Connecticut western news., 1898-07-28
CANAAN, CONN, THURSDAY, JULY 2s, 1895

teries of the battleships Iowa, Indiana and Texas, yet think a very consider able factor in their speedy destruction was the fire at close range of the Gloucester's battery. After rescuing the survivors of the destroyers. the Gloucester did excellent service in land ing and securing the crew of the h. fanta 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 engage and pursue. This was promptly and effectively done. As already stated. the first rush of the Spanish squadron car- ried 1t past a number of the blockading ships, which could not immediately work up their best speed. but they suf- fered heavily In passing. and the In- fanta Maria Teresa and the oauendo were probably set on fire by shells fired during the first Is minutes of the en- gagement. It was afterward learned that the Infanta Maria Teresa's fire main had been cut by Sne of our first shots and that she was unable to ex- tinguish the fire. With large volumes of smoke rising from their lower decks these vessels gave up both fight and flight and ran in on the beach. the In- fanta Maria Teresa at about 10:15 a. m at Nina Nina, 61x miles from Santiago harbor entrance. and the Almirante oquendo at about 10:30 a. m. at Juan Gonzales. seven miles from the port. Destruction of the vizcaya- 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 American ships The vizcaya was soon set on fire. and at 11:15 she turned inshore and was beach, ed at Ascerraderos. 15 miles from San tiago, burning fercely and with her re- serves of ammunition on deck already beginning to explode. When about ten miles west of Santiago. the Indiana had been signaled to go back to the harbor entrance. and at Ascerraderos the Iowa was signaled to Resume blockading station" The Iowa, assisted by the Ericsson and the Hist. took on the crew of the Vizcaya, while the Harvard and the Gloucester rescued those of the In- fanta Maria Teresa and the Almirante oquendo. This rescue of prisoners, in cluding the wounded, from the burning Spanish vessels was the occasion of some of the most daring and gallant conduct of the day. The ships were burning 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 a heavy surf was run ming just inside of the Spanish ships. But no risk deterred our officers and men until their work of humanity was complete.
 There remained now of the Spanish ships only the Gristobal Colon. but she was their best and fastest vessel. Forced by the situation to hug the Cu- 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. Behind the Brooklyn and the Oregon came the Tex as, Vixen and New York. It was evi- dent from the bridge of the New York that all the American ships were gradu- ally overhauling the Colon and that she had no chance of escape.
 Surrender Received by Captain Cook. At 12:5o the Brooklyn and the Oregon
 
 gon's heavy shells striking beyond her, l and at 1:2o she gave up without firing another shot. hauled down her co1ors and ran ashore at Rio Torquino. 4s miles from Santiago. Captain Cook of the Brooklyn went on board to receive the surrender. While his boat was along
 side. I came up in the New York. receiv- ed his report and placed the Oregon in charge of the wreck to save her. if pos- sible. and directed the prisoners to be transferred to the Resolute, which had followed the chase. Commodore Schley, whose chief of stan had gone on board to receive the surrender. had directed that all their personal effects should be retained by the officers. This order did not modify.
 The CristobaI Colon was not injured by our firing and probably is not much injured by beaching, though she ran ashore at high speed. The beach was SO steep that she came of by the work ing of the sea. But her sea valves were | opened and broken, treacherously, am sure, after her surrender. and, despite 1 all efforts. she sunk. When 1t became evident that she could not be kept afioat 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 handled by Captain Chadwick with admirable judg- ment and sunk in shoal water and may be saved. Had this not been done. she would have gone down in deep water and would have been to a certainty a l total loss.
 \ regard this complete and important victory over the Spanish forces as the successful finish of several weeks of arduous and close blockade, so stringent and effective during the night that the | enemy was deterred from making the attempt to escape at night and delib- ately elected to make the attempt in daylight. That this was the case I was
 informed by the commanding officer of
 the Cristobal Colon.
 BIockadinx the Harbor.
 It seems proper to briefly describe here the manner in which this was ac- compiished. The harbor of Santiago is | naturally easy to blockade. there being 1 but one entrance and that a narrow one and the deep water extending close | up to the shore line presenting no diffi- | culties of navigation outside of the en- | trance. At the time of my arrival be- | fore the port. June 1. the moon was at | It's full, and there was sufficient light | lo any HiONG- ment outside of the entrance to be de- | tected. but with the waning of the moon and the coming of dark nights there was opportunity for the enemy to escape or | for his torpedo boats to make an attack upon the blockading vessels. It was as- certained with fair conclusivenees that | the Merrimac. 80 gallantly taken Into the channel on June 3. did not ob- struct it.
 I therefore maintained the blockade
 as follows: To the battleships was as-
 signed the duty. in turn, of lighting the
 channel. Moving up to the port. at ! distance of from one to three miles from | the Morro, dependent upon the condi- | ticn of the atmosphere. they threw a | searchIight beam directly up the chan mel and held 1t steadily there. This | lighted up the entire breadth of the | channel for half a mile inside of the en- | trance 90 brilliantly that the movements