Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-07-29
IDl| COOK REPORT
s e.'j ataander Of the Brooklyn
Tells Of the Fight.
sc lYS UNIQUE ORDER
sssis s.se steady Boys. and Give 1t to Them
5s5s:a. che Flagship OF the
So cond Squadron Face Death
Without FlinrlnE.

saDepHs lrrlcni today made public the fol-
report of Captain Cook, OF the
8EBroaf .sn. of the destruction of Ger
vera IS iicGt:
Sg5...Inited States Second Flagship Brook
Ign, first rate, at anchor III Guanta
sssssas namo Eay. July {. 1898:
;.S5Gss.-. Sir: AT 900 y. Nj. July 3rt |
gave orders and arrangements wer.
made for general muster and at $50 a.
2zssAf Inc enemy was telesraphed by he
iowa as coming out AT the same time
+ + hey We're discovered by the quarter
master on watch. y. Anderson nj this
II ship and reported 10 the officer of the
q deck. The executive. officer. Lieuten-
1Sant Commander Mason. who was on
deck and who was about 10 express an
FSorder for general muster. Immediately
gave the order Clear ship for action
land general orders
sssst.I Immediately went forward. looked
ssfor@the enemy and gave orders to get
ss5Steami in all boilers. We started with
Steam in three boilers at about Il knots
speed.
S ss$s:s2 2----The head of the Spanish squad
ron, in column, was just outside the en-
s$3trance of the harbor of Santiago. head
Ing bout southwest. The Spanish
squadron consisted OF the Maria Tere-
Il sa Ghagshipl. Nizcaya Oquendo and
sEGolon and TWO torpedo deStroyers.
We opened fire on the flagship in five
minutes from the discovery.
&ss. :s--The port batteries were first
Il gagged. as we stood with port helm to
- r.
vi ing them a ranking fire at about tir-
81 teen hundred yards range. The enemy
stunned 10 the westward to close into
II the land. We then moved around TO
SSsS starboard. bringing the starboard bat
ssteries into action. The enemy Rugged
the shore to the westward.
sass THE Brooklyn was followed by the
Iowa, Oregon, Indiana and
& stationed to the westward Of us TO
N BLOCKADE, ran to the southwark and
eastward of us. and kept for slime time
sssoff our port side. distant about 1000
wards. evidently intending to guard
ssagainst torpedo attack upon this
4Sship:9the shells passing fell very thick
ABOUT her, some passing over her. AT
TINS time the firing was very fast and
Al tHessWhistling of shell incesSant, and
sssssour escape with so little injury was mi
HHraculous and can only be attributed to
ls5Shau craftsmanship OH the part of the
"a enemy. The Maria Teresa, which had
S31dropped aStern while we were wearing
sk under he heaving Of our fleet, ran
s#ashore.g
The Vizcaya, oquendo and Colon
continuing on and gaining distance.
leading ships of the enemy which were
;%%sforsed ahead; the Texas and Indiana
IN keeping UP a heavy fire. but steadily
N dropping astern. The Oregon was keep
ling up u steady fire and was coming UP
ss&4in the most glorious and gallant style.
MsputStripDlnS all others. It was an in
81 splrlng sight to see this battleship with
"a large white wave before her, and her
belching forth continued
S8Spuffs from her forced draught We
sSsS3ssverea making II knots at the time and
ss&1 he Oregon came np off our s,arbo;rd
SSauarter at about GOO yards. where shr
y maintained this position. though we
ss soon after Increased our speed to II:
sEsknots, and thus before the Colon sur
SsIandered We're making nearly 16
16--The oqucndo dropped astern. on
SSsatinued ON. The Texas was evidently
ss&com!ng up fast. AT about 1885 the
4N1zcaya was seen to be on fire and the
81 Colon passed inside of her with increas-
ling speed and gradually took the lead.
THE Vizcnya soon ran the beach
$Sablaze with fire. We slgnalled the
III Oregon to cease firing on her rs her
MI flag was down. Firing Immediately
and we both continued the chase
soft the Colon, now about 200 yards
VI AWAY. The ranges ran from 1900 10 300
wards with the ViZcaya as she kept In
land cont of he coast. We steered
distant point near Cape
NSCruz, while the Colon kept close 10
the land. She could not have come out
without crossing our bows and we were
81 stendily gaining on her. We We're get
5StssSt IN s more steam all the time and now
% adsifonr and one-hait boilers ON and
1.-The srema1ning one and one-half nearly
s8ready.
ssl s.'17---After running for about fifty
miles west from the entrance the Co.
Jon ran into a blight of land beached
s$5nfed a gun to leeward and hauled down
t<Saher4 flag. The Oregon and Brooklyn had
~ uSt@ previously begun to fire upon the
415golon and were landing shells close to
ssher. I$Was sent on board by Commo-
9ssdores Schley to receive tkD-.~ surrender.
sss.EhSe captain spoke English and recciv-
ssSsssEd me pleasantly, though naturally
ucht@depreSsed. He surrendered un-
He was polite, shook
m lar \, &c,
and he saw we We're too much for him
on board about fifteen minutes
SsAsSWe came from the Colon the flagship
came UP With the Texas,
- reported on board the flagship 10
;sg:I sears.Aamifal Sampson. ! stated 10
that believed he Colon could be
ssgotten off the beach.
ssS--lJurlnS the entire action / was in
ssaGpnSIant# communication With YOU so
ssiSt hat "A was enabled to promptly exc
ssse1 te55youISorders and instructions. The
:ssssooInce:s and Crew behaved with great
rs sSssia I'D Sunexceptionable GOODNESS and bra
so that it is difficult to discrimi-
ssss si ia4s1e.5 they We're encouraged in their
sss:i best efforts by your enthusiasm. ana
ny our cheering words: Fire stead,
and give it to them
'S---.The executive officer. N e. Ma
ssssson VINO was at his usual zeal, was con-
at the battery and Keeping me
ss$sse uniformed of the exact condition of
sSs arp, ana encouraging both officers
81 courage. N''-
5sleo----Iieutenant Hodgson was on ,hc
s sssssnradse#coolly and deliberately taking
and measuring and giving
He was assisted in getting
and noting them by Chief Yeo,
ss sana q George Ellis With a stadimeter
ssslntH ellis was killed by I. passing
1.-The officers of the division. Lien
Sss i lena Ut y. Griffith, w. r. Rush. r.
Ss.ssst1H pser. j. D. I)Oyle +! w It.,iu .,,,d
ss siIisagn Webster, all performed ,h.ir
sssSsasHI duties deliberately and efficiently.
ssS 5 hssnaFal cadets in divisions v.r.
sss Sssoi and efficient. Naval Cadets Hal
Marble. Adele and Cronar hay-
sss5ffe especially been noticed for .,t,l.r,
s So ~ " sc. Lieutenant r. w Weils
secretary. yolunteeder for co,n-
s:ssl..,,it 81 q division and VAS given In.
aiVision, thus enabling r,!s: n,
sssSsssssstSat1ianf45a commissioned officer in i