The record-union., 1898-07-09

the Colon placed two G-inch shells fair
ly in our starboard bow. One passed
through the cofferdam and dispensaly,
wrecking the latter and bursting on
the berth deck Going considerable dam
age The other passed through the
side of the water line within the Golfer
dam, where it still remains.
AS 1t was now obviously impossible
to ram any of the Spanish ships on ac
count Of her superior speed. the Iowa
helm was put to the starboard and she
ran on a course parallel with the enc
my. Being then abreast of the Amir
ante OQuendo, at a distance of 1,1O0
yards, the Iowa's. entire battery, in
Guiding the rapid-fire guns, was opened
on the Oquendo. The punishment was
terrific. Many 12-ineh shells from the
Iowa pierced the Almiranta Oquendo al
the same moment, one forward and the
other att The OQuendo seemed to stop
her engines for moment and lost head
way, but she immediately resumed her
speed, and gradually drew ahead of the
Iowa and came under the terrific fire
of the Oregon and Texas.
AT this moment the alarm CT ter
pedo boats was sounded, and two ter
pedo boat destroyers were discovered in
the starboard quarter at a distance OF
1000 yards. Fire was opened on them
and a 12-inch shell cut the stern of one
destroyer squarely off. AS the shell
struck small torpedo boat fired at the
battleship, sending a shell within few
feet of my head
We'll up among the advancing cruis-
ers, splitting shots at one another was
the little Gloucester shooting first at a
cruiser and then at torpedo boat and
hitting head wherever she saw it, The
marvel was that she was not destroyed
by the rain Of shells.
In the meantime the Vizcaya was
slowly drawing abeam of the Iowa and
for the space of fifteen minutes it was
give and take between the two ships
The Vizcaya fired rapidly, but wild y,
not one shot taking effect on the Iowa,
while the shells from the Iowa were
tearing great rents in the sides Of the
Vizcaya. AS the latter passed ahead
of the Iowa she came under the mur-
derous fire of the Oregon. At the
time the Infanta Maria Teresa and the
-
column, were seen to be heading for
the beach and in flames.
The Texas Oregon and Iowa pound
ed them numerically. They ceased TO
reply to the fire, and in few moments
the Spanish cruisers were 8 mass of
flames andaon the rocks with their coll
ors down, the Teresa flying a white
flag. The enemy's crew stripped them
selves and began jumping overheard,
and one of the smaller magazines be-
gan to explode.
Meantime the Brooklyn and Cristo-
bal Colon were exchanging compli-
ments in lively fashion at apparently
long range and the Oregon, with her
locomotive speed. was hanging we'll on
to the Colon also paying attention to
the Vizcaya-u The Teresa and the
Oquendo were. in flames on the beach
just twenty minutes after the first shot
was firedUuueIcrITI
Fifty minutes after the first shot
was fired theGNizcaya put her helm to
port with a. great burst of flame from
the after part of the ship, and headed
slowly for the rocks of Acceraderos
where she, found her last resting place
'As it was apparent that / could not
possibly catch the Colon, and that the 4
Oregon and Brooklyn. undoubtedly
would, and. as the fast New York was
also on her trail. i decided the calls
of humanity should be heard and at
te ntion Civ to the LEO or 500 Span
ish officers and men who had struck
their colors to. the American squadron
commanded by Admi, al Sampson. l 4
therefore headed for the wreck of the
Vizcaya, now burning furiously fore
and aft. When l was in as far as the
depth Of water would admit l lowered
all my beats and sent them at once
to the assistance of the men who were
being drowned by dozens or roasted on
the decks. / soon discovered that the
insurgent Cubans from the shore were
shooting on men who We're struggling
in the water, after having surrendered
to US. I Immediately put a stop to this, |
but could net put stop to the mutila-
ton of many bodies by the sharks in
side the reef
These creatures had become excited
by the blood from the wounded mixing
in the water. My boats crews worked |
and succeed d in saving many !
cf the wounded from the burning ships !
One man who will be recommended for
ClGIItDSIld up TIE SluS Ol tuP !
Vizcaya and saved three men from
burning to death The smaller maga- |
zines of the Vizcaya We're exploding |
with magnificent cloud effects. The |
beats, were coming alorgside in steady |
string, and willing hands We're helping |!
the lacerated Spanish officers and sail
ors on the Iowa's quarterback. All the |
SIan.ards We're absolutely without |
clothes. Some had their legs torn off |
by fragments of shells. Others were |
in every conc eivable way.
The bottoms of the beats held two /
or three inches of blood. In many |
cases dead men were lying in the blood |
Five pCcr chaps died on the way to |
the ship. They were afterward buried !
with military horors from the Iowa |
Some examples of hercism. or more |
properly devotion to discipline and duty, |
could never be surpassed. One man on |
the lost Vizcaya had his left arm al |
most shot off just below the shoulders |
The fragments were hanging by a small |
piece of skin. But he climbed unas-
sisted over the side, and saluted as If |
on visit of ceremony. Immediately |