Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-07-27

ploding. and IL was not known at what
moment the fire would reach the main
magazines. In addition TO this, a heavy
surf was running Just inside of the Span
ish ships. But no risk deferred our Off
GERS and men until their work of human
ity was complete.
Flight of the Colon.
"Tenth-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 Cuban
coast, her only chance of escape was by
superior and sustained speed. When the
yizcaya went ashore. the Colon was about
six miles ahead of the Brooklyn and the
Oregon, but her spurt was finished, and
the American ships were now gaining upon
her. Behind the Brooklyn and the Oregon
came the Texas, Vixen and New York It
was evident from the bridge of the New
York that all the American ships were
gradually overhauling the chase. and that
she had no chance of escape. At l2:5o the
Brooklyn and the Oregon opened hre ana
got her range-the Oregon's heavy sheh
striking beyond her-and at 1:l0 she gave
up without firing another shot, hauled
down her colors and ran ashore at Rio
Toruquino, forty-eight miles from SANTA
go.
Captain Cook, Of the Brooklyn, went on
board to receive the surrender. While his
boat was alongside 1 came up in the New
York, received his report and placed the
Oregon in charge of the wreck, to save
her, IL possible, and directed the prisoners
TO be transferred TO the Resolute, which
had followed the chase.
Schley's Order Permitted to stand.
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 or
der did not modify.
'The CristobaI Colon was not injured by
our firing and probably is not much In
5ured by beaching, though she ran ashore
at high speed. The beach was SC steep that
she came off by the working of the sea.
But her sea valves were opened and brok-
en-. treacherously, am sure, after her
surrender. and, despite all efforts, she sank.
When 1t became evident that she could not
he kept afloat she was pushed by the New
York bodily up on the beach, the ship be-
ing handled by Captain Chadwick, with adj
mirable Judgment, and sank 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 certainty, a
total loss
"Eleventh-I regard this complete and i'm
portant 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 deferred from making the at
tempt to escape at night, and deliberately
elected to make the attempt in daylight.
That was the case was Informed by the
commanding officer of the Cristobal Colon.
Plan of the Blockade.
''Twelfth-It seems proper to briefly de-
scribe here the manner in which this was
accomplished. The harbor of Santiago is
naturally easy to blockade-there being but
one entrance, and that narrow one-and
the deep water extending close up to the
shore line. presenting no difficulties of
navigation outside Of the entrance. At the
time of my arrival before the port-June 1
the moon was at its full and there was
sufficient light during the night to enable
any movement outside of the entrance to
be detected. 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. 1t was ascer-
tsined, with fair 0oncIusiveness, that
the Merrimac, so gallantly taken into the
channel on June g. did not obstruct it.
], therefore. maintained the blockade as
follows:
ITO the battIeships was assigned the
duty, in turn, of lighting the channel
Moving UP TO the port, at a distance of
from one to two miles from the Morro-de-
pendent upon the condition of the at
mosphere-they threw a searchhght beam
directly up the channel, and held it stead
lily there. This lightened up the entire
breadth of the channel for half a mile
inside of the entrance SO brilliantly that
the movement of small boats could be
detected. Why the batteries never opened
fire upon the searchlight ship was always
a matter of surprise to me, but they never
did Stationed close to the entrance of
the port were three picket launches and, at
little distance farther out. three small
picket vessels-usually converted yachts
and, when they were available ono or
two of our torpedo boats. With this ar
rangement there was at least a certainty
that nothing could get out of the harbor
undetected.
Vigilance Greatly Increased.
After the arrival of the army. when
the situation forced upon the Spanish ad-
miral a decision. our vigilance increased
The night blockading distance was re-
duced to two miles for all vessels and q
battleship was placed alongside the search
light ship, with her broadside trained upon
the channel in readiness TO fire the instant
a Spanish ship should appear. The com.
manding officers merit the greatest praise
for the perfect manner in which they en-.
tered into this plan and put 1t into execu'
tion. The Massachusetts, which. according
10 routine. was sent that morning to Goa
Dtan he bo had
weary nights upon this work and deserved
a better fate than to be absent that morn
ing.
Il inclose for information of the depart
ment copies of orders and memoranda is
sued from time to time. relating to tht
manner of maintaining the blockade.
'-Thirteenth-When all the work was don'
so well II is difficult TO discriminate il
praise. The object of the blockade of Ger
vera's squadron was fully accomplished
and each individual bore well his part II
1.-THE commodore in command on the sec
ond division, the captains of ships, thel
officers and men. The fire of the battle
ships was powerful and destructive ant
the resistance of the Spanish squadron was
IN great part. broken almost before the.
had got beyond the range of their owl
forts. The fine speed of the Oregon en-
abled her TO take a front position in tn
chase. and the Cristobai Colon did no
give up until the Oregon had thrown ;
thirteen-inch shell beyond her. This per
formance adds to the already brillian
record of this fine battleship, and speak
highly OF the skill and cart with which he
admirable efficiency has been maintaine'
during the service unprecedented in tn
history of vessels of her class.
The BroOkIyn's Advantage.