The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-09
THRILLING STORY. By IN Eye WITNESS. Of CERERAS DEFEAT

| ULIlHLtlil u ULE LII
best efforts. The Oregon was making
wonderful speed for a battleship and we
Just settled down to make the effort of
our lives. Never since our trial trip have
we done so well.
We all feared that the Cristobal Colon
would leave US all except the Brooklyn
and Commodore Schley's ship was not
supposed to be a fair fighting match for
the big Spanish cruiser We couldn't af-
ford to have 1t said that even one of the
Spanish ships got away, so these moments
of the chase were thrilling ones.
AFTER THE LAST SHIP.
Straight into the west we heated, Olaz-
in gand banging as we went, in the great
est marine race of modern times The
| Brooklyn headed out toward a point, in
the endeavor TO cut off the Spaniard there.
while the Oregon held TO a middle course,
not much over mile from the cruiser,
and we hammered away from the Colons
wake
The desperate don Rugged the shore.
firing now and again at US and giving the
/ Brooklyn and Oregon her best fire. We
held up astonishingly well under our
forced draught. and no one need ever
sneer at the speed of the old Texas again.
But run as she might the Spaniard mad
no chance. The Brooklyn gradually forged
ahead of her and got between her and
the place where she would have to make
her swing 10 round that point. For over
! two hours she had led us a lively chase,
but her time had come The Oregon neld
! her abeam and the Texas astern. There
was no way of escape
At lis in the afternoon the gallant
Colon gave it up and turned her bow for
! the beach. At 1:20 down came her flag.
though not one of our ships was then
within male of her. but we all closed in
Brooklyn. Oregon and Texas together
stopping our engines a few hundred yards
away.
Commodore Schley. boarded the enemy
and the surrender was TO him. Just then
! the New York, with Admiral Sampson
/ aboard was seen coming up, accompanied
/ by the Vixen.
/ SCHLEY TELLS SAMPSON.
! 1--WE have won a great victory De-
| tails will be communicated"
! Such was, the signal Schley set for his
admiral, and the victory certainly was
/ Schley's.
Then, in thai little cove under the high
hills of the Cuban coast, we Americans
celebrated our ourth of July on the Sd
Of the month. The celebration may have
been little premature. according 70 the
almanac but 1t was as hearty as any
joyousness ever INDUCED in. Our ships
cheered one another. the captains ex-
changed loud compliments through their
megaphones and the Oregon turned out
| her band to send the music of The Star
Spangled Banner" over the lines Of Span
iards drawn UP TO be surrendered
Commodoie Schley. coming alongside
the Teyas IN his gig after his visit to the
surrendered Colon. called out cheerily to
Captain Philip:
1T was a nice fight, Jack wasn't itg'
Three roaring cheers and resembling
tiger went up from the Texas veterans
as greeting to their old commander.
Inen Captain Philip called all hands 20
the quarter deck, and, with barred head.
offered thanks 20 God for the victory
an almost bloodless victory on our side
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Il want - make public acknowledgement
here that I believe in God the Father
Almighty" said the captain reyenentIy
Il want al you officers and men to lift
your hats and from your hearts offer
silent thanks to the Aim .chty."
Every ha- went OF, and there was
moment or two Of silence. and then the
overs trained nerves were relieved again 4
by three mighty cheers f7r the heroic cap !
tain.
Later IN the day came a report that an /
othe: Spanish war snip had been seen. /
bat The supposed Spaniard turned out 10 1
be the Austrian cruiser Maria Theresa. /
Then up steamed the Resolute q take /
Of the Colon's prisoners. There were 80 (
Of these prisoners, and eight men were 1
missing
We mad hoped 10 save the Colon as A !
Fourth Of July Offering to the Anericea
people and the American navy. Besche1
bow CT with q sandy shore ard her stern
af7oat, she did rot seam greatly damaged
b. shots. one l3-lnch she'll aud one s.
inch had nit ner FUN ard fair. bat the
damage was no: sufficient 20 cause her %
sink.
SINK THEIR oWN SHIP.
Tas S2anla-5s baked Us however
After they had foa1d themselves safe.
they had opened every SEA valve ard
every por-. throwing the valves overheard
and smashing the headlights They had
even thrown away the b.eech Plugs o.
their guns
II the evening -hs yurTen5ered cruiser
f1ated OF TIE beach. drsstei ~ yards %
tAe westward and swurE Boa 0uL Tne
New YORK took hold O. aer ard slowed
he- stem o. 20 tze bach arzsa
But tne wafer was ~ 10 the gsa DIX
and a. Il O'Clock A. ElEat sac gave "a
l1rch. tarued over % her s.4ra3ars s.se
Eft1 he< p1Tt guns pointing s--atz7> a.
'-sa SKY AID 50 ws lsf. Ger IL oaly four
fatAoDs q wz,er. d.; hardly u 3 posi-
tl5a q - saved
And 50 e1Eed 40 sve--r1o-iocS sav
paid out k@re wg ~. % -sar.y 8. ~ Ss9 /