The herald., 1898-07-11
Los ANGELES fMRAIDs MONDAY MORNING. July Il; 1854

Identified accurately. The Indiana was In
sight little to the west Of MORO castle.
"At 1o.45 the Cristobal Colon was still
gaining and was reserving her fire. At this
moment the only American vessels seon
from the Vixen were the Brooklyn, Oregon,
Texas and Iowa, six miles behind the Or
egon. The Indiana was four miles astern
Of the Iowa.
The Spanish Fire
''At 1887 the Cristobal Colon and other
Spanish ships resumed the heavy fire. The
second vessel was five miles from the
Vixen. The Oregon was gaining rapidly on
the Cristobal Colon, which was using
smokeless powder. The enemy's fire was
very high and many of their shots passed
over the Brooklyn, falling close to the
Vixen, a piece of shell tearing the flag at
her mainmast.
"At 10:45 the Brooklyn forged ahead and
the Oregon fired her forward 13-inch gun
at the leading Spanish vessel. At 1O:47 the
Texas, in front of the Iowa, was gaining
rapidly. At this time the Brooklyn's fire
was steady and deadly. her shells striking
or bursting alongside of the Spaniards.
Warships Closing In
"At 1O:49 the Texas reached San Coma
les and the Indiana was apparently off Ca
banas. At 1850 the Vixen approached,
heading northwest. The Texas was gain
Ing rapidly, the Iowa appeared to be Off
Juan Gonzales and the yacht appeared off
Guayacabon, holly engaging the enemy 8
ships. At 1854 another Spanish vessel was
on fire and heading for the beach with a
heavy list to port. This was the lizcaya
making for the reef at Acerradores. At II :01
the Vizcaya ported her helm and headed
east, apparently seeking the entrance to
Acerradores reef. The Texas and Vixen
directed their fire on the Vizcaya until
IL 07, when, as the colors went down, we
ceased. At 11:09 there came burst of
flame and smoke from the Vizcaya's stern,
and all the ships resumed their fire while
passing the doomed vessel, which was hard
on Acerradores reef.
"At 11:16 the Brooklyn, Oregon, Texas.
Iowa and Indiana, the last named ten
miles from the Cristobal Colon, were in
sight of the Vixen.
End Of the Vizcaya
"It was believed on the Vixen that the
vessel at Acerradores was the Spanish flag
|
after end of the Vizcaya was a sheet of
fame, and from 11:2S to 11:42 there were
many explosions on board the Spanish
cruiser, apparently caused by the ignition
of loose charges about the guns. They
resembled huge chrysanthemums with rib
bons of smoke, as the burning powder
grains fell from the end of the petals.
Only the Colon Left
"At 11:45 the chase narrowed itself to the
Crlstobal Colon, which was close ashore
and seven miles from the Vixen, with the
Oregon one point on the starboard bow, dis
tant a mile and q half; the Brooklyn one
point on the starboard bow, distant three
miles; the Texas on the starboard quarter,
distant one mile; the Iowa two points on
the starboard side, distant about eight
miles. and the New York one point on the
starboard quarter, distant ten miles. The
last two vessels were apparently off Boca
del Rio, but were too far distant to be GER
tainly identified in the thin haze and smoke
from the leading ships. No other vessels
were in sight. The smoke from the ship
destroyed at Juan Gonzales and to the
eastward could be seen, but the vessels
hull was invisible.
Position of the Warships at Noon
Eat noon the relative positions of the
American ships were practically the same.
When the Vixen was abreast Of Sevilla,
thirteen miles west of Santiago, the Texas
bore three points to the starboard quar-
ter, little less than a mile off, and the
Oregon and Brooklyn one point on the star
board and port bow, distant four and five
miles, respectively, while the Cristobal
Colon bore two points on the starboard
bow, distant fully ten miles.
Moving Down the Line
According to the official pilot on the
Vixen, that vessel was off Bayamita. The
estimated distance was taken from the
officers and official pilot. At 1905 the New
York was in line with the burning Vizcaya
at distance of nine miles.
AT 1915 the Texas was on the starboard
quarter, the New York two points on the
starboard quarter gaining.
"At 1920 the Oregon fired shot which
fell short. The Cristobal Colon was then
hull down from the Vixen. During the
next half hour the occasional shots from
the Oregon and the Brooklyn struck near
the chase.
"At 1850 the Texas was one point forward
Of the starboard beam and was steadily
gaining.
"At lis the Oregon and the Brooklyn
headed in shore about four points.
The Surrender
eat 1:25 the Texas sIgnaled. The enemy
has surrendered The signal was report
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