots, which was steadily increased as
they cleared the harbor entrance and
stood to the westward. They main
tanned a distance of about 800 yards
between vessels. The squadron moved
with precision and stations were well
kept.
Immediately upon sighting the
leading vessel fires were spread and the
Iowa headed toward the leading Span
ish ship. About $40 the first shot was
fired from this ship at a distance of
about 5000 yards. The course of this
vessel was so laid that the range speed
lily diminished. A number of shots were
fired at ranges varying between 5000
and 1000 yards. The range was rapidly
reduced to $500 yards and subsequently
to 1000 and to 1900 yards.
5-When it was certain that the Maria
Teresa would pass ahead of US, the
helm was put to starbOard and the
starbOard brOadside delivered at a
range of $500 yards. The helm was
then put to port and the ship headed
across the bow of the second ship and
as she drew ahead the helm was again
put to starboard, and she received in
turn the full weight of our starboard
broadside at range of about 1,SOO !
yards. The Iowa was again headed off
with port helm for the third ship, and
as she approached, the helm was put
to starboard until our course was APP
prOXimately that of the Spanish ship.
In this position at range OF 14OO
yards the fire of the entire battery, in
Guiding the rapid fire guns, was poured !
into the enemy'S ship
6-About 10 o'clock the eneny's tor
pedO boat destrOyers Juror and PlutOn, |
were observed to have left the harbOr |
and to be following the Spanish squad
ron. At the time that they were OBJ |
served and in fact most of the time |
that they were under fire, they were at |
a distance varying from $500 and 1000 |
yards. AS soon as they were discovered |
the secondary battery of this ship was |
turned on them while the main bat |
terry continued to engage the ViZcaya, |
OquendO and Maria Teresa. The fire of |
the main battery of this ship when the |
range was below $500 yards, was most |
effective and destructive, and after a |
continuance of this fire for perhaps 20 |
minutes it was noticed that the Maria /
Teresa and OquendO We're in flames and |
were being headed for the beach. Their |
cOlOrs were struck about 1920; and |
they were beached about eight miles !
west of Santiago
"A bout the same time (about 1O:25) |
the fire of this vessel, together with /
that of the Gloucester and another |
smaller vessel proved so destructive |
that one of the torpedo boat destrOyerS !
l(PlutOn) was sunk, and the FurOr was |
so much damaged that she was run |
upon the rocks.
8-After having passed. at 1926, the /
Oquendo and Maria Teresa on fire and |
ashore, this vessel continued to chase |
and fire upon the Vizcaya until 1885, |
when signal to cease firing was sound |
ed on board, it having been discovered |
that the Vizcaya had struck her cOlOrs. |
AT 10: 90 the Iowa arrived in the VI |
cinity of the ViZcaya, which had been |
run ashore, and as it was evident that !
she could not catch the Cristobal Colon, |
and that the Oregon, Brooklyn and |
New York would, two steam cutters !
and three cutters We're Immediately |
hoisted out and sent to the Vizcaya to |
rescue her crew. Our boats succeeded
in bringing off a large number of Off
GERS and men of that ships company,
and in placing many of them on board !
the torpedo boat Ericsson and the
auxiliary dispatch vessel hist.
1O-About 1870 the New York pas
sed in chase of the CristObal Colon,
which was endeavOring to escape from
the Oregon, Brooklyn and Texas
live received on board TINS VesSel
from the Vizcaya, Captain EuIate, the
officer and % officers, to-
gether with about 248 petty officers and
men, of whom 81 were wounded
There were also received on board
five dead bodies, which were immedi-
ately buried with the hOnors due to
their grade.
respects. The dashpOt of the forward
12-inch gun damaged in the engage
ment of the End, having been replaced
the same day by one OF the older dasn-
nots which gave no trouble during this
eDga cement This ship was struck in
the hull. on the starbOard side, during
two proiectiles of about 6-inch calibre,
one striking the hull two or three feet
above the water line and almost direc-
ly on the line of the berth deck, pierre
ing the ships side between frames
and 10, and the other, piercing the side
and the cofferdam between frames Is
and 49,
The first projectile did not pass be
yond the inner buIkhead of the Golfer
dam ALB The hole made by it was
large and ragged. being about Is inch
es in a longitudinal direction and abOut7
inches in a vertical direction 1t struck
with a slight inclination aft and perfor-
ated the cofferdam partition bulkhead
It did not explode and