The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-07-14


on then with the afterbattery and
12-inch shell cut the stern of one de-
stroyer squarely off. As the shell
struck torpedob boat fired back at
the battle-ship, sendinga a shell within
a few feet of my head. l said to Exec
utive Officer Rogers: That little
chap has got a lot of cheek Rogers
shouted back: She shoots very well
all the same
"Wellamong the advancing cruisers,
splitting shots at one and then at an
other, was the little Gloucester. shoot
ing first at a cruiser and then at tor
pedo-bOata and hitting head whenever
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 is minutes it was
give and take between the two ships.
The Vizcaya fired rapidly but wildly,
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
murderous fire Of the Oregon. At
this time the Teresa and Ouuendo.
leading the enemy's column, were seen
to be heading for the beach and in
flames. The Texas. Oregon and Iowa
pounded them numerically. They
ceased to reply TO the fire and in q few
moments the Spanish cruisers were q
mass Of flames and on the rocks with
their colors down, the Teresa flying a
white flag at the fore.
The crews of the enemy's ships
stripped themselves and began jump
ing overheard. and some of the smaller
magazines began to explode.
meanwhile the Brooklyn and the
Cristobal Colon were exchanging com
pliments in likely fashion at appar-
emily long range, and the Oregon, with
her locomotive speed, was hanging
we'll on the Colon, and also paying at
tention to the Vizcaya.
The Teresa and Oquendo were in
flames on the beach just 20 minutes
after the first shot was fired. Fifty
minutes after the first shot was fired
the Vizcaya put her helm to port,
with great burst of flames from the
after part of the ship, and headed
slowly for the rocks at Aserradero.
where she found her last resting
place.
AS it was apparent that the Iowa
could not possibly catch the Colon and
that the Oregon and Brooklyn un-
doubtedly would, and as the fast New
York was on her trail, | decided that
the calls of humanity should be an
swered and attention given to the 1900
or 1900 Spanish officers and men who
had struck their colors to the Ameri-
can squadron commanded by Ad-
miral Sampson.
Il therefore headed for the wreck
OF the Nizcaya; now burning furiously
fore and aft. When l was in as far as
the depth of water would admit
lowered all my boats and sent them at
once to the assistance of the unfortu-
nate men, who We're being drowned
by dozens or roasted on the decks.
Il soon discovered that the insur-
gent Cubans from the shore were
shooting on men who We're struggling
in the water after having surrendered
to us. | Immediately put a stop
to this, but could not put a stop to
the mutilation of many bodies by the
sharks inside the reef.
These creatures had become ex-
cited by the blood from the wounded
mixing in the water.
My boats crew worked manfully
and succeeded in saving many of the
wounded from the burning ship.
Zone man who will be recommended
for promotion clambered up the side
of the Vizcaya and saved three men
from burning to death. The smaller
magazines of the Vizcaya were ex-
ploding with magnificent croud eff
fects. The boats were coming along
side in steady string and willing
hands were helping the lacerated
Spanish officers and sailors upon the
lowa's quarterback. All the Span
iards were absolutely without clothes.
Some had their legs torn off by frag-
ments of shells. Others were mutt
lated in every conceivable way.
The bottoms of the boats held two
or three inches of blood. In many
cases dead men were lying in the blood.
Five poor chaps died on the way to
the ship. They were afterwards bur-
led with military honors from the
Iowa. Some examples of heroism, or
more proper devotion to discipline
and duty, could never be surpassed.
One man on the lost Vizcaya had his
left arm almost shot off just below the
shoulder. The fragments were hang
ing by small piece of skin But he
L. I