Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-07-27

Captain RobIey D. Evans, commanding
the Iowa, gives the following account of
his ships action during the engagement:
". S. S. Iowa, First Rate.
"Off Santiago de Cuba, July 4th, 1895.
"Sir:-I have the honor to make the fol-
lowing report of the engagement with the
Spanish squadron off Santiago de Cuba on
the Sd of July:
.First-On the morning of the Sd. while
the crew was at quarters for Sunday in
spection the leading vessel of the Spanish
squadron was sighted at 9:51 coming out
of the harbor of Santiago de Cuba. Signal,
'Enemy's ships coming out was immedi-
ately hoisted and gun fired to attract
attention. The call to general quarters
was sounded Immediately. the battery
made ready for firing, and the engines rung
full speed ahead.
"Second-The position of this vessel at the
time of sighting the squadron was the
usual blockading station off the entrance
of the harbor; Moro castle bearing about
north, and distant about three to four
miles. The steam at this time in the boil
| ers was sufficient for a speed of five knots.
"Third-After sighting the leading vessel
| the Infanta Maria Teresa admiral Ger
veras flagship, it was observed that she
| was followed in succession by the remain
| ing three vessels of the Spanish squadron.
/ the Vizcaya. Cristobal Colon and Almirante
Oquendo. The Spanish ships moved at a
| speed of about eight to ten knots. which
was steadily increased as they cleared the
| harbor entrance and stood to the west
ward. They maintained a distance of about
| 500 yards between vessels. The squadron
moved with precision and stations were
| well kept.
"Fourth-Immediately upon sighting the
| leading vessel, fires were spread and the
Iowa headed toward the leading Spanish
| ship. About 9:D the first shot was fired
| from this ship. at a distance of about 60O0
yards. The course of this vessel was so
| laid that the range speedily diminished. A
number of shots were fired at ranges vary
| ing between 6,O00 and 4,0N0 yards. The range
was rapidly reduced to 900 yards, and SUBJ
sequently to 1000, and to 100 yards.
'Fifth-When it was certain that the
| Maria Teresa would pass ahead Of US. the
| helm was put to starboard and the STAR
| board broadside delivered at a range of
2,5c0 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 star
board broadside at a range of about 1890
yards The Iowa was again headed off
with port helm for the third ship, and as
| she approached. the helm was put to star
| board until our course was approximately
! that of the Spanish ship. In this position,
| at a range of 1,4o0 yards, the fire of the
entire battery, including the rapid-fire guns,
| was poured into the enemy's ship.
| Sixth-About 10 o'clock the enemy's tor
| pedo boat destroyers Furor and PIuton.
were observed TO have left the harbor and
to be following the Spanish squadron. At
| the time that they were observed and, in
| fact. most of the time that they were under
| fire, they were at a distance varying from
| 4,5D and $500 yards. As soon as they were
| discovered. the Secondary battery of this
ship was turned on them, while the main
battery 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 ef-
fective and destructive. and after a con-
tinuance of this fire for perhaps twenty
| minutes 1t was noticed that the Maria Tere-
| sa and Oquendo were in flames and were
| being headed for the beach. Their colors
were struck about 1920. and they were
| beached about eight miles west of San
tiago.
"Seventh-About the same time (about
1929 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 Pluton) was
sunk, and the Furor was SO much dam
aged that she was run upon the rocks.
"Eighth-After having passed, at 10:35,
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 sounded on
board, it having been discovered that the
Vizcaya had struck her colors.
'Ninth-At II o'clock the Iowa arrived in
| the vicinity the Vizcava 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 were Immediately hoisted
out and sent to the Vizcaya to rescue her
crew. Our boats succeeded in bringing off
a large number of officers and men of
that ships company, and in placing many
Of them on board the torpedo boat Erics-
son and the auxiliary dispatch vessel Hist.
'Tenth-About II 80 the New York passed
in chase of the Cristobal Colon. which was
endeavoring to escape from the Oregon
Brooklyn and Texas.
Eleventh We received on board this
vessel from the Vizcaya Captain
Eulate. the commanding officer. and
twenty-three officers. together with
about 2iS petty officers and men,
of whom thirty-two were wounded
! : lHeTe were also TeCelSeu Ou DOdEu I'VE OedC
bodies. which were Immediately buried
with the honors due to their grade.
'Twelfth-The battery behaved we'll In
all respects, the dashpot of the forward
twelve-inch gun. damaged by the engage
ment of the End. having been replaced the
same day by one of the old dashpots
which gave no trouble during this engage
ment This ship was struck in the hull, or
, the starboard side, during the early part
: of the engagement. by two projectiles OF
about six-inch caliber. one striking the
| hull two or three feet above the water line
and almost directly on the line of the berth
deck. piercing the ships side between
frames and 10. and the other piercing the
side and the cofferdam between frames Il
/ and 19. The first projectile did not pas:
5 beyond the inner bulkhead of the coffer
dam ALB. The hole made by 1t was large
= | and ragged, being about sixteen inches II
| longitudinal direction and about sever
f | inches in vertical direction. 1t strucl
, | with a slight inclination aft and perforated
a the cofferdam partition bulkhead A4l-lS
| 45-47 1t did not explode. and remained II
the cofferdam.
THE second projectile pierced the side Of
the ship and the cofferdam A1Oo. the uppe
| edge of the hole being Immediately below
l | the top of the cofferdam on the berth decl
, | in compartment AIO4. The projecti!e brok'
off the hatch plate and coaming OF tn
;. water tank compartment, exploded ant
| perforated the walls of the chain locker
S The explosion created a small fire whici
t was promptly eStinguished. The hole II