Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1898-07-27

during the engagement with the Spanish
feet on July 3. 1898: AZ 9:35 q. m. Ad-
miral Ceryers, with the Infanta Maria
Teresa, Wzcaya, Oquendo, Cristobal
Colon and two torpedo boat destroyers,
came out OF the harbOr Of Santiago de
Cuba in column at a distance and at
tempted to escape TO the westward. Sig
nal was made from the Iowa that the
enemy was coming, but his movement
had been discovered from this ship at the
same moment. This vessel was the far
thest west, except the Vixen, in the
b~lOckading line. Signal was made TO
the weltern division as prescribed in
your general orders and there was an
immediate and rapid movement inward
by your squadron and q general engage
ment at ranges beginning at LOO yards
and varying TO 1900 until the Vizcaya
was destroyed, about 1l:5o a. m. The
concentration Of She fire OF the squadron
upon the ships coming out was most fur
ious and terrific and great damage was
done them.
About twenty or twenty-five minutes
after the engagement began two vessels
thought TO be the Teresa and OQuendO,
and since verified as such, took Ore from
the effective she'll FIRE Of the squadron
and we're forced to run on the beach
six or seven miles west Of the harbor en-.
trance, where they burned and blew up
later. The torpedo boat destroyers were
destroyed early In the action, but the
smoke was 30 dense In their direction that
| cannot say TO what vessel or vessels the
credit belongs. This was doubtless seen
better from your lagship. The Vizcaya
and Colon, perceiylng the disaster 10
their cOnsort, continued at full speed to
the westward 10 escape. and were fol.
lowed and engaged in a running aght
with the Brooklyn, Texas, Iowa and ore
gOn until 1850, when the Vlzcaya took
fire from our shells. She put her helm TO
port aud with a heavy list to port stood
in shore and ran aground at Acceraderos,
about twenty one miles west OF Santiago.
On Gre fore and aft. where she blew up
during the night. Observing that she
had struck her colOrs, and that several
vessels were nearing Der TO capture and
save her crew, signal was made TO cease
firing.
The Oregon having proved vastly faster
than the other b~attleships, she and the
Brooklyn, together with the Texas, and
another vessel. which proved to be your
flagship, continued westward In pursuit
OF the Colon, which had run close In
shore, evidently seeking some good spot
TO beach II she should fail to elude her
pursuers. This pursuit continued with
increasing speed in the Brooklyn, Oregon
and other ships, and soon the Brooklyn
and Oregon were within long range Of
the Colon and the Oregon opened fire
with her IL inch guns, landing a shell
close TO the Colon. A moment after
wards the Brooklyn opened fire with g.
inch guns. landing a shell Just ahead Of
her. Several other shells we're fired at
the Colon, now In range Of the %Brooklyn's
and 0regon's guns. Her commander,
seeing all chances OF escape cut of and
destruction awaiting his ship. fred a
lee gun and struck her flag at l:l5 D. m.
and a ashore some fifty miles west OF
Santiago harbor. Your flagship was
coming up rapidly at the time, as was
also the Texas and Vixen. A little later,
after your arrival. the Cristobal Colon,
which had struck to the Brooklyn and
the oregon, wa turned over 10 you As
one Of the tropics OF this great victory Of
the squadron under your command.
| would mention for your considera-
tiOn that the Brooklyn occupied the most
westward ~blOckadlng position with the
Vixen, and being more directly In the
route taken by the Spanish squadron,
was exposed for some minutes, possibly
ten, to the gun Gre OF three OF the Spanish
ships and the west battery at a range OF
1900 yards from the ships and about
5000 yards from the batteries, but the
vessels OF the entire squadron closing In
rapidly soon diverted this Gre and did
magnificent work at close range.
| have never before witnessed such
deadly and fatally accurate shooting as
wa done by the ships OF your command
as they closed in on the Spanish squad
ron, and | deem IL q high privilege to
commend to you for such action az you
may deem proper the gallantry and dash
ing courage, prompt decision and skillful
handling Of their respective vessels OF
; Captain Phillip, Captain Evans, Captain
Clarke, and especially OF my chief OF
staff, Captain Cook, who was directly
under my observation and whose cool
ness, prompness and courage were OF the
l highest order. The dense smoke OF the
; combat shut out from view the Indiana
D and Gloucester, but az these vessels we're
! closer to your flagship, no doubt their
I part in the conflict was under your i'm.
mediate observation. Lieutenant Sharp
; commanding the Vixen, acted with con.
J spicuous courage, and although unable L
engage the heavier ships Of the enemy
with his light guns, nevertheless Wal
close in to the battle line, under heavy
fire, and many Of the enemy's shot passed
! beyond his vessel.
never in my life served with a bra vel
g better OF wOrthier crew than that OF tn,
Brooklyn. During the combat, lasting
Q from 9:35 until 1:l5, much of the tint
under Ere. they never tagged for
moment and were apparently undls
g turbsd by the storm OF projsctiles passing
e ahead, astern and over the ships, Tn,
result OF the engagement was the dss
tructiOn Of the Spanish squadron AM
u the capture OF the admiral and some l,3Ou
to 1900 prisoners, with a loss OF seyera
hundred killed. estimated by AdmiTA