The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-07-27


was to receive the undivided fire from
the forts in passing the harbor en-
trance, and to fire few shots at one
of the destroyers. thought at the mo-
ment to be attempting to escape from
the Gloucester.
1.-THE Spanish vessels upon clearing the
harbor turned to the westward in col
umn, increasing their speed to the full
power of their engines. The heavy
blockading vessels, which had closed in
toward the MORO at the instant of the
enemys appearance, and at their best
speed delivered a rapid fire, we'll sus-
tanned and destructive which speedily
overwhelmed and silenced the Spanish
fire. The initial speed of the Spaniards
carried them rapidly past the blockad-
ing vessels, and the battle developed
into chase, in which the Brooklyn
and Texas had the start in the advan-
tage of position. The Brooklyn main
tanned this lead until the Oregon,
steaming with amazing speed from the
commencement of the action, took first
place. The Iowa and Indiana had done
good work, and, not having the speed of
the other ships, were directed by me,
in succession, at about the time the
ViZcaya was beached, to drop out of
the chase and resume blockading sta
tions. These vessels rescued many
prisoners. The Vixen, finding that the
rush of the Spanish ships would put
her between two fires, ran outside of
her own column and remained there
during the battle and chase.
THE skillful handling and gallant
fighting of the Gloucester, to the adj
miration of every one who witnessed it,
merits the commentator of the Navy
Department. She is a fast and entirely
unprotected auxiliary vessel-the yacht
Corsair = and has a battery of light
rapid-fire guns. She was running about
two miles from the entrance TO the
eastward and Immediately started out,
firing upon the large ships. Anticipat-
ing the appearance Of the Pluton and
Furor, the Gloucester was slowed,
thereby gaining more rapidly high
pressure of steam, and when the de-
stroyers came out She steamed for them
at full speed, and was able to close to
short range, where her fire was accur-
ate, deadly and of great volume. Dur
ing this fight the Gloucester was under
the fire of the Socapa battery.
Within twenty minutes from the
time they emerged from Santiago mar
Dor the career of the Furor and Plu-
ton Were ended and two-thirds of their
people killed. The Juror was beached,
and sunk in the surf; the Pluton sank
in deep water a few minutes later.
The destroyers probably suffered much
injury from the fire of the secondary
batteries of the Indiana, Iowa and
Texas, and yet, / think, very consid-
cradle factor in their speedy destruction
was the fire at close range of the Glou-
cester's battery.
After rescuing the survivors of the
destroyers the Gloucester did excellent
service in landing and securing the
crew of the Infanta Maria Teresa.
THE method of escape attempted by
the Spaniards-all steering in the same
direction and in formation-removed all
tactical doubts or difficulties, and made
plain the duty of every United States
vessel to close in, Immediately engaging
in pursuing the ships, which was
promptly and effectually done.
"As already stated, the first rush of
the Spanish squadron carried it past
number of blockading ships, which
could not Immediately work up to their
best speed, but they suffered heavily
in passing The Infanta Maria Teresa
and the Oquendo were probably set on
fire by shells fired during the fifteen
minutes of the engagement 1t was
afterward learned that the Infanta Ma
ria's fire main had been cut by one Of
our first shots, and that she was unable
to extinguish the fire. With large vol
umes of smoke rising from their lower
decks aft these vessels gave up both
fight and flight, and ran in on the beach
the Infanta Maria Teresa at about
1915 a. m at Nina Nina, six and one
half miles from Santiago harbor en-
trance, and the Almirante Oquendo at
about 1920 a. M, at Juan Gonzales,
seven miles from the port.
THE Vizcaya was still under the fire
of the leading vessels; the Cristobal
Colon had drawn ahead. leading the
chase, and soon passed beyond the
range of the guns Of the leading Amer
lean ships The Vizcaya was at noon
set on fire, and at 11:15 she turned in
shore and was beached at Acerraderos,
fifteen miles from Santiago, burning
fiercely, and with her reserve of am
munition on deck already beginning to
explode.
tiago the Indiana had been -signaled to
go back to the harbor entrance, and at
Acerraderos the Iowa was signaled to
Resume blockading station The Iowa,
assisted by the Ericsson and the Hist,
took off the crew of the Vizcaya, while
the Harvard and the Gloucester rescued
those of the Infanta Maria Teresa and
the Almirante Oquendo.
This rescue of prisoners including
the wounded from the burning Spanish
vessels. was the occasion of some Of
the most daring and gallant conduct Of
the day. The ships We're burning fore
and aft, their guns and reserve ammu-
milton were exploding, and it was not
known at what moment the fire would
reach the main magazines. In addi-
ton to this a heavy surf was running
lust inside of the Spanish ships. But
until their work of humanity was COM
plete.
There remained now of the Spanish
ships only the Cristobal Colon, but she
was their best and fastest vessel
Forced by the situation to hug the Gu
ban coast, her only chance of escape
was by superior and sustained speed.
When the Vizcaya went ashore the Co.
lon was about six miles ahead of the
Brooklyn and the Oregon. but her
squirt was finished and the American
ships were now gaining upon her. Be
hind the Brooklyn and the Oregon came
the Texas, Vixen and New York. 1t
was evident from the bridge of the New
York that all the American ships We're