Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-07-27
SAMPSON AND SCHLtY.
Continued from First Page.

aft, these vessels gave up both fight
and flight and ran in on the beach-the
Infanta Maria Teresa at 1O:15 a. M,
at Nina Nina, six and one-i1alf miles
from Santiago harbor entrance, and
the Almirante Oquendo at about 1880
q. m, at Juan Gonzales, seven miles
from the port
9.-The Vizcaya was still under the
fire Of the leading vessels, the Cris-
tobal Colon had drawn ahead, leading
the chase, and soon passed beyond the
range OF the guns of the leading
American ships The Vizcaya was
soon set on fire and at HIS she turn
ed inshore and was beached at Aver
aderos, fifteen miles from Santiago,
burning f1ercely, and with her reserves
of ammunition on deck already begin
ming to explode. When about ten
miles west of Santiago the Indiana
had been signalled to go back to the
harbor entrance and at Azerraderos
the Iowa was dgnalled to resume
blockading/ station. The Iowa, as
sisted by the Ericsson and the Hist,
took off the crew of the Vizcaya.
Willie INC i1dTVdTu anu lHc NlOuCC5leA
rescued those of the Infanta Maria
Teresa and the Almirante Oquendo.
This rescue Of prisoners, including
the wounded from the burning Span
ish vessels. was the occasion of some
of the most daring and gallant con-
duct of the day The ships were burn
ing fore and aft, their guns and re-
serve ammunition were exploding and
1t was not known at what moment the
fire would reach the main magazines
In addition TO this heavy surf was
running just outside of the Spanish
ships. But no risk deferred our officers
and men until their work Of humanity
was complete.
10.-There remained now of the
Spanish ships only the Cristobal
Colon-but she was their best and
fastest vessel. Forced by the sit
uation to hug the Cuban coast, her
only chance Of escape was by SUI
perior and sustained speed. When
the Vizcaya went ashore the Colon
was about six miles ahead Of the
Brooklyn and the Oregon, but her
squirt was finished and the Amer
lean ships were now gaining on
her. Behind the Brooklyn and
the Oregon came the Texas, Vixen
and New York. 1t was very evil
dent from the bridge of the New
York that all the American ships
were gradually overhauling the
chase and that she had no chance
Of escape At 1880 the Brooklyn
and the Oregon opened fire and
got her range--the Oregon's heavy
shells striking beyond her-and at
1:20 she gave up without firing
another shell, hauled down her col
CTS and ran ashore at Rio Torquino,
As miles from Santiago. Captain
Cook, Of the Brooklyn, went on
beard to receive the surrender.
While his boat was alongA.de |
came up in the New York, received
his report and placed the Oregon
in charge of the wreck to save her
if possible, and directed the prison
lutte, which had followed the chase.
Commodore Sohley, whose chief of
staff had gone on board to receive
her surrender, had directed that all
their personal effects should be re-
tanned by the officers. This order
l did not modify. The Cristobal
Colon was not injured by our firing
and probably is not much injured
by Bleaching when she ran ashore
at high speed. The beach was SO
steep that she came off by the
working of the sea. But her sea
valves were opened and broken,
q
surrender, and despite all efforts
she sank. When it became evident
that she could not float she was
pushed by the New York bodily
upon the beach--the New York's
stem being placed against her for
this purpose-the ship being ham
died by Captain Chadwick, with
admirable judgment-and sank in
shoal water and may be saved
Had this not been done she would
have gene down in deep water and
would have been to certainty a
total loss.
Ill regard this complete and
important victory over the Span
ish forces as the successful result
of several weeks OF arduous and
close blockade, so stringent and
effective during the night that the
enemy was deferred from making
the attempt to escape at night and
deliberately elected to make the
attempt in daylight That this
was the case l was informed by
the commander of the Cristobal
Colon
Section II describes how the
blockade of Santiago was accom-
plished and maintained.
13.-When all the work was
done so we'll it is difficult to dis
criminate in praise. The object of
the blockade of Cervera's squad
ron was fully accomplished and
each individual bore we'll his part
in 1.-THE Commodore In command
Of the second division, the captains
Of ships, their officers and men.
The fire of the battleships was
powerful and effective and the re-
istance of the Spanish squadron
was. in great part, broken almost
before they had got beyond the
range of their own forts. The
fine speed Of the Oregon enabled
her to take front position in the
chase. and the Cristobal Colon
did not give up until the Oregon
he'd thrown 13-irlch shell beyond
her. This performance adds to
{ the already brilliant record Of