The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-11
The Official Account of the Engagement with
the Spanish Squadron.
SEEN FROM u. S. STEAMER VIXEN
1t was 125 by the Clock When the Texas SignaIIed "The
Enemy has Surrendered "--The Exact Details
Given of the Most Notable Naval En-
gagement in the Annals of
History

was gaining rapidly. At this time the
lBrooklyn's fire was steady and deadly,
her shells striking or bursting alongside
Of the Spanards.
At 1919 the Texas reached Juan Con
Zales and the Spaniard was apparently
|, off Cabanas. At 1880 the Vixen APP
preached, heading north-northwest. The,
Texas was gaining rapidly. The Iowa
appeared to be off Juan Gonzales and
the yacht appeared off Guayacaboa hot
H. engaging the encmy's ships. AT 1914
another Spanish vessel was on fire and
heading for the beach with a heavy list
to port This was the Vizcaya making
for the reef at Aserradores. AT 11:01
he Eizcaya ported her helm and headed
asst apparently seeking the entrance to
Aserradores The Texas and Vixen di
rected their fire on the Vizcaya until
II :07, when as the colors were down,
we ceased. At II 90 there came burst
of flame and smoke from the VizcaySs
stern and all the ships resumed their
fire while passing the doomed vessel,
which was hard on Aseradores reef.
AT 11:16 the Brooklyn, Oregon, Texas,
Iowa and Indiana, the last named ten
miles from the Cristobal Colon, were i'll
sight of the Vixen. 1t was believed on
the Vixen that the vessel at Aserradores
was the Spanish flagship. At 11;23 the
Iowa had stopped. The after end of the
Vizcaya was a sheet of flame, and from
I11:26 to AZ there were many explo-
sions on board the Spanish cruiser, APP
parently caused by the ignition of loose
charges about the guns.
They reSembled huge chrysanthemumS
with ribbons of smoke. as the burning
powder grains fell from the ends of the
petals.
II 40 the chase narrowed itself to the
Cristobal Colon, which was close ashore
and seven miles from the Vixen, with
the Oregon one point on the starboard
bow. distant mile and Il half; tie
Brooklyn one point on the starboard
bow distant three miles; the Texas on
the starboard quarter, distant one mile;
the Iowa two points on the starboard
side, distant eight miles and the New
York one point on the starboard quarter,
distant ten miles. The last two YES
sells were apparently off BOca del Rio,
but were too far distant to be certainly
identified in the thin haze and smoke
from the leading ships. No other vessels
were in sight The smoke from the ship
destroyed at Juan Gonzales and to the
hull was invisible.
At noon the relative positions of the
American ships were practically the
same. When the Vixen was abreast of
Sevilla. thirteen miles west of Santiago,
he Texas bore three points on the star
board quarter, little less than mile
off and the Oregon and Brooklyn one
point on the starboard and port bow, dis
tant four and five miles respectively.
while the Cristobal Colon bore two
points on the starboard bow, distant full
V ten miles.
According to the official pilot on the
Vixen that vessel was off Bayamita.
The estimated distance was taken from
the officers and official pilot. At 1905
the New York was in line with the burn
nS Vizcaya at Il distance of nine miles.
AT 1915 the Texas was on the star
GARD quarter, the New York two points
on the starhoard quarter, gaining, the
Oregon on half point on the starboard
bow, the Brooklyn one point on the port
bow. and the Cristobal Colon one point
on the starboard bow. still miles away.
At 1920 the Oregon fired shot which
fell short The Cristobal Colon was
then hull down from the Vixen. During
the next half hour the occasional shots
rom the Oregon and the Brooklyn
struck near the chase.
At 1850 the Texas was one point for
ward off the starboard beam and was
steadily gaining. At 1:15 the Oregon
and the Brooklyn headed in shore about
our points. At / % the Texas signalled
'I'he enemy has surrendered" The
signal was reported to the New York
but was not acknowledged. The Cristo-
al Colon was seen through glasses aim
ng close in shore, and, according to the
pilot. at Rio Tarquino. 1t was thought
on board the Vixen, that white flag
was displayed on the Cristobal Colon,
but this subsequently proved to be escap-
ing steam.
At = o'clock boats from the Brooklyn
and Oregon went alongside the Colon.
At 2:2o the Vixen stopped off Rio Tar
duino near the Brooklyn and Oregon.
The New York arrived five minutes later
and intercepted the boats which were re-
turning from the Colon.
In all of these observations the time
was accurately noted, but the watch
used was five minutes behind the deck
clock, which agreed very nearly with
the hours indicated by the bells on the
other vessels.